Space Exploration Technologies Corp., otherwise known as SpaceX, conducted official ground breaking ceremonies today at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This opens a new era in commercial space operations for the company. SLC-40 will be the primary launch site for SpaceX’s new Falcon 9 launch vehicle, with operations starting in late 2008. Located on the Florida coast, just south of NASA’s launch site for all Apollo moon missions and Space Shuttle flights , SLC-40 is a world class heavy lift launch facility. The facility is capable of supporting both the Falcon 9 and future Falcon 9 Heavy missions. In operation since 1965, SLC-40 has hosted numerous launches, including the departure of two interplanetary missions; the Mars Observer satellite, and the Cassini spacecraft now exploring the rings and moons of the planet Saturn.
The event included representatives from NASA, the US Air Force, the FAA, Space Florida, the State of Florida, SpaceX and representatives from the offices of US Senators Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez. After the official “ground breaking” ceremony, Space Florida hosted a grand reception for all attendees. In the coming months, SpaceX will perform extensive upgrades and removal of outdated infrastructure to transform the site into a state of the art facility for commercial satellite launches, supply missions to the International Space Station (ISS), and eventually lofting crew carrying missions to the ISS and future orbiting destinations—Cape Canaveral, Florida
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