Orion is making its way back to California today after successfully splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.
It should be back in Central Florida by Christmas.
But while there is still a lot of work to be done on Orion, the focus now shifts to commercial space.
Space Coast leaders said it’s commercial space, not Orion, that will bring the biggest potential for job growth.
Both SpaceX and Boeing are continuing to work on their spaceships that will take NASA astronauts to the International Space Station.
Even before Orion launches again on an unmanned test flight, SpaceX and Boeing are expected to start launching humans to the ISS in 2017.
“From a government point of view, we’re going to be pretty stable for the next five years, where we need to work on is growing that commercial base,” said Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana.
Production and operations of Boeing’s CST-100 alone are expected to bring an additional 550 jobs to Brevard County, according to local economic leaders.
Although SpaceX is expected to produce its Dragon V2 in California, it will still launch the crewed capsule from the space center’s pad 39A.
Space Florida is also negotiating taking over the Shuttle Landing Facility, so commercial companies can launch and land vertically from the Space Coast.
Economic leaders have been determined to lessen Brevard County’s dependence on government related space operations.