KSC-2011-7621

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Orbiter Processing Facility-3 (OPF-3) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, from left, Frank DiBello, president of Space Florida and John Elbon, vice president and general manager of Boeing's Space Exploration, stand before a full-scale mockup of The Boeing Company’s CST-100 spacecraft after the ceremony which announced the signing of an innovative agreement between NASA and Space Florida. NASA announced a partnership with Space Florida to occupy, use and modify Kennedy Space Center's Orbiter Processing Facility-3 (OPF-3), the Space Shuttle Main Engine Processing Facility and Processing Control Center. Space Florida has an agreement for use of the OPF-3 with the Boeing Company to manufacture and test the company's Crew Space Transportation (CST-100) spacecraft. The 15-year use permit deal is the latest step Kennedy is making as the center transitions from a historically government-only launch complex to a multi-user spaceport. For more information, visit http:__www.nasa.gov_exploration_commercial_index.html. Photo credit: NASA_Ken Thornsley