Jeremy Graeber Assistant Launch Director at Kennedy

Space Center, FL talks about working inside the Launch

Control Center June 14, 2022. Mandatory Credit: Craig
Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
"We've moved through each of the different programs, we have adjusted, modified, reused,
and taken advantage of the capabilities that are here from Apollo to shuttle and now through
Artemis," Graeber said. "This space center has allowed us to do those things."

He added: "It's an honor to be a part of this kind of sacred building that we work in."

Inside the lobby of the Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center, FL June 14, 2022.
Mandatory Credit: Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

KSC looks to the future

After the last space shuttle flight on July 8, 2011, many feared what the future would hold
for KSC. NASA was determined to turn the center into a multi-user spaceport.

They've had some success.

The Commercial Crew Program restored a regular use of the Neil Armstrong Operations
and Checkout Building and brought a regular cadence of crewed launches back to Launch
Complex 39-A. SpaceX has launched five astronaut missions to the space station for
NASA. Boeing, the other company chosen for commercial crew, only recently
completed an uncrewed orbital test flight of its Starliner capsule but has yet to fly humans.

Bob Sieck, former Launch Director at Kennedy Space Center, FL talks about working inside
the Launch Control Center June 14, 2022. Mandatory Credit: Craig Bailey/FLORIDA
TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

The Vehicle Assembly Building that went unused following the end of the shuttle program
found renewed purpose with the stacking of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion
capsule. NASA officials envisioned that the VAB would be used by commercial partners, but
that plan hasn't exactly worked out.
In 2019 Northrop Grumman signed on as the first commercial tenant of the world's largest
garage. The VAB was intended to be used to develop and construct the company's OmegA
rocket.

After losing out on the government contract to SpaceX and United Launch Alliance,
Northrop Grumman decided to forgo the development of the rocket and the use of the VAB.

The same story applies to launch pad 39-B and the Shuttle Landing Facility. While NASA's
SLS rocket is the only thing planned to launch from launch pad 39-B since the days of the
shuttle, the Shuttle Landing Facility found some success with commercial partners.

Manifest packed with launch missions: Space Force and NASA order more than a dozen
launches from ULA and SpaceX

The Deep Space Launch Complex: Gateway is Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex's
newest immersive deep space attraction

Another wet dress rehearsal: NASA's moon rocket is back on its launch pad for another wet
dress rehearsal attempt

NASA leased the landing strip to Space Florida under a 30-year contract. In 2021 Sierra
Space announced plans to use the now-known Launch and Landing Facility to one day land
their space plane, the Dream Chaser.

Sierra Space is expected to use the Dream Chaser to fly cargo resupply missions to the
space station for NASA, although that is not expected to begin before 2023.

Other facilities have been revamped to support commercial partners turning previously
unused land into production facilities where the next generation of reusable rockets and
crew transportation systems are being born.

SpaceX took over Launch Complex 39-A for the operation of its Falcon family of rockets.
The company has now expanded to a larger plot of land off of Roberts Road. It includes a
brand new hangar and processing facility where Falcon rockets are refurbished for reflight.
What could be the most significant change to KSC since the 60s, is if SpaceX follows
through with plans to build out a new launch pad at Launch Complex 49, a swath of land to
the north of launch pad 39-B, which it petitioned for in 2021.

For now, though, those plans have not been enacted.

SpaceX is, however, working on extending its launch capabilities at Launch Complex 39-A
with the construction of a new launch pad to support the company's proposed Starship
rocket.

But 60 years later, Kennedy Space Center is returning to its roots as the SLS mega-moon
rocket sits on the launch pad of Launch Complex 39-B, just like in the days of Apollo.

Jamie Groh is a space reporter for Florida Today. You can contact her at
JGroh@floridatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AlteredJamie.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Kennedy Space Center marks 60 years
again looking to moon in nod to Apollo

02
Apollo Hospitals to operate & manage 375 beds tertiary hospital in
Chittagong, Bangladesh

on Monday said it has entered into a partnership with Imperial Hospital Ltd (IHL) to operate
and manage the latter's 375 bedded multi-specialty tertiary care hospital in Chittagong,
Bangladesh.
"In line with the mission to bring healthcare of international standards within the reach of
every individual, Imperial Hospital and Apollo Hospitals have signed a brand licensing,
operations, and management (BOMA) agreement," Apollo Hospitals said in a statement.