SpaceX Gives Historic Launch Pad 39A New Life
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
By: Grant Gentry

April 15th, 2014 | WMFE, Orlando - Rockets will once again launch from pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center.

SpaceX, a space transport company based out of California, has signed a 20-year lease on the historic launch pad.

The company will take over maintenance and renovations of the complex and aims to launch its Falcon 9 Heavy rocket in early 2015.

This is the latest step by NASA to turn Kennedy Space Center in to a launch complex for both private and commercial companies.

"It's encouraging to see the continued transformation of Kennedy Space Center in to whatever it’s going to be post-shuttle.  Clearly, SpaceX is accomplishing as much as anyone right now," said Dale Ketcham, the Chief of Strategic Alliances at Space Florida.

"This kind of activity is going to continue to increase the number of launches which means lowering the cost to get to orbit.  Which then means further increase in launches.  Because the more we reduce the cost, the more people will want to get in to space," said Ketcham.

SpaceX also plans to launch its first manned mission from pad 39A in 2016.