WASHINGTON D.C. – A key Senate panel on Thursday approved $640 million for improvements at Kennedy Space Center.
The funding, sought by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-FL, will be used to upgrade launch pad 39b and related facilities needed for the SLS rocket and Orion capsule that’s being built to send humans to Mars.
“Getting this additional money for the launch pad is a big win for KSC and the effort to land humans on Mars,” said Nelson.
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the funding, which is 50 percent more than KSC received for launch facilities work last year, as part of a broader bill that funds NASA and several other federal agencies. Under the bill, NASA is set to receive $19.5 billion for Fiscal Year 2018.
The measure now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.
