On Monday NASA Kennedy Space Center demolished Space Launch Complex 40, the launch tower of the now-retired Titan IV. The Titan IV lifted some of the heaviest payloads into space, mostly top-secret missions for the military, but also the Cassini mission that is still sending back data from Saturn and its moons.
The demolition of the now obsolete launch complex will make room for the new Falcon 9 launch pad being built there by private company SpaceX. SpaceX plans to launch their Falcon 9 heavy lift vehicle from Kennedy under their contract with NASA to provide Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) to the International Space Station. The first Falcon 9 is expected to arrive at Kennedy by the end of the year for final assembly.
NASA also recently announced that they have awarded SpaceX an additional contract through 2012 that allows SpaceX to compete for any of NASA’s other space launches in support of science, space operations or exploration missions. This is also a huge win for SpaceX and the Falcon 9.
The demolition is expected to be self funded as the pieces are hauled off and sold for scrap metal. Much of the pad complex will still be usable by SpaceX. The concrete deck and flame duct, the water deluge system, the site’s electrical system, the lightning towers and the instrumentation bay beneath the pad will all be reused.
“It is one of only a few heavy-lift pads at the Cape,” said SpaceX VP of Launch Tim Buzza. “SpaceX is very fortunate to have been granted use of Complex 40. We will put it to good use.”
Orbital, the other private company funded under the COTS program, is expected to announce soon whether they will launch from Kennedy Space Center or Wallops Island in Virginia.
Now all eyes turn to June when SpaceX plans their third launch of the Falcon 1. Although the last launch was a “successful” test in that they were able to get all of the data they were looking for, the industry is anxious to see SpaceX successfully deliver its first satellite into orbit.
Old Titan launch pad gantry at Cape knocked down [Spaceflightnow.com] NASA Awards Launch Services Contract to SpaceX [NASA]
SpaceX Completes Merlin Qualification, Slips Falcon 9 Launch
SpaceX Passes NASA Review of Their Plans to Dock with Space Station
Orbital Sciences Scores NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Contract
Video Courtesy of Spacearium.com via YouTube
