NEW YORK, December 30, 2025, 08:24 ET
- NASA is seeking industry input on a drone detection and analysis system for Kennedy Space Center, a procurement notice showed.
- The notice calls for 24/7 coverage and the ability to detect unknown drones at least 40 nautical miles away, with work potentially involving classified information.
- The push comes as the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex adds new Fraggle Rock-themed programming that draws more public activity to the site.
NASA is seeking a drone-detection and analysis system to spot unauthorized aircraft over the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to a sources sought notice posted for industry review. 1
The capability matters because the agency said the data would be used to make rapid decisions to protect NASA personnel, the public, launch vehicles and other high-value assets.
The notice also underscores the sensitivity of the mission: performance could involve access to classified information or work in a security area up to the level of Secret, it said.
NASA said it wants services that can detect and identify unknown unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) — the industry term for drones and their control links — out to at least 40 nautical miles (about 46 miles), with a goal of 100 nautical miles.
The system would need to provide real-time alerts and information such as the drone’s location, speed and direction of travel, along with operator location, the notice said.
It also called for a map-based dashboard for users and continuous coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with on-site support within 24 hours if needed to keep the system operational.
NASA said the detection and analysis approach should be compatible with counter-drone systems and protocols used by the FBI, U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force.
The requirement is aimed at a sprawling site: the notice described Kennedy Space Center as covering more than 144,000 acres, with all drone flights over the property restricted and subject to approval by Kennedy’s flight operations.
Aviation Week reported the agency is looking to field a drone detection and analysis system to help spot activities over the space center. 2
NASA is also balancing security with a heavy public footprint at the neighboring Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which recently debuted a live show, “Fraggle Rock: A Space-y Adventure,” in a collaboration with The Jim Henson Company, ClickOrlando reported. “It felt like these two worlds belong together,” show director John Tartaglia said. 3
The visitor complex has paired the show with a character dining event, the Fraggle Rock Breakfast Bash, where guests meet characters such as Gobo, Red and Uncle Traveling Matt, and receive reserved seating for the stage show, LaughingPlace reported. 4
