James Dean

FLORIDA TODAY

Update, 10 a.m. Saturday:

Donald Trump's campaign has scrubbed plans to tour Kennedy Space Center and talk about the space program in Brevard County next week.

Instead of coming to the Space Coast on Tuesday, the Republican presidential nominee will host a rally at Orlando Sanford International Airport.

The switch was made because there is no indoor venue near KSC suitable for a rally that would draw thousands of supporters, and outdoor venues present security concerns.

It was not immediately known if the KSC tour and Brevard rally would be rescheduled before Election Day.

Trump goes on offensive against Clinton in Melbourne speech

Update, Noon. Friday:

Kennedy Space Center is now preparing for a potential Tuesday, Oct. 25, visit by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, but the campaign is still working out its schedule.

Trump's tour of KSC, which had previously been targeted for Monday, would be followed by a roundtable discussion with local aerospace industry representatives and possibly a rally.

Trump campaign officials on Friday morning could not confirm the candidate's schedule and plans for any local events. The campaign's Web site shows Trump plans to host a rally in Tampa at 7 p.m. Monday, but nothing beyond that.

Advisers to the campaign this week unveiled a Trump space policy agenda.

Original story below:

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump plans to tour Kennedy Space Center next Monday, Oct. 24.

The schedule, whose details are still being worked out, anticipates Trump flying into KSC's former space shuttle runway, touring the spaceport and talking with industry representatives in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast and Space Florida, the EDC confirmed.

“Since 2008, the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast has led the way to educate presidential candidates regarding the need to support critical aerospace programs to keep the United States competitive and viable,” said Lynda Weatherman, the organization's president and CEO. “We are pleased Mr. Trump has accepted our invitation to participate in this industry roundtable and are hopeful the Clinton campaign will follow suit."

After touring KSC, Trump may hold a public rally at another location, but that was not confirmed as of Monday afternoon. Campaigning is not allowed on federal property.

The visit would be Trump's second to the Space Coast in a month, following a Sept. 27 rally that drew 8,500 people to the AeroMod International aircraft hangar at Orlando Melbourne International Airport.

That event included no mention of the space program or Trump's space policy positions.

In limited remarks on the subject to date, Trump has called NASA "wonderful" and referred to the space program as one worthy of "a Third World nation."

The EDC and Space Florida have invited congressional and presidential candidates, including Hillary Clinton, to attend similar aerospace briefings. Participants this year have included U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, the Republican and Democratic candidates, respectively, for a U.S. Senate seat representing Florida.

Attendees during previous election cycles have included U.S. Sen. John McCain, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Contact Dean at 321-242-3668 orjdean@floridatoday.com.And follow on Twitter at@flatoday_jdeanand on Facebook atfacebook.com/jamesdeanspace.