to follow the Space Shuttle, the end of NASA's Space Shuttle program in 2011, the associated uncertainties regarding the future of U.S.-crewed space flight, and the anticipated negative economic impacts to Central Florida in general and Brevard County in particular as both NASA and NASA contractor activities and employment declined.

The second event, on a state level, was the April 2012 direction to the Board of Governors of the State University System (SUS)