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58-512: Starting in 2015, Space Florida manages and operates the facility under a 30-year lease from NASA. In addition to ongoing use by NASA, private companies have been utilizing the SLF since the 2011 end of the Space Shuttle program . The Shuttle Landing Facility covers 500 acres (2.0 km) and has a single runway, 15/33. It is one of the longest runways in the world , at 15,000 feet (4,600 m), and

116-453: A Space Florida spaceport at a different location, with the September 2015 announcement that Blue Origin would manufacture their new orbital launch vehicle at Exploration Park , and launch the rocket from Launch Complex 36 . Space Florida has partnered with NASA on the following facilities: Project Morpheus Project Morpheus was a NASA project that began in 2010 to develop

174-436: A flash LIDAR , a lidar Doppler velocimeter and a laser altimeter. Project Morpheus lean development philosophy resulted in a mix of new and previously existing software being used. Software is used in: As of April 2011 the primary focus of the test bed is to demonstrate an integrated propulsion and inertial-based guidance, navigation, and control ( GN&C ) systems that can fly a lunar descent profile, thereby exercising

232-528: A human return to the Moon. In the same year 2006, Armadillo Aerospace entered the first Pixel rocket lander into the Lunar Lander Challenge part of NASA's Centennial Challenges . The Morpheus #1 Unit A test vehicle was first hot-fired on 15 April 2011. Morpheus's new 4,200-pound-force (19,000 N) engine permitted NASA to fly longer durations by lifting more propellant into the air. The engine

290-617: A pilot. For Range Safety purposes the Morpheus#1 prototype falls into the category of guided suborbital reusable rocket. In July 2012 the prototype lander was sent to the Kennedy Space Center for free flight testing and the media invited to view the Morpheus Lander. On August 9, 2012, the prototype Morpheus #1 Unit A (Alpha) lander crashed on takeoff, whilst performing its second untethered flight at Kennedy Space Center. No one

348-449: A record 283 mph (455 km/h), which still stands as of March 2023. Bohmer impressed the fact that the partnership agreement with NASA and the SLF to test the technology and designs and collect engineering data meant that "[B]y NASA allowing us access to a one-of-a-kind facility, we are given the opportunity to explore these technologies and share their benefits." In 2014, in an attempt at an unofficial production car speed record at

406-493: A return to free-flight testing at Kennedy Space Center later that year. On May 1, 2013, the replacement Morpheus #1.5 Unit B testbed was Hot Fired at the Johnson Space Center. The replacement's enhancements include a 5,400 pounds-force (24,000 N) thrust main engine and integrated oxygen/methane reaction control system (RCS), making it the first oxygen/methane vehicle with Main and RCS engines drawing propellant from

464-400: A sacrificial tank until it burst. On May 1, 2013, at JSC the replacement Unit B Morpheus testbed was fired for 50 seconds whilst fully tethered. The integrated methane reaction control system (RCS) and thrust vector control (TVC) jets were also fired. Many enhancements had been incorporated into the vehicle and ground systems. On May 16, 2013, at JSC the testbed was fired whilst fastened to

522-459: A similar sized payload on the lunar surface. The spacecraft will perform all propellant burns after the trans-lunar injection. Navigation is completely autonomous from Lunar Orbit to touchdown. Navigation updates come from TRN Laser altimetry and star trackers after deorbit burn. Deep space navigation relies on radiometric and star trackers. To save money and time the prototype Morpheus landers are "single-string" prototypes, this means that unlike

580-489: A spacecraft rated for actual space flight they do not have redundant systems. The exceptions are stated below. Commands can be sent using separate Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radios to the thrust termination system (TTS). Use of the TTS by range safety will close two motorized valves which shut off the flow of liquid oxygen and methane to the engine - thereby terminating engine thrust. These TTS valves are completely independent from

638-538: A vertical takeoff and vertical landing ( VTVL ) test vehicle called the Morpheus Lander . It is intended to demonstrate a new nontoxic spacecraft propellant system (methane and oxygen) and an autonomous landing and hazard detection technology. The prototype planetary lander is capable of autonomous flight, including vertical takeoff and landings. The vehicles are NASA-designed robotic landers that will be able to land and take off with 1,100 pounds (500 kg) of cargo on

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696-536: Is 300 feet (91 m) wide. (Despite its length, astronaut Jack R. Lousma stated that he would have preferred the runway to be "half as wide and twice as long") Additionally, the SLF has 1,001 feet (305 m) of paved overruns at each end. The Mate-Demate Device (MDD), for use when the Shuttle was transported by the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft , was located just off the southern end of the runway. The runway

754-414: Is a "spacecraft" that is about 12 ft (3.7 m) in diameter, weighs approximately 2,400 lb (1,100 kg) and consists of four silver spherical propellant tanks topped by avionics boxes and a web of wires. The project is trying out cost and time saving "lean development" engineering practices. Other project activities include appropriate ground operations, flight operations, range safety and

812-426: Is designated runway 15, or 33, depending on the direction of use. The runway surface consists of an extremely high- friction concrete strip designed to maximize the braking ability of the Space Shuttle at its high landing speed, with a paving thickness of 16.0 inches (40.6 cm) at the center. It uses a grooved design to provide drainage and further increase the coefficient of friction. The original groove design

870-662: Is the aerospace economic development agency of the State of Florida . Founded in 2006, it works with commercial space companies, other governmental agencies, and academic institutions to develop space-related infrastructure. The agency was created by consolidating three existing state space entities into a single new organization via the Space Florida Act , enacted in May 2006 by the Florida Legislature . The predecessor entities were

928-443: Is using the same design as the prototype Morpheus #1.5 Unit A lander with the following changes: The optional Autonomous Landing Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) equipment permits landings without operator interaction. ALHAT permits the lander to fly to a specified location with high accuracy and to automatically avoid hazards including slopes greater than 5 degrees and boulders taller than 30 cm. The active sensors include

986-757: The Florida Space Research Institute , and the Florida Aerospace Finance Corporation to create Space Florida. In 2012, Space Florida partnered with NanoRacks to host the Space Florida International Space Station (ISS) Research Competition. Participants competed to fly scientific research payloads in NanoLabs to the International Space Station . The experiments were then conducted on board

1044-690: The Google Lunar X PRIZE (GXLP), and, as such, had offered an additional US$ 2 million bonus to teams that might have launched their Google Lunar X PRIZE-winning missions from the state of Florida. In the event, the GXLP expired in 2018 before any team had even launched a rover mission to attempt to claim the prize. The Florida Space Authority was created as a Florida state government space agency by Florida's Governor and legislature in 1989. The Authority's mission (as authorized in Chapter 331, Part Two, Florida Statutes)

1102-450: The Moon . The prospect is an engine that runs reliably on propellants that are not only cheaper and safer here on Earth, but could also be potentially manufactured on the Moon and Mars . (See: In-situ resource utilization .) The Alpha prototype lander was manufactured and assembled at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) and Armadillo Aerospace 's facility near Dallas. The prototype lander

1160-441: The U.S. Government 's Kennedy Space Center , the open access to the U.S. Air Force's Eastern Range over the open Atlantic Ocean to the east, and easy access to the range's tracking facilities made the location attractive on many margins. Among other potential users of the spaceport facility, SpaceX was reported to be considering Shiloh as one of several potential locations for building a commercial launch facility. Opponents of

1218-654: The X-37B uncrewed spacecraft. In October 2014, NASA signed agreement for the use of the facility, and Boeing upgraded the OPF-1 for the X-37B program. The X-37B ( OTV-4 mission) first used Kennedy Space Center 's Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 15 on May 7, 2017 at 11:47 UTC. Subsequently OTV-5 and 6 mission used Shuttle Landing Facility Runway 33 for landing. In 2012, NASA's Johnson Space Center 's Project Morpheus 's first vehicle arrived at KSC. Prior to arrival at KSC and throughout

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1276-481: The 2012 regression test flights with the more powerful V1.5 engine whilst the lander is tethered, and the problematic early test flight that shows "This is why we test". On May 10, 2012, the testbed passed its hover and soft abort tests, shown in video "Morpheus Tether Test 15". The lander was returned to the workshop to have the ALHAT equipment fitted. The Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters were also fitted. During

1334-548: The Autonomous Landing and Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT), safe landing sensors and closed-loop flight control system. Additional objectives include technology demonstrations such as tank material and manufacture, reaction control thrusters, main engine performance improvements, Helium pressurization systems, ground operations, flight operations, range safety, software and avionics architecture. The Vertical Test Bed (VTB) Flight Complex at JSC has been successfully using

1392-484: The Bravo Lander was taken to Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida for free flight testing. $ 750,000 of parts were purchased to make the replacement lander. KSC limited the noise vibrations on the lander as it lifts off by designing a mobile launch pad with a built-in flame trench. Free Flight 9 on March 11, 2014, was the final flight before integration of ALHAT sensors on Bravo vehicle. Free Flight 14 on May 28, 2014,

1450-541: The Florida Space Authority, the Florida Space Research Institute and the Florida Aerospace Finance Corporation. In 2008, Aviation Week magazine reported that the U.S. Air Force committed to lease Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36 to Space Florida for future use by the Athena III launch system, but that program had not moved forward as late as 2013. In 2010, Space Florida became a "Preferred Partner" of

1508-530: The Mission Control Technologies (MCT) software written at NASA Ames to control the test flights of the Morpheus lander. Parameters displayed include propellant tank pressures. A set of integrated vehicle test flights including hot-fire, tethered hover tests and untethered "free-flights" were devised for the Morpheus vehicle. To provide clearance for the vehicle's exhaust plume during hot-fire tests

1566-549: The Morpheus engine was performance tested at the Stennis Space Center in the summer of 2012. The testing and building of the hazard field were paid for by NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems Program (AES). During Autumn 2012 and early 2013 a fourth and a fifth generation Morpheus methane/LOX rocket engine were test fired at Stennis Space Center . A successful long duration burn lasted 123 seconds. Other tests verified capabilities and throttle levels. The ALHAT equipment

1624-582: The Morpheus project were to demonstrate: Specifically, the Morpheus project and the Autonomous Landing Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) project provide technological foundations for key components necessary to transport humans beyond low Earth orbit . The testbed can optionally be fitted with up to 1000 lb cargo, allowing fitting of the 400lb Autonomous Landing Hazard Avoidance Technology (ALHAT) equipment, which permits landings without operator interaction. ALHAT permits

1682-572: The SLF, a Hennessey Venom GT recorded a top speed of 270.49 mph (435.31 km/h). In 2021, in a similar attempt at the SLF, the SSC Tuatara recorded a one-way speed of 286.1 mph (460.4 km/h) and a two-way average of 282.9 mph (455.3 km/h). In 2019, the Gulfstream G650ER of the multinational One More Orbit flight mission recorded the fastest circumnavigation of the Earth via

1740-542: The SLF, as have record-setting attempts by the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer . The SLF has been the site of high performance automobile testing and speed record attempts. In 2010, NASCAR teams used the facility for vehicle testing. In 2012, Performance Power's Johnny Bohmer drove his Ford GT modified test car at the SLF, setting the Guinness World Records mark for 'Fastest standing mile – car' with

1798-571: The SLF. The final landing of a Space Shuttle occurred on July 21, 2011, by Atlantis for STS-135 . Discovery and Endeavour took off from the SLF on top of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft for museums in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. In January 2014 it was announced that Boeing would lease the Orbiter Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center to enable the U.S. Air Force to efficiently land, recover, refurbish, and re-launch

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1856-560: The Shiloh location that would facilitate commercial space launch pads on the Florida Space Coast . These include working with the U.S. Air Force to see about converting some of the very large amount of unused military launch pads at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (south of Shiloh) to state land that might be used as a commercial spaceport. The efforts in late 2014 to find an alternative ultimately came to fruition in 2015 to open

1914-741: The Summer 2012, the Morpheus Lander V1.5 Unit A was transferred to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for an untethered flight testing. Also, a "hazard field" was built containing hazards such as rocks and craters built at the end of the Space Shuttle's runway to test that the ALHAT system can automatically navigate to a clear landing site. As can be seen in the photograph, the Kennedy's wide open spaces permit

1972-521: The U.S. National Lab. Space Florida covered the costs of research payload transportation to the ISS for the eight winning applicants. The Space Florida ISS Research Competition is designed to inspire innovation and enable unique research opportunities and access for customers to the ISS. In the early 2010s, Space Florida proposed a commercial spaceport at Shiloh , in northern Brevard County , but those plans never came to fruition. Located immediately north of

2030-553: The entire flight path including runway and hazard field to be surrounded by a fire break consisting of a moat filled with water. The 330 by 330 ft (100 by 100 m) hazard field included five potential landing pads, 311 piles of rocks and 24 craters that mimic an area on the Moon's south pole. On July 20, 2012, the 43rd anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, the Morpheus test vehicle arrived at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for advanced testing. The high performance HD5 version of

2088-414: The exception of STS-3 , which landed at White Sands Space Harbor ) while the landing facility continued testing and Shuttle crews developed landing skills at White Sands and Edwards, where the margin for error is much greater than SLF and its water hazards. On September 22, 1993, Discovery was the first Space Shuttle to land at night at the SLF on STS-51 . A total of 78 Space Shuttle missions landed at

2146-485: The facility. Columbia was the first Shuttle to arrive at the SLF via the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on March 24, 1979. The runway was first used to land a Space Shuttle on February 11, 1984, when Challenger's STS-41-B mission returned to Earth. This also marked the first landing of a spacecraft at its launch site. Prior to this, all Shuttle landings were performed at Edwards Air Force Base in California (with

2204-494: The ground, and later tethered 3 ft (0.91 m) above the ground, followed by some reaction control system tests. A small leak was repaired, allowing the testing of the effects of vibration to be nominal. In preparation for the tests, the fire break around the test area had been paved and a mini "flame trench" dug. On May 24, 2013, at JSC the V1.5B testbed was high tethered. There was a good ignition and climb. A soft abort terminated

2262-457: The instigation of software development procedures. Landing pads and control centers were also constructed. From the project start in July 2010, about $ 14 million was spent on materials in the following 4 years; so the Morpheus project is considered lean and low-cost for NASA. In 2012 the project employed 25 full-time team members, and 60 students. At any one time an average of 40 people worked on

2320-520: The integrated test campaign, including the free flights, was published. An article giving a short history of the project was printed in RocketSTEM on July 11, 2014. In November 2014, the Morpheus Lander was fitted with additional ALHAT sensors. The new optics permit the Navigation Doppler Lidar to accurately measure the vehicle's velocity relative to the ground. The primary objectives of

2378-469: The lander to fly to a specified location with high accuracy and to automatically avoid hazards including slopes greater than 5 degrees and boulders taller than 30 cm. In June 2013 the team remarked on the potential to scale the 500 kg payload lander up to one able to land a habitable module with a crew on places such as the Moon. The Project Morpheus vehicle 'Morpheus' is a full scale vehicle that NASA intends to be capable of landing Robonaut or

Shuttle Landing Facility - Misplaced Pages Continue

2436-515: The lander was tethered 20 feet (6.1 m) above the ground. A height of 15 feet (4.6 m) was used for the tethered testing. The testing, test results and equipment modifications performed during 2011, up to and including Tethered Test 6, were published in the conference proceeding of the 2012 IEEE Aerospace Conference at Big Sky, MT Videos of the test flights have been posted on the Morpheus Lander Channel on YouTube. This includes

2494-573: The north and south poles of 46 h 40 min 22 s. The Shuttle Landing Facility served as launch and landing site for the world speed record, certified by the Guinness World Records and the World Air Sports Federation Fédération Aéronautique Internationale . [REDACTED] Media related to Launch and Landing Facility at Wikimedia Commons Space Florida Space Florida

2552-631: The project, Morpheus vehicle tests were performed at other NASA centers; KSC was the site for advanced testing. Multiple tests, including free flight, were performed at the SLF in 2013–2014. Multiple vehicles and iterations of the vehicles were tested, due to upgrades and damages during this experimental test program. During the August 9, 2012, test at the SLF, a vehicle exploded; no one was injured. The SLF has also been used by commercial users. Zero Gravity Corporation , which offers flights where passengers experience brief periods of microgravity , has operated from

2610-671: The project. Project Morpheus devised and used streamlined processes and practices. The Morpheus Lander's last flight was in December 2014. As there were no funds for further flights the lander was returned to JSC in February 2015. Six formal documents were produced by the project. At the end of project review on March 12, 2015, it was estimated that $ 50 million had been saved by the lean development methods, minimising documentation, and buying parts from Home Depot , MSC Industrial Direct , and W. W. Grainger . Project Morpheus started in July 2010 and

2668-633: The proposed Shiloh launch location cite the potential for a negative impact on the natural environment because this area is home to several species listed as endangered or threatened. Even though the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA ) has yet to agree to turn over the land to the State of Florida for commercial development, NASA has agreed to let the Federal Aviation Administration lead an environmental impact study at

2726-558: The proposed site. SpaceX ended up selecting Brownsville, Texas to build its private spaceport . On May 2, 2013, the Volusia County Council voted 6-1 in favor of a commercial launch site at Shiloh. Though largely symbolic in nature, the vote was considered by many to be a critical step toward any future development of the proposed Shiloh location. In July 2014, after difficulties gaining support from environmental groups and others, Space Florida began looking for alternatives to

2784-436: The rest of the vehicle systems. The TTS also stops the laser in the ALHAT's Hazard Detection System from firing - since Type IV lasers are not eye safe. For further details see the "Morpheus: Advancing Technologies for Human Exploration" paper. The prototype Morpheus #1 Unit B lander is using the same design as the prototype Morpheus #1.5 Unit A lander with the following changes: The prototype Morpheus #1 Unit C lander

2842-401: The runway. The landing facility is managed by contractor EG&G , which provides air traffic control services, as well as managing potential hazards to landing aircraft, such as bird life. The Bird Team kept the facility clear of both local and migratory birds during Shuttle landings using pyrotechnics , blank rounds fired from shotguns and a series of 25 propane cannons arranged around

2900-411: The same tanks and first vehicle to use a cryogenic RCS system. On June 14, 2013, rapid re-usability was demonstrated by having two flights using the same lander on the same day. In July 2013 the ALHAT equipment was integrated into and tested with the lander. On September 26, 2013, the vehicles performed 20 short engine firings at a variety of conditions whilst fastened to the ground. In November 2013

2958-596: The state's Governor through the governor's Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development . Development of the space industry. Chapter 331 of the Florida Statutes specifically states that the FSA is not to be considered an "agency," even though it receives funding directly from the state of Florida, according to its website. With the Space Florida Act, enacted in May 2006, the Florida Legislature consolidated FSA,

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3016-403: Was found to actually provide too much friction for the rubber used in the Shuttle's tires, causing failures during several landings. This issue was resolved by grinding down the pavement, reducing the depth of the grooves significantly. A local nickname for the runway is the "gator tanning facility", as some of the 4,000 alligators living at Kennedy Space Center regularly bask in the sunlight on

3074-548: Was injured and no property was damaged but the vehicle was damaged beyond repair. The project investigated the cause and continued by building unit B. In the second half of 2012 the Project Morpheus and ALHAT teams were combined. On February 7, 2013, the Project Morpheus team blogged that they have built the Morpheus 1.5B and 1.5C vehicles. The vehicles underwent a series of static hot fire and dynamic tethered flight tests at Johnson Space Center spring 2013 in preparation for

3132-456: Was named after Morpheus , the Greek god of dreams. The Morpheus spacecraft was derived from the experimental lander produced by Project M with the assistance of Armadillo Aerospace . Project M (NASA) was a NASA initiative to design, develop and land a humanoid robot on the lunar surface in 1000 days. Work on some of the lander's systems began in 2006, when NASA's Constellation program planned

3190-400: Was performed at night with the ALHAT acting as the prime guidance system. The hazards in the hazard field were automatically avoided. In May 2014 Project Morpheus formed part of the reference material for NASA's Lunar CATALYST initiative. A paper was published in 2013 revealing the lessons learnt during the development, which may be useful to future projects. In 2014 a paper describing

3248-472: Was tested using a helicopter on the KSC hazard field. Multiple flights were made using Morpheus-like trajectories, which had to take wind direction into account. Fuel tanks for the lander were put through a series of inspections and tests, including checking welds for defects and cycling tank pressure to establish a minimum cycle life expectancy of the tanks. The maximum pressure capability was verified by pressurizing

3306-427: Was to retain, expand and diversify the state's space-related industry. Chapter 331 gives FSA governmental powers similar to those of other types of transportation authorities ( airport , seaport , etc.) to support and regulate the state's space transportation industry. It was empowered to own, operate, construct, finance, acquire, extend, equip and improve spaceport infrastructure . The Florida Space Authority served

3364-537: Was upgraded again in 2013 to 5,000 lbf (22,000 N) finally reaching 5,400 lbf (24,000 N). A new design of landing gear was part of the Mechanical changes. NASA also replaced the avionics - this included power distribution and storage, instrumentation, the flight computer, communications and software. The enhanced landing system permits Morpheus, unlike the Pixels, to liftoff, fly, and land without help from

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