NASA Supports New FAA Commerical Space Transportation Center
baa...@earthlink.net
Allard Beutel
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
allard...@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 42-10
NASA SUPPORTS NEW FAA COMMERICAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION CENTER
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida will
support the new Center of Excellence for Commercial Space
Transportation (COE), a university-led consortium sponsored and
announced Wednesday by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The
new center will perform research and development to help build a safe
and strong U.S. commercial space industry.
The nationwide team selected by the FAA and based at New Mexico State
University will lead other core university members to establish and
operate the new Center of Excellence (COE). Those universities
include the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne and the
Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion (FCAAP) in Tallahassee,
which is a consortium of other Florida universities. Kennedy provided
support for the COE during the development of proposals submitted to
the FAA, along with a number of other industry and government
affiliates.
"Kennedy Space Center is pleased to participate in the FAA's new
Center of Excellence and to support this winning team," said Kennedy
Center Director Bob Cabana. "We look forward to active involvement in
these research and development initiatives. This collaborative effort
initiated by the FAA aligns perfectly with NASA's evolving
relationship and support for a vital U.S. commercial space industry
and with our vision of a 21st Century Space Launch Complex."
Kennedy is prepared to serve as a flight test center for COE research
efforts as they evolve through cooperative agreements among the
partner institutions. The COE's research and development will be
targeted on focus areas defined by the FAA.
"The FAA's new Center of Excellence will help build the nation's
future space transportation capabilities," said Jim Ball, Kennedy's
program manager for Strategic Partnerships.
For more information on the new FAA Center of Excellence, visit:
For information about NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit: