Shiloh, Florida facts for kids
Shiloh used to be a small village in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is the most northern spot in Brevard County. Another place called Scottsmoor is also at the northern tip, located across the Indian River.
Today, no one lives in Shiloh. It was a busy community around the late 1800s and early 1900s. When the Space Age began, the village became part of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and the Canaveral National Seashore. This is why it is no longer a village.
Shiloh is also known as a "dark sky" site. This means it has very little light pollution, making it a great place for people who love stars. Groups like the Kennedy Space Center Amateur Astronomers and the Brevard Astronomical Society use it to watch and photograph the night sky.
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Plans for a New Spaceport
In the early 2010s, there was an idea to build a new type of spaceport in the Shiloh area. This idea came from Space Florida, an organization that helps grow space-related businesses in Florida. This new spaceport would be for private companies, not just government space missions.
Why Shiloh Was a Good Spot
Shiloh was considered a good place for a spaceport for several reasons:
- It is right next to the U.S. Government's Kennedy Space Center.
- Rockets launched from here would fly over the open Atlantic Ocean, which is safe.
- It has easy access to tracking stations of the Eastern Range, which help follow rockets as they launch.
Companies like SpaceX were even thinking about Shiloh for their launch site.
Concerns About the Environment
However, not everyone thought Shiloh was the best choice. People worried about how a spaceport might harm the natural environment. This area is home to several animals and plants that are rare or in danger.
NASA, which owns the land, had to agree to let the Federal Aviation Administration study the environmental impact. In the end, SpaceX chose a different location in Brownsville, Texas for its private spaceport.
Local Support and Changes
On May 2, 2013, the Volusia County Council voted to support the idea of a commercial launch site at Shiloh. This vote was mostly symbolic, but it showed some local interest.
After facing challenges and not getting enough support from environmental groups, Space Florida started looking for other options in July 2014. They began working with the Air Force Space Command to see if some unused military launch pads at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station could be used for private space launches instead.
Where Shiloh Is Located
Shiloh was a part of Merritt Island. It was located between the Old Haulover Canal to the south and Volusia County to the north. Even though it's not a village anymore, the name Shiloh is still used on maps of Brevard County. Shiloh is located at 28°46.0′N 80°46.6′W / 28.7667°N 80.7767°W.
Places Nearby Shiloh
- Wilson
- Canaveral National Seashore
- Scottsmoor
- Volusia County
Images for kids
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Direction South
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Direction East
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Direction West
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Direction North
