Air Force Awards $48 Million for Minotaur Launches at Cape Canaveral

The U.S. Air Force has awarded a $48 million contract to provide Florida-based launch services for the federal government.

The "Spaceports 3" funding will kick-start a series of Minotaur rocket launches.

The first $30,000 installment, which takes effect immediately, will fund development of a plan for solid-propellant rocket launches from Space Launch Complex 46 (SLC-46) at Cape Canaveral, managed by Space Florida.

The logistics plan is a valuable first step to making the Cape a new location for launch of Minotaur and other solid-propellant rockets, noted Mark Bontrager, Space Florida vice president of spaceport operations.

In November, Space Florida signed a letter of intent with Masten Space Systems to host demonstration launches of a Masten suborbital vehicle from SLC-36 in 2011.

The Eastern Range streamlined processes for multiple types of users to reduce costs for the launch customer, making Florida even more attractive for new space-related business, Bontrager noted. Adding Minotaur launches will give Florida even more capability to host a wide variety of payloads.

Space Florida will partner with ATK and Astrotech on the Spaceports 3 contract to provide the launch complex and process future payloads related to Minotaur launches from Florida.

Space Florida continues to work aggressively with all launch providers to increase operations in Florida in support of a wide variety of civil, defense and commercial missions, said Space Florida President Frank DiBello.

Adding potential for Minotaur launches from SLC-46 is just part of an overarching strategy to enable multiple launch opportunities that will reinforce Floridas position as the preferred launch location in the U.S.

DiBello said Florida's launch sites can accommodate larger payloads than other U.S. spaceports such as Wallops Island, Va.

In 2010, Florida launched 15 commercial, civil and defense rocket missions.