Florida’s Space Coast was hit hard during the 2008 economic recession; many of the area’s aerospace and defense companies laid off hundreds of skilled workers. Ten years later, the local economy is once again booming. With the return of aerospace jobs, and an influx of new tech and tourism companies entering the area, and an affordable housing market, some are even calling the Space Coast “The next Silicon Valley.”
High profile companies like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, among others, have put space exploration back in the national spotlight. As NASA announces new missions to the moon and begins to look to the future on Mars, new start-ups and old names alike are bringing high-paying aerospace jobs to Central Florida by the thousands in what’s been dubbed the new space race.
But aerospace isn’t the only sector that’s growing: the housing market is growing by leaps and bounds, and new construction in the area has more than double over the last 5 years. Port Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, and Melbourne are growing attractions for tourists with a wide variety of cruises, local shopping, art, and more, breaking records for visitors at any given time in Florida’s history.
Read more about the Space Coast’s economic boom in UPI’s article. If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at [email protected]! Relocating to area? We also do real estate!
After several delays, NASA and Northrop Grumman (NGC) are launching the ICON spacecraft this November. ICON will be delivered to orbit aboard NGC’s Pegasus XL rocket, which is launched from the air over the Atlantic Ocean. ICON’s mission is to “explore a zone in our atmosphere where Earth weather and space weather meet.” After a recent delay, a new launch window has yet to be announced.
For more information about the launch and the upcoming launch schedule on the Space Coast, visit the official Kennedy Space Center website. Learn more about Northrop Grumman’s space program, visit the official Northrop Grumman website. If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at [email protected]!
On August 11th, the Space Coast will see a rare Delta IV Heavy launch from Cape Canaveral. The 45 minute launch window is set for the early hours of Saturday morning, between 3:48am and about 4:30am. The probe is named after Eugene Parker, the astrophysicist who correctly predicted the existence of solar winds in 1958. The probe will leave Earth’s orbit and make a short trip to Venus, where the craft will loop around to slow down before it approaches the Sun on November 5th to begin its 7 year mission. At its closet approach, the probe will fly within 4 miles of the Sun’s surface, traveling through the Sun’s outer atmosphere. NASA will also be hosting several special exhibits at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex over the weekend, showcasing mission details. The weather forecast for the launch indicates clear skies overnight and into the early morning hours.
We’ve had the pleasure of hosting many of the talented men and women from John Hopkins’ Applied Physics Lab (JHUAPL) and United Launch Alliance (ULA) this summer in our oceanfront units, who have played an integral role in the development and launch of the probe. We wish them the best of luck on this historic mission!
For more information about the launch and the upcoming launch schedule on the Space Coast, visit the official Kennedy Space Center website or check out Space.com’s article about the mission. For live launch updates, visit SpaceFlightNow‘s live launch feed. If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at [email protected]!
It’s tax free weekend again for the state of Florida, as students prepare to go back to school next week. This year’s sales tax holiday covers a number of school supplies and clothing items, such as clothing and accessories under $60 per item, and school supplies under $15 per item. For a complete list of tax free items, visit the official list from the Florida Department of Revenue.
If you are planning to visit the Space Coast and are in need of accommodations, give us a call at (321)-784-5046 or e-mail us at [email protected]!
