The unmanned Juno spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral Friday via an Atlas V rocket, and is now on its way to Jupiter.
The solar-powered craft will stay away from the large planets shadow when it arrives in Jupiters orbit in 2016.
Fridays launch was the second of five scheduled rocket launches by the United Launch Alliance over a six-month time frame. The first launched from California in June, but there will be two more unmanned missions (one to the moon in September, another to Mars in November) launched from Cape Canaveral.
Although they dont receive the same fanfare or media attention as the manned space shuttle launches, rocket launches are a hallmark of the space industry in Florida. With the end of the space shuttle program last month, rocket missions will be clung to not only for explorations sake, but also for jobs in the Space Coast.
ULA and other space contractors -- not to mention NASA -- began layoffs of thousands of workers last year as the space shuttle program began to wind down. But new opportunities could arise in the form of commercial space venture bent on low-earth orbit travels.
Also, it was announced Thursday that Boeings defense, space and security wing selected ULAs Atlas V rocket to launch its new Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft. The spacecraft is designed to transport crews to the International Space Station and will receive test flights in early 2015 before a manned launch later that year (before Juno makes it to Jupiter).
This selection marks a major step forward in Boeings efforts to provide NASA with a proven launch capability as part of our complete commercial crew transporation service, said John Elbon, Boeings vice president and program manager of commercial crew programs.
But that partnership is dependent on NASA awarding Boeing a development contract with sufficient funding, a tough sell after the raucous debt-ceiling debate on Capitol Hill.
Meanwhile, Floridas state government is hoping to spur investment in commercial space ventures, but details are sketchy on how best to jump-start an industry that requires large amounts of upfront capital in a debt-averse global economy.
Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad said a focus on space will be part of Gov. Rick Scotts new transportation plans for Florida.
Florida, with its strong history in the aerospace industry, a highly-trained work force, proven infrastructure, has a unique opportunity to lay the groundwork for a thriving commercial space industry in Florida. This year, the Department will invest over $15 million for infrastructure improvements at Cape Canaveral and will work in partnership with Space Florida, NASA and the private sector to create jobs and strengthen Floridas position as the global leader in aerospace research, investment, exploration, and commerce, Prasad said.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
