SpaceX on Tract to Lease Historic NASA Launchpad

NASA announced Thursday plans to begin negotiations to lease Kennedy Space Center's historic Launch Complex (LC) 39 to the space technology company SpaceX.

"The reuse of LC-39A is part of NASA's work to transform the Kennedy Space Center into a 21st century launch complex capable of supporting both government and commercial users," NASA officials wrote in a statement, adding "Kennedy is having success attracting significant private sector interest in its unique facilities."

The two launch pads located at LC 39 together have served as the launching points for the nation's greatest human spaceflight missions, including Apollo 11 prior to performing the first manned moon landing in human history in 1969. Both the agency's first and last space shuttle missions took off from LC 39.

Allowing SpaceX to use the launch complex "will ensure its continued viability and allow for its continued use in support of US space activities," officials said.

Already the center is at work preparing the infrastructure for Space Launch System rocket, designed to transport astronauts into deep space, including to asteroids and Mars.

The agency official made the decision Thursday after the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) turned away a protest filed by Blue Origin, a privately funded aerospace company founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos.

According to NASA, "Blue Origin raised concerns about the competitive process NASA was using to try to secure a potential commercial partner or partners to lease and use LC-39A. Blue Origin had argued the language in the Announcement for Proposals (AFP) favored one proposed use of LC-39A over others."

The GAO denied the claim, issuing its decision in favor of NASA Thursday, at which point the space agency finalized its selection.

The terms of the lease have yet to be negotiated.