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10-07-2025
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Starships coming to Florida: Air Force collecting public comments during Brevard hearings
Public comments wanted: U.S. Air Force officials seek feedback on potential environmental impacts from up to 76 future Starship-Super Heavy rocket systems launching per year from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first of a trio of Starship public hearings on Florida's Space Coast took place Tuesday, July 8, at the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum in Titusville. That's where Titusville resident Russ Hansen expressed concerns about the mega-rocket's test-flight track record thus far in Texas. "I believe out of nine launches they've had, five of them have exploded either on the launch pad or over the Caribbean," Hansen said during the formal public-comment session. "And my concerns are, are there any mitigation effects in place or planned if that were to happen on Cape Canaveral (Space) Force Station, either on the pads or over the Atlantic Ocean?" he asked. Starship: Air Force: Starship to cause few environmental impacts at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station In a draft environmental impact statement released last month, Air Force officials determined the Starship liftoffs — punctuated by up to 152 sonic-boom-producing landings per year — would generate few significant environmental impacts at Launch Complex 37. SpaceX seeks regulatory permissions to start launching Starships there and at NASA's neighboring Kennedy Space Center, an endeavor expected to generate at least $1.8 billion of capital investment and about 600 new full-time jobs by 2030. Dozens of people attended the Titusville public hearing, though only three spoke during the public-comment period. Next, officials will conduct two more Brevard County hearings this week to present information, answer questions and collect input. Hours are 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Formal video presentations begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by public comment: Wednesday, July 9, in Cape Canaveral: Radisson Resort at the Port, 8701 Astronaut Blvd. Thursday, July 10, in Cocoa: Dr. Joe Lee Smith Recreation Center, 415 Stone St. What's more, a July 15 virtual hearing starts at 6 p.m. at "The Air Force is committed to understanding and minimizing potential impacts on the diverse wildlife and habitats at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and the surrounding area," meeting storyboard materials said. Public comments can be submitted through July 28 at and by emailing contactus@ with the subject line 'SpaceForceStarshipEIS.' Or, mail comments to CCSFS Starship EIS, 5401 W. Kennedy Blvd. #300, Tampa FL 33609. 'We want to hear from the folks who have concerns about the environment. That's what this process is all about,' U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Indian Harbour Beach, said in a phone interview. He chairs the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. Haridopolos recalled Brevard County's economic woes from the end of NASA's space shuttle program after Atlantis' final flight in July 2011. By contrast, he said, "this is what we've been dreaming of for years." 'It is the exact opposite. We are booming, literally, right now. And we want to hear those environmental concerns. But these are jobs that the STEM education program produces. And people are spending billions of dollars here on the Space Coast," Haridopolos said. "We want to make sure we understand the environmental impacts. But was also want to understand the economic impacts, and how we can best balance those," he said. In addition to Starship operations at LC-37, SpaceX simultaneously seeks federal environmental and regulatory approvals to boost rocket launches at two more sites: Pad 39A at KSC: Launch up to 44 Starship-Super Heavy systems per year. Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station: Increase annual Falcon rocket launches from 50 to up to 120. David Botto, a founding member of the Indian River Lagoon Roundtable, came to Brevard County in 1968 supporting NASA's Apollo program. The retired Air Force lieutenant colonel recalled working 70- and 80-hour workweeks: "I am a space man," he said. The IRLR is monitoring SpaceX's Starship proposal. Botto said the grassroots group fully supports development of a world-class spaceport, but it must be done to guarantee no harm to the ecologically imperiled lagoon. Without establishing a centralized authority to manage rapid development across the Cape, the future of the northern lagoon is at risk — perhaps great risk, he said during the IRLR June 24 meeting. "The proper analysis of topography and hydrology should be done as an area, not 100 acres at a time as it is being done now. The piecemeal development will not help us. It will actually cause danger to the lagoon," he said. Botto said a critical factor is stormwater runoff, specifically excess freshwater in a salty environment, something that can kill oysters, clams, shrimp and sea trout. He said the IRLR supports Space Florida's proposed space commerce district development plan with NASA. This would divide KSC into seven land-use planning districts and analyze cumulative effects on utilities, air quality, threatened and endangered species, noise, water resources and other factors. The IRLR also supports adding the Space Force and other major stakeholders to this effort. The estimated total construction footprint at LC-37 and the surrounding area, including upgrades to transportation and utilities, is about 230 acres. The Air Force timeline calls for publication of a final Starship environmental impact statement in fall, followed by a record of decision issuance in winter. For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly Space newsletter. Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Air Force hosting SpaceX Starship public hearings on Florida's Space Coast
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10-07-2025
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Starship launching from Florida? What to know about giant rocket, explosions and 'Gigabay'
Floridians finally have the opportunity to provide some public feedback on SpaceX's plans to expand operations of its massive Starship rocket to the Sunshine State. And unsurprisingly, residents are already expressing some of the same concerns that SpaceX opponents in Texas have long had about the spacecraft, which is being developed and tested for future human missions. Starship has made headlines this year for a series of explosions that have occurred in 2025 after launching from SpaceX's Starbase headquarters in South Texas for uncrewed flight tests. But during the first of three scheduled public hearings on Florida's Space Coast, most of those who spoke addressed the potential environmental effects from Starship rocket launches. The hearings come amid plans for billionaire Elon Musk's commercial spaceflight company to bring Starship production and launch capabilities to Florida potentially by the end of 2025. Standing nearly 400 feet tall when fully stacked, Starship is due in the years ahead to play a pivotal role in the U.S. spaceflight program. Tourists' guide to Florida launches: Vacationing in Florida and want to catch a rocket launch? Here's what to know Here's what to know about the public hearings in Florida, as well as SpaceX's future plans for Starship in the state. SpaceX is seeking regulatory approval to commence conducting Starship flight tests at both the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's neighboring Kennedy Space Center. Before approval is granted, U.S. Air Force officials are providing a chance for feedback on potential environmental impacts from up to 76 future Starship-Super Heavy rocket systems launching per year from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Just three people spoke during the first hearing, which took place Wednesday, July 9, though dozens more were in attendance. A second hearing took place later in the day, while the third and final in-person hearing is scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 10, at the Dr. Joe Lee Smith Recreation Center, 415 Stone St., Cocoa, Florida. A virtual hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, at Previous public hearings took place regarding plans for 44 potential launches from the Kennedy Space Center. While some residents have expressed concerns about the effect Starship launches could have on the environment and local wildlife, Florida officials have estimated that the endeavor could generate at least $1.8 billion of capital investment and about 600 new full-time jobs by 2030. Environmental impact statements are underway for both potential launch sites. "We want to make sure we understand the environmental impacts. But we also want to understand the economic impacts, and how we can best balance those," U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Indian Harbour Beach, told FLORIDA TODAY. As SpaceX breaks ground in Florida on a new Starship facility it calls "Gigabay," the company is also finalizing plans to launch the Starship spacecraft by the end of 2025 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. For SpaceX head Musk, expanding Starship operations to a second state is crucial to accelerate the development of the vehicle. SpaceX has long had plans in place to build a Starship launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral. The site is located at the historic launch complex 39A – the site of the U.S. space agency's Apollo moon mission launches. SpaceX would not only equip the site to launch Starship, but to catch its Super Heavy rocket booster when it returns to the pad – as it has done three times at Starbase. Ultimately, though, SpaceX has ambitious plans for the construction of its 380-foot-tall Gigabay in Florida. The massive building, which will be used to stack and finalize the 232-foot-tall Super Heavy boosters, or lower stages, with the Starship vehicle before flights, is under construction near SpaceX's facility on Kennedy Space Center grounds. Starship, regarded as the world's largest and most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, towers over SpaceX's famous Falcon 9 rocket – one of the world's most active – which stands at nearly 230 feet. When fully integrated, the launch system is composed of both a 232-foot Super Heavy rocket and the 171-foot upper stage spacecraft, or capsule where crew and cargo would ride. Super Heavy alone is powered by 33 of SpaceX's Raptor engines that give the initial burst of thrust at liftoff. The upper section, also called Starship or Ship for short, is the upper stage powered by six Raptor engines that will ultimately travel in orbit. SpaceX is developing Starship to be a fully reusable transportation system, meaning both the rocket and vehicle can return to the ground for additional missions. The Starship is due to play a pivotal role in the years ahead in U.S. spaceflight as NASA eyes a return to the moon and Musk has dreams of the first humans reaching Mars. On June 18, Starship unexpectedly exploded while SpaceX was preparing for an upcoming flight test. No one was hurt in the incident, which occurred as the Starship spacecraft was standing alone on the test stand prior to being mounted on top of the rocket booster. The mishap, which SpaceX later referred to on its website as "a sudden energetic event," completely destroyed the spacecraft and ignited several fires that caused damage in the area surrounding the test stand. While SpaceX is investigating the mishap, Musk said in a post on X that preliminary data suggested that a pressurized tank failed at the top of the rocket. The explosion was the latest fiery mishap SpaceX's Starship has encountered during – and, now, prior to – its flight tests in 2025. Starship's most recent demonstration came May 27 when the spacecraft spun out of control roughly halfway through its flight and disintegrated in a fireball. Though Starship was unable to achieve its most important objectives, the distance the vehicle traveled far surpassed the previous 2025 flights in January and March, when Starship exploded within minutes. The company has frequently stressed that its rapid and frequent testing is expected to sometimes lead to such explosive ends, but that even failed launches can provide data that helps engineers improve Starship's design. Contributing: Brooke Edwards, FLORIDA TODAY Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Will SpaceX Starship launch from Florida? Public invited to give input
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13-06-2025
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Explosives topple ULA launch complex towers to make room for SpaceX Starships at Cape Canaveral
Following a quick succession of orange-flamed explosions, United Launch Alliance's mobile service tower and high-reaching lightning towers toppled to the ground Thursday, June 11, at historic Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The demolition clears room for SpaceX to build new launch pads, landing pads and surrounding infrastructure for enormous Starship-Super Heavy rocket systems — which could start rumbling to flight from Launch Complex 37 as soon as next year. "Shout out to the @SLDelta45 and @SpaceX for the clean and precision demolition operation!!! Cheers to the future!" SpaceX Vice President of Launch Kiko Dontchev said in a tweet. Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral ULA previously launched Delta IV rockets from the complex. The 16th Delta IV Heavy triple-core rocket notched its final fiery liftoff in April 2024 on a National Reconnaissance Office mission, marking the last launch at the site. Now, SpaceX awaits key environmental and regulatory approvals from the U.S. Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration to start launching Starships from the complex. A 176-page Air Force draft environmental impact statement spells out proposed new infrastructure at LC-37: Two integration towers, each measuring about 600 feet tall. Two concrete launch pads about 400 feet long by 400 feet wide. Two concrete landing pads, each measuring about 225 feet in diameter, with two Super Heavy first-stage-booster catch towers. These will stack up similar in size to the integration towers. Flame trenches and diverters to reduce acoustic and thermal energy during launches and landings. Utilities, propellant tanks, staging and storage buildings, water storage and stormwater ponds, lighting and other improvements. In addition, SpaceX would widen about seven miles of Phillips Parkway. Roughly four miles of this stretch lie on the Space Force installation, while the other three are on NASA's adjacent Kennedy Space Center. Crews would also widen and improve about one mile of Old State Road A1A. ULA's lease of LC-37 expired after that April 2024 Delta IV Heavy launch, and infrastructure at the launch site was turned over to the Air Force, said Emre Kelly, Space Launch Delta 45 media operations chief. "The (Air Force) does not intend to make a future leasing decision on SLC-37 until the Starship Environmental Impact Statement is complete and Record of Decision has been published," Kelly said in an email. Launch Complex 37 construction wrapped up in August 1963, three months before President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Six Saturn I and two Saturn IB rockets launched there during the 1960s before NASA deactivated and mothballed the complex by November 1971, according to the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum. After lying dormant for more than two decades, crews built new infrastructure at the complex and the first Delta IV launched in November 2002. 'I have great feelings of nostalgia for that pad. I was fortunate enough to capture several Delta Medium and Delta Heavy launches from that pad. The Delta rockets were just beautiful to photograph," Indialantic space photographer Michael Seeley said after capturing demolition video and images. "And so, watching it topple, I was reminded of that. And I'm reminded that, with change comes opportunity. I'm interested to see what comes next,' Seeley said. For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly Space newsletter. Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: ULA rocket towers demolished at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
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12-06-2025
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Air Force: Starship to cause few environmental impacts at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Would launching up to 76 massive SpaceX Starship rockets atop Super Heavy boosters per year — accompanied by up to 152 sonic-boom-producing landings — generate few significant environmental impacts from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Launch Complex 37? That's what a newly released Air Force draft environmental impact statement determined. However, Charlie Venuto, past president of the Merritt Island Wildlife Association, worries how Starship's thunderous noise and vibrations will affect ecologically threatened Southeastern beach mice and nesting sea turtles — along with air and water quality — across the nonprofit's namesake 140,000-acre national wildlife refuge and Canaveral National Seashore. The draft EIS acknowledged that Starship-Super Heavy launches and sonic booms from Launch Complex 37 would constitute a "community annoyance" for areas like Cape Canaveral, Titusville and Cocoa Beach. And in a move cheered by MIWA officials, the study eliminated from further analysis the thought of building new Starship launch complexes at two greenspace areas at the Cape, citing high potential of endangered species and archaeological sites. Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral "The refuge has more endangered and threatened species than any other refuge in the continental U.S. So you know, we have an obligation. I know, working on shuttle, that was always a major concern," Venuto said. He was manager of environmental safety for USBI, NASA's prime contractor for shuttle solid rocket boosters. "We wanted to maintain that balance between technology and nature. And it seemed like we did a pretty good job of that," Venuto said. SpaceX seeks regulatory permissions to start launching Starship rockets from Launch Complex 37 at the Space Force installation and pad 39A at NASA's neighboring Kennedy Space Center. The enormous economic undertaking will generate at least $1.8 billion of capital investment and generated about 600 new full-time jobs by 2030, Gov. Ron Desantis' office announced. The Air Force's 176-page draft environmental impact statement analyzed potential environmental, social, economic, historic and cultural ramifications from redeveloping about 230 acres of Launch Complex 37 to support Starship-Super Heavy operations starting next year, including launches and booster landings. United Launch Alliance previously used LC-37 to send up hulking triple-core Delta IV Heavy rockets. The last Delta IV Heavy launched in April 2024. Starship infrastructure includes two concrete launch pads, launch mounts, twin 600-foot integration towers, twin 225-foot-diameter landing pads, and landing catch towers. In addition to up to 76 annual Starship launches, the draft EIS examined 76 yearly Starship static-fire tests, 76 Super Heavy static-fire tests, 76 Super Heavy landings and 76 Starship landings. The draft EIS said Starship would have no significant impact on wildlife from LC-37, though "some federally protected species would be exposed to light, vehicle traffic, noise (including sonic boom overpressures), vibration, and heat during launch operations." What's more, the study determined Starship operations would not have significant impact on air quality, the maritime transportation system, hearing damage, structural damages, groundwater or surface waters. The Air Force draft EIS eliminated consideration of building a new Launch Complex 50 for Starship operations from greenspace at the northern portion of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This is "an area with high potential for endangered species and archaeological sites," the study said. Also eliminated was the potential, unbuilt 175-acre Launch Complex 49 near KSC's northern border, in proximity to Playalinda Beach. This land is part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. During a FLORIDA TODAY interview, Venuto and MIWA President Nancy Bray praised those moves. "The good news we were glad to hear was that they were going to repurpose these facilities," Venuto said of LC-37. "We felt that was impressive. That was good thought: Use the infrastructure that you have, and build on that. So we applauded that." Bray logged a 34-year NASA career, serving as KSC's director of spaceport integration and services. SpaceX is also developing a Starship-Super Heavy site there at pad 39A, pending environmental approval and issuance of a Federal Aviation Administration vehicle operator license. The goal: Conduct up to 44 annual launches and 88 landings from KSC. In a June 2024 letter to the FAA, the MIWA — which boasts roughly 2,500 paid members and interested "constituents" — expressed holistic concerns about Starship-Super Heavy in light of cumulative rocket-launch impacts across the Cape. That includes Blue Origin's heavy-lift New Glenn rockets, the second of which could launch as soon as Aug. 15. Plus, SpaceX seeks permission to boost Falcon rocket launches from 50 to up to 120 from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. "The SpaceX facility on Roberts Rd. continues to expand and there are many build projects at the KSC Visitors Center. There are several other construction projects planned for KSC and CCSFS," the letter said. "The cumulative affects to water quality, air quality (including damage to the stratospheric ozone layer), habitat destruction, ability to practice conservation management techniques such as controlled burns, and increased carbon emissions need to be examined in total," the letter said. Bray and Venuto said they will monitor the Starship environmental permitting process during the coming months. Now, officials are collecting public comments on the Air Force draft EIS for the Launch Complex 37 proposal. Officials will conduct three Brevard County public hearings to present information, answer questions and collect comments. Hours are 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with formal presentations starting at 5:30 p.m. July 8 in Titusville: American Police Hall of Fame and Museum, 6350 Horizon Drive. July 9 in Cape Canaveral: Radisson Resort at the Port, 8701 Astronaut Blvd. July 10 in Cocoa: Dr. Joe Lee Smith Recreation Center, 415 Stone St. In addition, a virtual meeting will be available from July 15 to 28 at Public comments can be submitted through July 28 at and by emailing contactus@ with the subject line 'SpaceForceStarshipEIS.' Or, mail comments to CCSFS Starship EIS, 5401 W. Kennedy Blvd. #300, Tampa FL 33609. Starship operations would have a beneficial impact on Brevard County's economy, decreasing unemployment and likely increasing the median income in the area, the draft EIS said. "Up to 450 additional full-time employees or contractors would be needed to support launch activities 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, throughout the year," the study said of LC-37 operations. In addition, Starship launches from the Space Force station would "increase the space launch mission capability of the (Department of Defense), NASA, and other federal and commercial customers and enhance the resilience and capacity of the nation's space launch infrastructure, while promoting a robust and competitive national space industry," the study said. Noise represented the study's lone known potential significant cumulative effect — which it labeled a "community annoyance" for areas like Cape Canaveral, Titusville and Cocoa Beach. To mitigate noise, SpaceX would: Employ sound suppression systems, such as water deluge and flame diverters. Work with Space Launch Delta 45 to notify the community of noise and sonic boom events. Structural damage claims would be investigated, with claimants compensated according to FAA regulations, the Commercial Space Launch Act and Air Force policy. On that topic, the Cape Canaveral City Council is partnering with the Florida Institute of Technology on an upcoming $10,019 rocket launch impact study. Researchers will install sensor suites this summer at buildings across the beachside city to collect data on decibel levels, vibrations and air quality before, during and after all launches from the Cape. Starship-Super Heavy's noise, vibrations and sonic booms will likely adversely affect Southeastern beach mice and Florida scrub-jays, per the draft EIS. SpaceX would develop monitoring plans in coordination with Space Launch Delta 45 and USFWS to better understand noise and overpressure impacts on these threatened species. "Southeastern beach mouse habitat permanently lost during construction would be mitigated by providing funding to offset the loss of habitat at an offsite location in accordance with an agreement with the USFWS. This mitigation would also benefit Florida scrub-jay habitat," the draft EIS said. Similarly, SpaceX would submit a lighting management plan to minimize effects on sea turtle nesting and hatchlings. For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly Space newsletter. Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Merritt Island refuge backers concerned about Starship wildlife impacts
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12-06-2025
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'Hockey stick of job growth' fueled by space, aerospace industries across Brevard
This story is part of America's Evolving Cities, a USA TODAY Network project that takes a close look at four regions across the country and their unique paths to success — and how residents have benefited or suffered along the way. Rather than die on the vine, high-tech space and aerospace industries have mushroomed and flourished across Florida's Space Coast — to magnitudes few could have predicted — since NASA mothballed the space shuttle program after Atlantis' final flight in July 2011. Think billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos — the two richest men in the world — and their respective companies SpaceX and Blue Origin. And national defense contractors like L3Harris Technologies, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. Viewed on a chart, Brevard County's annual aerospace-aviation workforce statistics show "a hockey stick of job growth" climbing upward in recent years, said Mike Miller, Space Florida vice president of external affairs, speaking during an April 22 Melbourne Regional Chamber presentation. Example: Brevard County's workforce in that sector practically doubled during the brief span from 2017 (7,847 workers) to 2023 (14,828 workers), Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast records show. And SpaceX is delivering a mammoth program now under construction: The gargantuan Starship-Super Heavy rocket system is coming to NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Economists expect at least $1.8 billion in projected capital investment and 600 new full-time jobs by 2030. 'It's a very exciting time, just as it was back in the '50s and the '60s,' said Robert Taylor, a Florida Institute of Technology history professor. 'Someday, when Americans actually make the trip back to the moon — or the ultimate trip to Mars — they'll start right here in Brevard County," Taylor said. Aside from SpaceX, EDC officials provided a list of Brevard's anchor corporate investments since the end of the shuttle program, nearly 14 years ago: ⬤ Blue Origin. In a 2015 move hailed by economic development officials as a shift "from a shuttle shutdown to a commercial space rebirth," Bezo's private company announced it would build a rocket manufacturing facility on the Space Coast. Fast forward to today. Blue Origin has invested more than $3 billion in facilities in Florida and employs more than 3,000 workers in the state, primarily on the Space Coast. The company's ever-growing rocket factory on Merritt Island sprawls across more than 230 acres, building massive New Glenn two-stage rockets. Former NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe told FLORIDA TODAY this "unbelievable" complex is one of the biggest construction infrastructure efforts at the Cape since the 1960s. ⬤ L3Harris Technologies. In 2015, Melbourne-based Harris Corp., which partnered with NASA on space projects for decades, acquired Exelis Inc., a global aerospace company based in McLean, Virginia, in a $4.75 billion deal. That same year, Harris Corp. opened the six-story, 450,000-square-foot Harris Technology Center in Palm Bay to house about 1,400 employees. And in 2019, the company merged with L3 Technologies to form L3Harris Technologies, America's sixth-largest defense company. Today, L3Harris ranks as Brevard County's third-largest employer, trailing only Health First and Brevard Public Schools. In 2023, the defense-contracting giant completed its $4.7 billion acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne. ⬤ Northrop Grumman. Major expansion started two years after Atlantis' final flight at the company's ever-growing campus at Melbourne Orlando International Airport. That's where engineers developed the U.S. Air Force's B-21 Raider long-range stealth bomber, which is under production and testing in California. Northrop Grumman's Melbourne campus employs about 5,000 workers, including contract employees, across 2 million square feet of office, labs and manufacturing space. The building count jumped from six to 17 between 2016 and 2022. And work is underway on another 38-acre, multi-phase expansion complex on airport-owned property along NASA Boulevard for about 1,200 employees. ⬤ Lockheed Martin. Back in 2005, the defense contractor announced it would retain 1,000 jobs by keeping the U.S. Naval Ordnance Test Unit at Port Canaveral, the EDC reported. By 2017, the company moved its Fleet Ballistic Missile headquarters from Sunnyvale, California, to Titusville, bringing in 350 new jobs. In 2021, Lockheed Martin opened its Spacecraft Test, Assembly and Resource (STAR) Center in Titusville to expand manufacturing, assembly and testing for NASA's Orion spacecraft program. And in January, the firm announced plans to build a $140-million advanced manufacturing facility in Titusville supporting the U.S. Navy's next-generation Trident II D5 LE2 ballistic missile program. This expansion is projected to open in 2027 and generate up to 300 new jobs with average salaries of $89,000. ⬤ Embraer. Since 2008, Embraer has announced four development phases creating its first North American business-jet-building campus at the Melbourne airport, generating more than 1,000 jobs and capital investments topping $155 million. The Brazilian company operates business jet production facilities, a global customer center and its first U.S.-based engineering and technology center here. Embraer's Phenom 100EV and the Phenom 300E, which can carry up to 11 passengers and crew — are built "nose to tail" in Melbourne. Alongside Embraer, Lynda Weatherman, EDC president and CEO, pointed to Lockheed's Orion spacecraft program as leading a "paradigm shift" in Brevard's aerospace-aviation sector. She said the EDC led the aggressive effort to land Orion. "For the first time in 50 years of history of space in the state of Florida, we're assembling a launch vehicle. Ever. And people need to see that and understand: That was the paradigm shift," she said. Illustrating that point, Weatherman cited Dassault Falcon Jet's new $115 million maintenance complex under construction at Melbourne Orlando International Airport, which will service corporate aircraft from the U.S. East Coast, Mexico and Latin America. The first aircraft should arrive in July. Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long said those developments helped spur continuing accelerated growth. Just the past two years, he said Space Florida-backed projects added more than 1,500 jobs and $2.7 billion of investment on Space Coast — generating roughly $750 million in economic impact. Back in 2011, the year Atlantis flew for the final time, the Space Coast hosted 10 orbital rocket launches carrying about 95,334 pounds of payload into orbit, Space Florida statistics show. Civil agencies like NASA and NOAA accounted for six of those missions, while the other four launches were for the Department of Defense. Fast forward to last year. A record-shattering 93 launches lifted more than 2.74 million pounds of payload into orbit — a whopping 29-fold increase. SpaceX rockets accounted for 88 of last year's 93 missions, while United Launch Alliance rockets launched the remaining five. 'The (rocket) launch is exciting to see. And it's in many ways a visual metaphor of what's happening here, if you think about it," Weatherman said. Sarah Beaudin, a Northrop Grumman systems engineering director, has worked for the defense contractor for 22 years. She moved from Southern California to central Brevard in 2018, and she serves as technical chief on the U.S. Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye radar-dome aircraft program. Beaudin said she enjoys Brevard's easy accessibility, particularly to the beaches, and she and her daughter picked up birdwatching as a hobby. How has the Space Coast changed since she arrived? "The growth. There has been a lot of growth. I live right off Pineda Causeway. When I bought my house, it was a dead end on the other side of (Interstate) 95. Now, there's Costco and lots and lots of houses — and more being built," she said. Space Launch Delta 45 now projects 107 rockets will launch during 2025. Looking ahead, Federal Aviation Administration officials are collecting public comment on SpaceX's proposal to boost Falcon rocket launches up to 120 per year just from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. "It really used to be an event when the shuttle went off, and people would line the roads and they'd watch the shuttle go up. Night launches were particularly spectacular. But today, it seems like it's not so much an event ... sometimes, it seems daily there's rockets going up," Florida Historical Society Executive Director Ben Brotemarkle said. "The future looks bright for the space program. And there's certainly continued growth that you can see today in Brevard County. It never ceases to amaze me driving down the roads," Brotemarkle said. For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Rockets, aerospace growth take off in Brevard in NASA post-shuttle era
