{"id":583770,"date":"2023-12-21T11:46:18","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T16:46:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=583770"},"modified":"2024-04-02T17:35:29","modified_gmt":"2024-04-02T21:35:29","slug":"kennedy-space-center-looks-ahead-busy-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/kennedy\/kennedy-space-center-looks-ahead-busy-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Kennedy Space Center Looks Ahead to a Busy Year in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"NASA's Space Launch System rocket Mobile Launcher moves to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 44% 80%; object-position: 44% 80%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg 6720w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The mobile launcher, carried by the crawler-transporter 2, rolls out from its park site location to Launch Pad 39B at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in August 2023 for testing ahead of the agency\u2019s Artemis II mission.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Ben Smegelsky<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Another jam-packed year is in store for NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as the momentum of a busy 2023 is carried forward into the new year. On the horizon are missions to the Moon, more crew and cargo flights to the International Space Station, and several upgrade projects across the spaceport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA\u2019s first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/commercial-lunar-payload-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CLPS<\/a> (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative mission with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/artemis\/clps\/astrobotic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Astrobotic\u2019s Peregrine lunar lander<\/a> is set to begin work in 2024 after lifting off on the inaugural launch of United Launch Alliance\u2019s Vulcan Centaur rocket. These missions will help the agency develop capabilities needed to explore the Moon under Artemis ahead of sending astronauts to the lunar surface. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another CLPS mission, set for launch early in the year aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, will send the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/artemis\/clps\/intuitive-machines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Intuitive Machines<\/a> Nova-C lander to a landing site at the Moon\u2019s South Pole region. The mission will carry NASA payloads focusing on plume-surface interactions, space weather\/lunar surface interactions, radio astronomy, precision landing technologies, and a communication and navigation node for future autonomous navigation technologies.  <\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231109-ph-spx01-0001.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231109-ph-spx01-0001.jpg?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifts off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 25% 15%; object-position: 25% 15%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231109-ph-spx01-0001.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231109-ph-spx01-0001.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231109-ph-spx01-0001.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231109-ph-spx01-0001.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231109-ph-spx01-0001.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231109-ph-spx01-0001.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231109-ph-spx01-0001.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231109-ph-spx01-0001.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231109-ph-spx01-0001.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in November 2023 on the company\u2019s 29th commercial resupply services mission for the agency to the International Space Station. <\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">SpaceX<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Development toward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/artemis-ii\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Artemis II<\/a>, NASA\u2019s first crewed test flight of its lunar-focused <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/artemis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Artemis program<\/a> continues across Kennedy. SLS (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/space-launch-system\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Space Launch System<\/a>) hardware, including twin <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/marshall\/artemis-ii-sls-rocket-booster-segments-arrive-to-kennedy-space-center\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">solid rocket boosters<\/a> and a 212-foot-tall <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/esdmd\/common-exploration-systems-development-division\/space-launch-system\/nasa-prepares-artemis-ii-moon-rocket-core-stage-for-final-assembly-phase\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">core stage<\/a> for the Artemis II mission, will begin stacking and integration inside the Vehicle Assembly Building in the coming months, after which teams will begin a series of testing prior to launch. Processing also is underway on the core stage for Artemis III. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.nasa.gov\/artemis\/2023\/10\/23\/artemis-ii-orion-crew-and-service-modules-joined-together\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Artemis II Orion crew and service modules<\/a> will continue prelaunch processing inside Kennedy\u2019s Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building alongside the crew modules for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/marshall\/artemis-iii-nasas-first-human-mission-to-the-lunar-south-pole\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Artemis III<\/a> and Artemis IV\u2013 NASA\u2019s initial missions to land the next humans on the lunar surface.  <\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230119-ph-boe01-0003.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230119-ph-boe01-0003.jpg?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Technicians work around Boeing's Starliner spacecraft supported by a yellow crane during processing.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230119-ph-boe01-0003.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230119-ph-boe01-0003.jpg?resize=300,223 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230119-ph-boe01-0003.jpg?resize=768,571 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230119-ph-boe01-0003.jpg?resize=1024,761 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230119-ph-boe01-0003.jpg?resize=1536,1142 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230119-ph-boe01-0003.jpg?resize=400,297 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230119-ph-boe01-0003.jpg?resize=600,446 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230119-ph-boe01-0003.jpg?resize=900,669 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230119-ph-boe01-0003.jpg?resize=1200,892 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Starliner team works to finalize the mate of the crew module and new service module for NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test that will take NASA astronauts Barry \u201cButch\u201d Wilmore and Sunita \u201cSuni\u201d Williams to and from the International Space Station.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Boeing\/John Grant<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>NASA and its commercial partners, Boeing and SpaceX, have three <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/exploration\/commercial\/crew\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Commercial Crew Program<\/a> missions set to fly from Florida\u2019s Space Coast, setting up another busy year of traffic for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">International Space Station<\/a> in 2024. Teams are readying for the short-duration <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/boeing-cft\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Crew Flight Test<\/a> of Boeing\u2019s CST-100 Starliner no earlier than April. Meanwhile, NASA and SpaceX will continue crew rotation missions to the orbiting laboratory with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/event\/nasas-spacex-crew-8-launch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Crew-8<\/a> expected no earlier than mid-February and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/event\/nasas-spacex-crew-9-launch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Crew-9<\/a> to follow in mid-August.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other crewed missions to the space station include SpaceX and Axiom Space\u2019s short-duration <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/event\/axiom-mission-3\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Axiom Mission 3<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/event\/axiom-mission-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Axiom Mission 4<\/a> private astronaut missions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SpaceX\u2019s Polaris Dawn, the second private short-duration orbital flight will also lift off from Kennedy with four individuals that plan to attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Along with crewed flights, three of the agency\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/station\/structure\/launch\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Commercial Resupply Services<\/a> missions hosted on SpaceX\u2019s Dragon cargo spacecraft, Northrop Grumman\u2019s Cygnus, and the debut flight of Sierra Space\u2019s cargo spaceplane, Dream Chaser, are slated to fly from Kennedy next year to deliver thousands of pounds of supplies, equipment, and science investigations to the orbiting laboratory. <\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/jsc2023e066245.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/jsc2023e066245.jpg?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Four astronauts sit inside a SpaceX Dragon crew capsule.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/jsc2023e066245.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/jsc2023e066245.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/jsc2023e066245.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/jsc2023e066245.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/jsc2023e066245.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/jsc2023e066245.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/jsc2023e066245.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/jsc2023e066245.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/jsc2023e066245.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The four SpaceX Crew-8 crew members (from left) Alexander Grebenkin from Roscosmos, and Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick, and Jeanette Epps, all NASA astronauts, are pictured training inside a Dragon mockup crew vehicle at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\"> SpaceX<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/kennedy\/launch-services-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Launch Services Program<\/a> based at Kennedy has several science and CubeSat missions manifested to fly on commercial rockets next year. They represent a mix of some of the agency\u2019s most complex robotic and scientific missions, as well as smaller cost-efficient missions, and missions sponsored by NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/kennedy\/launch-services-program\/cubesat-launch-initiative\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CubeSat Launch Initiative<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first of three primary missions is NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/pace.gsfc.nasa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PACE<\/a> (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) spacecraft that will launch early next year on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. PACE\u2019s science goals include extending ocean color, atmospheric aerosol, and cloud data records for Earth system and climate studies.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/goes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GOES-U<\/a> (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-U) is slated to launch in April on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, the fourth and final satellite in NOAA\u2019s GOES-R Series of advanced geostationary weather-observing satellites. Scheduled for an October launch on a Falcon Heavy, the agency\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/europa.nasa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Europa Clipper<\/a> mission will investigate Jupiter’s moon Europa to determine if it has conditions suitable to support life.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among the small spacecraft and CubeSat missions slated to launch in 2024 are two dedicated launches on Rocket Lab\u2019s Electron for <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/prefire\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PREFIRE<\/a> (Polar Radiant Energy in the Infrared Experiment), which aims to give researchers a more accurate picture of the energy entering and leaving Earth. Blue Origin\u2019s New Glenn rocket will host NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/escapade\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EscaPADE<\/a> (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) mission that will send two spacecraft to study solar wind energy and momentum through Mars\u2019 unique hybrid magnetosphere. <\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231204-ph-kls01-0018-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231204-ph-kls01-0018-1.jpg?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231204-ph-kls01-0018-1.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231204-ph-kls01-0018-1.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231204-ph-kls01-0018-1.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231204-ph-kls01-0018-1.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231204-ph-kls01-0018-1.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231204-ph-kls01-0018-1.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231204-ph-kls01-0018-1.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231204-ph-kls01-0018-1.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20231204-ph-kls01-0018-1.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Technicians process the NASA\u2019s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) observatory on a spacecraft dolly in a high bay at the Astrotech Space Operations Facility near the agency\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Kim Shiflett<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>While next year\u2019s expected cadence of nearly 100 launches from Florida\u2019s Space Coast is likely to mirror 2023\u2019s record-setting pace, something else to look out for will be upgrade and sustainability efforts around the spaceport.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Indian River Bridge construction project, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-article\/americas-new-space-bridge-now-open\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">which opened the first of two spans<\/a> in June of 2023, and the solar site 6 project of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-awards-utility-energy-service-contract-for-kennedy-space-center\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Utility Energy Services Contract<\/a>, are expected to wrap up and become fully operational next year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Restoration and beautification efforts across Kennedy also include the consideration of several sites for development into natural wildflower prairies. In the spring, Spaceport Integration\u2019s sustainability team will work on \u201cProject Arbor at the Spaceport.\u201d It will focus on planting Florida native trees and one seedling from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/nasa-usda-forest-service-fly-next-generation-of-moon-tree-seeds-on-artemis-i\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Artemis Moon Tree<\/a> project along the Fitness Trail near Operations Support Building II to provide shade, benefit wildlife, and help improve air quality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A historical marker sponsored by NASA and the Florida Department of State will be installed in early 2024 at the site of Kennedy\u2019s original Headquarters Building making it the first to be located within Kennedy\u2019s secure area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As 2023 draws to a close, Kennedy Space Center is gearing up to support more groundbreaking missions that will expand human knowledge of Earth and our solar system while protecting the local ecosystem and natural resources. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Another jam-packed year is in store for NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as the momentum of a busy 2023 is carried forward into the new year. On the horizon are missions to the Moon, more crew and cargo flights to the International Space Station, and several upgrade projects across the spaceport. NASA\u2019s first CLPS [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":590,"featured_media":583790,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"590","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"128577","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":["283571"],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2862,2681,2918,2919,3191,10574,3190,12644,10672,9400,1,2706,2735,12643,2683,3783,10721,10725,3220,13004,3784,12746,12690],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[13052],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Kennedy Space Center Looks Ahead to a Busy Year in 2024","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/kennedy\/kennedy-space-center-looks-ahead-busy-2024\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/kennedy\/kennedy-space-center-looks-ahead-busy-2024\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jamie Groh"}],"creator":["Jamie Groh"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Centers & Facilities","Kennedy Space Center","Sustainability at Kennedy Space Center","Artemis","Artemis 2","Artemis 3","Commercial Crew","Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS)","Commercial Resupply","CubeSat Launch Initiative","EscaPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers)","Europa Clipper","General","GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite)","International Space Station (ISS)","Launch Services Program","Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle","Orion Program","PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem)","PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment)","Private Astronaut Missions","Research and Technology at Kennedy Space Center","Space Launch System (SLS)","SpaceX Commercial Resupply"],"dateCreated":"2023-12-21T16:46:18Z","datePublished":"2023-12-21T16:46:18Z","dateModified":"2024-04-02T21:35:29Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Kennedy Space Center Looks Ahead to a Busy Year in 2024\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/kennedy\/kennedy-space-center-looks-ahead-busy-2024\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2023-12-21T16:46:18Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities,Kennedy Space Center,Sustainability at Kennedy Space Center,Artemis,Artemis 2,Artemis 3,Commercial Crew,Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS),Commercial Resupply,CubeSat Launch Initiative,EscaPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers),Europa Clipper,General,GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite),International Space Station (ISS),Launch Services Program,Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle,Orion Program,PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, Ocean Ecosystem),PREFIRE (Polar Radiant Energy in the Far-InfraRed Experiment),Private Astronaut Missions,Research and Technology at Kennedy Space Center,Space Launch System (SLS),SpaceX Commercial Resupply\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Jamie Groh\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":5,"time_ago":"6 months","featured_image":{"id":583790,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/ksc-20230816-ph-jbs01-0002.jpg","title":"Mobile Launcher 1 (ML-1) Rolls to Launch Pad 39B for Artemis ll Testing","alt":"NASA's Space Launch System rocket Mobile Launcher moves to the launch pad.","caption":"The mobile launcher, carried by the crawler-transporter 2, rolls out from its park site location to Launch Pad 39B at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in August 2023 for testing ahead of the agency\u2019s Artemis II mission. Credit: NASA\/Ben Smegelsky"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/583770"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/590"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=583770"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/583770\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":640478,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/583770\/revisions\/640478"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/583790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=583770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=583770"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=583770"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=583770"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=583770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}