Small satellites to launch from Kennedy Space Center beginning 2018

Florida’s space coast is about to be making many headlines for small satellite launches. NASA announced that it has selected three companies to receive grants in order to help the agency deliver small satellites into space. NASA has been following the trend of designing technology that can make launching faster than just designing satellites to launch alone. The advancement for building the technology to actually launch the satellites has led to designs and innovations towards customer service specifically for buyers who want quality launches. It’s a very unique trend considering how small satellites are now just starting to gain momentum.

According to the NASA release:

Firefly Space Systems plans to test suborbital flights from new launch pad 39C at Kennedy Space Center in 2017. The Texas-based company is building a two-stage rocket named "Alpha."

NASA is awarding Firefly $5.5 million to launch small satellites, and $6.9 million to a second company, Los Angeles-based Rocket Lab USA.

Rocket Lab is developing the Electron rocket to send small satellites, called CubeSats, to space. The company is also considering using pad 39C, which KSC opened over the summer.

The third company, Virgin Galactic, is flexible because it will launch its LauncherOne rocket from an aircraft. The company will start with launches from Mojave Air and Space Port in California.

Virgin Galactic's president said they do have the ability to fly from KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility in the future.

The three companies plan to launch their rockets with NASA satellites on board by April 2018