Background Information
Space Florida's RLV Support Complex is a multipurpose facility that was developed in partnership with the NASA/Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Located at the south end of the Shuttle Landing Facility, this 50,000 square foot hangar was completed in April 2000. Established to support spaceport aviation activities, the facility was developed as part of a broader State of Florida and KSC initiative to expand the capability of the spaceport to support government and commercial research and technology development activities. The hangar was originally designed to accommodate the L-1011 aircraft which carried the X-34 flight vehicle. It has also been used to support a number of other operations and programs, including protection of International Space Station flight hardware delivered to the Space Center via aircraft.
The hangar has been used for storage of Space Shuttle ground support equipment and rolling stock. It was also used to house and protect the remnants of the Orbiter, Columbia, during the accident investigation process. Space Florida has coordinated the hangar's use as a safe haven for payloads (space hardware) transported by NASA's Super Guppy aircraft and as safe harbor for the T-38 astronaut training aircraft during severe weather threats.
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