Space Life Sciences Lab Hosts Peck Visit

By  //  July 27, 2012

NASA Chief Technologist Here Monday

BREVARD COUNTY • KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLORIDA – NASA Chief Technologist  Mason Peck will visit Space Florida’s Space Life Sciences Lab, located just outside of NASA Kennedy Space Center’s security gates on Monday.

Mason Peck is the chief technologist for NASA and will visit the Space Life Sciences Lab on Monday. (Image courtesy NASA)

Peck will meet with Space Florida President and CEO Frank DiBello and small business leaders to discuss collaborative partnerships with NASA.

During his visit, Peck also will receive a tour of the lab facility on Space Commerce Way.

The lab serves as the primary gateway for payloads bound for the International Space Station and is a leader in innovative approaches to research and development work in space.

Research at the lab includes efforts to analyze plant growth in space aboard the station.

The 73,000-square-foot lab was built in 2003 when Space Florida partnered with NASA for land use and the State of Florida for construction of the facility.

The State of Florida appropriated $25 million for the construction of the laboratory and another $4 million for the development and construction of the Space Commerce Way road.

Space Florida's Space Life Sciences Lab was built in 2003 and is the primary gateway for payloads bound for the International Space Station. (Image courtesy Space Life Sciences Laboratory)

This project resulted in the creation and long-term retention of over 100 high-tech and research jobs in Brevard County.

In addition to financially supporting research at the lab, Space Florida works very closely with NASA Education and the Florida Space Grant Consortium to co-sponsor Florida undergraduates as interns each summer.

These internships provide NASA and partners with the opportunity to measure the achievements and abilities of young Florida graduates and offer them more permanent positions when vacancies arise.

Each partner’s scientific and research intellectual resources enhance the total knowledge base and expertise at the lab will continue to provide a solid foundation for a new science, research, and technology development community in Florida.