MONKRESS: diversity of today’s spacecraft requires a variety of flexible options for launch site preparation and integration
BREVARD COUNTY • KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — Much needed satellite processing capacity is heating up at Kennedy Space Center as Space Florida, the state’s aerospace finance and development authority, announced that Amazon’s Project Kuiper has expanded to Florida, investing $120 million into the construction of a satellite processing facility at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility located at Kennedy Space Center.
Meanwhile, Merrittt Island-based All Points Logistics is developing similar but commercial multi-user facilities near the Space Coast launch pads for preparing any satellite or spacecraft for launch. These facilities will be available to satellite and space station providers, launch companies, mission integrators, NASA, and Department of Defense to support pre-launch spaceport operations and post-landing processing.
Headquartered on the Space Coast, All Points has multiple offices across the country, including in Reston, Virginia; Houston, Texas; and Huntsville, Alabama.
Established under All Point’s new Space Prep brand, these facilities could solve a growing problem at the spaceport – insufficient spacecraft processing and storage infrastructure.
“With the number of launches from the Cape this year expected to triple the total of just two years ago, the demand for processing space at the spaceport is outpacing capacity of existing facilities,” said All Points President and CEO Phil Monkress.
“In addition to the basic capacity challenge, we recognize the diversity of today’s spacecraft requires a variety of flexible options for launch site preparation and integration. Our approach offers private small, medium, and large processing areas augmented with services and storage areas that can be tailored to the needs of each mission. The facilities are designed to handle fueling, classified missions, clean storage, and integrated control room operations,” said Monkress.
According to Kevin Brown, All Points Senior Vice President Business Development, All Point’s Space Prep is collaborating with NASA and the U.S. Space Force to develop multiple launch support facilities at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, with the first facility being operational by the end of 2025.
“We already have an extensive pipeline of customers who are realizing launch site support facilities at the Cape are hard to come by,” said Brown.
Space Prep provides all launch support services necessary to move vehicles and payloads from the factory to the launch pad, making preparations faster and more economical than single-user ground support facilities.
“No one cares about the ground till they want to get off it!” added Steve Lloyd, All Points Chief Development Officer.
Project Kuiper is Amazon’s Low Earth Orbit Satellite Network
Project Kuiper is Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite network, which aims to provide fast, affordable broadband to unserved and underserved communities around the world. This new facility in at KSC will enable the company to conduct final preparations ahead of satellite deployment through heavy-lift launch vehicles from Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance.
Key Amazon Florida Satellite Processing Facility Facts
■ Amazon to invest approximately $120 million in new construction and high-value equipment
■ 100,000+ square foot in payload processing and support facilities
■ Bring up to 50 new jobs with an average annual wage of $80,000 plus benefits, and an additional 300 during the construction phase
■ Amazon’s Project Kuiper utilized Space Florida’s lease structure agreement, which is part of the state’s financial toolkit
■ Expected operational early 2025
The Kuiper project will also benefit from the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Spaceport Improvement Program, which is administered by Space Florida and FDOT, and encourages private investment in the Florida Spaceport System by providing matching investment in critical spaceport infrastructure.
“This partnership not only fuels Florida’s reputation as the gateway to space, but also accelerates Space Florida’s mission to transform the Launch and Landing Facility into the premier location for aerospace innovation,” said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez, Chair, Space Florida Board of Directors.
“Together, we are solidifying our position as a global leader in the space economy. We look forward to the remarkable achievements and endless possibilities to come.”
Frank DiBello, President and CEO, Space Florida, said adding Amazon’s satellite processing facility to the region’s growing industrial capability in commercial space is a testament to the power of building a statewide ecosystem that supports companies across the entire space supply chain.
“This facility coming to Florida underscores the importance of our decades of infrastructure improvements and capital investments that have transformed Florida into a global center for the space economy. As the first land lease and development project following the installation of the utility corridor at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility, we welcome Amazon to our state and look forward to being part of their mission of global connectivity,” said DiBello.
The new facility will play an integral role in Amazon’s plans to begin full-scale production launches and early enterprise customer pilots in 2024. Project Kuiper will eventually serve tens of millions of customers, including residential, enterprise and government customers operating in places without reliable broadband.
“We have an ambitious plan to begin Project Kuiper’s full-scale production launches and early customer pilots next year, and this new facility will play a critical role in helping us deliver on that timeline,” said Steve Metayer, vice president of Kuiper Production Operations.
“We are proud to partner with Space Florida to bolster the growing space industry in Florida and elsewhere across the United States, and we look forward to adding more talent to our skilled operations and manufacturing team. These employees will play an important part in our mission to connect tens of millions of customers worldwide.”
With Project Kuiper constructing and operating the facility in the state, Space Florida continues to reach broad manufacturing, assembly, and processing capabilities, and connects those capabilities with the state’s highly accessible research, development, workforce, and training capabilities.
“We are proud to continue our investment in Florida and to join the historic Space Coast community as we invest in people and facilities to support Project Kuiper, Amazon’s satellite broadband network,” said Brian Huseman, vice president of public policy and community engagement at Amazon.
“We are grateful to Governor DeSantis and his administration, as well as our regional partners, for investing in infrastructure, training a highly skilled workforce, and maintaining an economic climate that allows Project Kuiper to advance our mission of providing internet access to unserved and underserved communities around the world.”
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The post SATELLITE PROCESSING HEATS UP AT KSC: Amazon’s Project Kuiper Expands to Kennedy Space Center, All Points’ Space Prep Developing Commercial Multi-User Facilities appeared first on Space Coast Daily.