A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, Sept. 28, 2024. The rocket carried U.S. Space Force Col. Nick Hague in a Dragon spacecraft that he is set to pilot to the International Space Station. This Crew-9 launch marks the first time that a USSF Guardian has launched into space. (Spencer Contrer/U.S. Space Force)
(Tribune News Service) — Could Elon Musk and SpaceX be set to drop $1.8 billion for new launch support facilities in Cape Canaveral? Space Florida, the state’s aerospace economic development entity, isn’t saying just who wants to spend the money, but they are planning to discuss the secretive plan called “Project Hinton” at a meeting this week.
The agenda notes for Wednesday’s meeting outlined the project that will be a “high-volume production facility, high bay and launch infrastructure at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport.”
The price tag is greater than the $1 billion Jeff Bezos sunk into refurbishing Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 36 for his Blue Origin New Glenn rocket, so it falls in line with Musk’s plans for launching hundreds, and eventually thousands of Starships a year in his quest to create a colony on Mars.
SpaceX already is trying to get Starship pads built at both Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39-A as well as pursuing a takeover of Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 37 that had been used by United Launch Alliance until this year’s final Delta IV Heavy launch. The Canaveral site is in the midst of an environmental impact study led by the Air Force, while the KSC site has one being run by the Federal Aviation Administration.
SpaceX for now conducts Starship test launches from its Starbase site in Boca Chica, Texas, which is home to manufacturing facilities to knock out both the Super Heavy boosters and Starship upper stages. For now in Florida, SpaceX has a manufacturing site on KSC property to build and refurbish boosters for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets.
Similar facilities to what’s used in Texas that could be closer to the Florida launch pads might be in SpaceX’s plans, and Project Hinton could fall in line with that.
Or Project Hinton could be for another rocket company with nearly $2 billion in spending power.
The Sentinel reached out to Space Florida and SpaceX for comment.
According to the Space Florida agenda item, the project “will enable rapid manufacturing, assembly, and integration of heavy lift flight hardware” and “will significantly increase the volume and mass of payload to orbit from Florida.”
It touts the project as expecting about $1.8 billion in capital improvements and bringing 600 jobs with average wages of $93,000 a year.
Space Florida CEO Rob Long will lead the discussion on the project that the agenda says is in alignment with the Cape Canaveral Spaceport Master Plan and the Florida Spaceport System Plan goals.
“Time is of the essence due to significant customer demand driven by a considerable increase in space-based activities,” the agenda items reads, noting the “company plans to begin ordering of long-lead items and construction in January 2025.”
Space Florida’s role is to vote on two elements of the company’s application for funding through Space Florida’s Call for Projects for the Florida Spaceport Improvement Program, which is partnered with the state Department of Transportation.
The first is matching grant funds of up to $50 million “for high-volume production facility, high bay, and related infrastructure” and the second is for $15 million in common use funds “for utility improvements including power modifications and industrial wastewater treatment.”
The $65 million from Florida’s coffers would be needed over multiple fiscal years beginning in 2025.
The Space Florida agenda notes list the project as having met all five “qualities of value” categories: people, business plan, favorable environment, expectation of success and going concern while also listing its “mission fulfillment summary assessment” as suitable.
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