Jones Edmunds Plays Big Role In NASA’s Smallest Launch Pad
By Space Coast Daily // July 23, 2015
BREVARD COUNTY • CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – A ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony recently was held at Kennedy Space Center to unveil NASA’s newest Launch Pad – 39C.
NASA’s first new launch pad since the 1960s will serve as a multi-purpose site allowing companies to test vehicles and capabilities in the smaller class of rockets, making it more affordable for smaller companies to break into the commercial spaceflight market.
Launch Pad 39C is located approximately 3.5 miles northeast of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) on the site of the existing Launch Pad LC-39B.
Jones Edmunds served as the Engineer-of-Record to NASA for the study, design, permitting, and construction of Launch Pad 39C. An upfront study performed in 2013 helped NASA select a location for the new launch pad from several potential sites at KSC.
The study evaluated critical siting factors including transporter access, site layout, rocket exhaust impacts, environmental impacts, permitting, construction cost and schedule.
The design of the launch pad occurred in 2014 (immediately following the Study), and included civil, environmental, structural, and electrical designs.
This phase also included Environmental Resource Permitting through the St. Johns River Water Management District for the Pad’s stormwater management system.
Potential wetland impacts were avoided through optimization of the site layout – this helped NASA minimize costs and protect the delicate ecosystem surrounding the Pad site.
Jones Edmunds supported NASA through the construction of the Launch Pad, which was completed in June 2015.
About Jones Edmunds
Established in 1974, Jones Edmunds is a full-service engineering and architectural firm with services that include Civil, Environmental, Construction, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, and Architectural. The firm has seven offices throughout Florida including Titusville, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Lake Worth, Winter Haven, Sarasota, and Tampa.
Over the past 20 years, Jones Edmunds has completed more than 250 projects for NASA, including award-winning designs such as the LEED Platinum Certified Propellants North Administrative and Maintenance Facility – recognized with the 2012 Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers Engineering Excellence Grand Award as well as the 2012 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Engineering Excellence Honor Award – and the KSC Crawlerway Evaluation, the recipient of the 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers, Florida Section Project of the Year Award.
