Latest News
"Florida Space Industry Sets March 3, 2010 for Florida Space Day in Tallahassee"
"
Critical Year for Industry as Numerous Efforts Underway to Maintain Florida’s Leadership
"
Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Januarary 20th 2010)
Key representatives from Florida’s space industry will visit Tallahassee March 3, 2010, to participate in Florida Space Day and share the challenges the industry faces in ensuring Florida remains at the forefront of the nation’s space program.
As key industry leaders prepare for the 2010 Florida Space Day, numerous efforts by a variety of groups are underway as Florida fights to maintain its leadership in the aerospace industry.
“The issues facing the aerospace industry over the next year are not just a Brevard County issue, this is a critical state-wide concern that affects all Floridians,” said Mark Nappi, chairman for Florida Space Day 2010. “NASA has contractors in nearly all of Florida’s 67 counties and there are more than 1,000 subcontractors throughout the state. Although the Florida state budget is tight, this is a crucial time and we need to act now to preserve and foster Florida’s role.” Nappi is Vice President and Florida Site Executive for United Space Alliance.
When the Space Shuttle completes its flights and retires this year, the job losses could reach 7,000 thousand direct jobs at Kennedy Space Center, according to the Aerospace Workforce Outlook Phase III Report commissioned by Brevard Workforce. In addition, 14,000 indirect jobs across Florida could be lost.
Many efforts are underway including: Save Space, an effort led by Brevard County’s board of commissioners to encourage Floridians and other Americans to write letters to President Obama in support of the space program; the Space Caucus, a group of more than 40 Florida legislators whose mission is to uphold Florida’s commitment to ensuring a strong role for the state in the human spaceflight program and other aerospace endeavors; as well as a coordinated effort by the Central Florida Legislative Delegation, led by Sen. Mike Haridopolos and Rep. Dean Cannon, which brought together seven Central Florida counties at the end of 2009 to discuss the issues facing the aerospace industry. Most recently, Space Florida hosted a meeting with Gov. Charlie Crist, during which aerospace industry representatives laid out their recommendations for mitigating the impacts of the Space Shuttle Program retirement.
“The common theme of these efforts is the importance of Florida’s industry, government and citizens speaking in one unified voice. All of the activities leading up to and surrounding Space Day in Tallahassee will do just that,” said Nappi. “The industry and Florida will see tremendous success when we all work together for a common goal.”
During Space Day Industry leaders and agency officials will visit legislators and government officials to discuss space and aerospace initiatives.
“It is critical that NASA receives an increase in its top-line budget to help close the ‘gap’ between the final shuttle flight and the beginning of the next human spaceflight program,” said Nappi. “It is imperative we ensure Florida’s competitiveness and capabilities for government and commercial launch operations, as well as provide new opportunities to preserve and expand our strategically skilled space transportation workforce.”
Florida Space Day 2010 sponsors are ASRC Aerospace Corporation, Astrotech Space Operations, ATK Space Systems, The Boeing Company, Computer Sciences Raytheon, Delaware North, Dynamac Corporation, EG&G, Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, InDyne, Inc., ITT Corporation, L-3 Communications, Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc., SAIC, Sierra Lobo, Space Florida, SpaceX, Space Gateway Support, Space Coast Launch Services, United Launch Alliance, United Space Alliance, and Wyle Laboratories.
To learn more about Florida Space Day 2010, visit www.floridaspaceday.com and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/FLSpaceDay2010.
Florida Space Day is a milestone event that presents an opportunity to educate and bring awareness to Florida legislators on the significance of the aerospace industry and its impact on Florida’s economy.
Media contacts:
Margo Witcher, Lockheed Martin
Email: margo.f.witcher@lmco.com
Phone: 321.867.2022 (work)
321.750.6494 (blackberry)
Jessica Rye, ATK
Email: Jessica.Rye@ATK.COM
Phone: 321.328.2468
321.474.0364 (blackberry)