Posted on January 18, 2010, at 10:02 am .
Artist Impression of Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo/SpaceShipOne over Spaceport America in New Mexico.
In The Space Review this week:
Jeff Foust examines whether the supply of spaceports is outstripping the number of space planes.
Foust looks at the relationship between science and human spaceflight on the eve of the Obama Administration’s release of a new space policy.
Taylor Dinerman examines the role space assets can play in missile defense.
John K. Strickland, Jr. responds to a recent Dwayne A. Day essay that criticized space advocates for being obsessed with specific space technologies.
Posted on January 15, 2010, at 10:26 am .
State considers making Columbus primary spaceport
TheRepublic.com
Columbus is being considered as the state’s primary port to space under an Indiana House bill that would approve tax incentives for space-technology businesses.
Continue reading ‘Indiana Developing Spaceport’
Posted on January 12, 2010, at 10:01 am .
Florida airport gets commercial spaceport license
Reuters
The sky’s no longer the limit for Cecil Field airport in Jacksonville, Florida.
The airport was awarded a federal license on Monday to fly commercial space vehicles being designed to ferry tourists, researchers and others beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Continue reading ‘Cecil Field Gets Spaceport License, Now Needs Spaceships’
Posted on November 23, 2009, at 10:27 am .
CSF PRESS RELEASE
Washington, D.C., November 23, 2009 – The Commercial Spaceflight Federation is pleased to announce the creation and initial membership of the Spaceports Council, composed of spaceports worldwide who seek to cooperate on issues of common interest such as airspace access, legal and regulatory frameworks, infrastructure, international policy migration, liability, and voluntary common operating standards.
Continue reading ‘Commercial Spaceflight Federation Creates Spaceports Council’
Posted on November 8, 2009, at 2:48 pm .
XCOR's Lynx suborbital vehicle
FAA streamlines experimental space flight access
InfoWorld
The Federal Aviation Administration today said it would streamline the environmental review part of permit applications for the launch and/or reentry of reusable suborbital rockets to help bolster a fledgling commercial space market.
Continue reading ‘FAA Streamlines Environment Review for Commercial Spaceflight’
Posted on October 13, 2009, at 9:18 am .
Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia
Meeting to focus on long-term Wallops vision
Delmarvanow.com
A diverse group of politicians, professors and aerospace industry representatives is meeting Wednesday in Richmond to formulate a long-term vision for Wallops’ space complex.
A draft version of that vision includes the idea that it will become “the aerospace provider of choice for the Northeast region.”
Continue reading ‘Look Out Cape Canaveral! Here Comes Wallops’
Posted on September 30, 2009, at 11:47 am .
The Commercial Spaceflight Federation is calling upon Congress and the Obama Administration to provide federal funding to the nation’s spaceports under an unfunded 1993 law:
Unlike airports, commercial spaceports currently have no opportunity to apply for federal matching dollars for infrastructure to support operations and protect public safety. In the 1993 NASA Authorization Act (Public Law No. 102-588), Congress authorized a new program to support commercial space transportation facilities, but no funding has been appropriated to date.
Continue reading ‘CSF to Congress: Fund Program for Spaceport Improvements’
Posted on September 14, 2009, at 4:41 pm .
China breaks ground on space launch center
Associated Press
China broke ground on its fourth space center Monday, highlighting the country’s soaring space ambitions six years after it sent its first man into orbit.
The space port on the southern island province of Hainan incorporates a launch site and mission control center for slinging the country’s massive new rockets into space carrying satellites and components for a future space station and deep space exploration.
Continue reading ‘China Breaks Ground on Hainan Spaceport’
Posted on June 12, 2009, at 2:15 pm .
Space Dreams
The Korea Times
South Korea has emerged as the world’s 13th country to operate a space center. The nation opened its first such center Thursday to place satellites in orbit and develop its own rocket technology. The opening has laid the ground for Korea’s joining in the space race with advanced countries such as the U.S., Russia and Japan.
Continue reading ‘South Korea Joins the Space Race with Russia’s Help’
Posted on May 15, 2009, at 9:28 pm .
Organizers unveil Spaceport Sheboygan strategic plan
Sheboygan Press
A vision of Spaceport Sheboygan as the Midwest’s hub for aerospace development, education and — eventually — travel was unveiled Friday by the task force organized to pilot the ideas to touch down.
Continue reading ‘Wisconsin Aims to Create Spaceport Sheboygan’
Posted on May 8, 2009, at 9:39 am .
A brief report on the Hawaii Legislature’s passing of the state’s budget notes this expenditure:
A $250,000 appropriation for Hawaii to apply for a spaceport license from the Federal Aviation Administration in hopes of establishing space tourism facilities in the islands.
The story is here. It primarily concerns other budget moves by the Legislature.
Posted on April 13, 2009, at 11:11 am .
Roskosmos signs contract for new rocket and space complex
ITAR-TASS
Russia’s Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos) has signed a contract for the creation of a new rocket and space complex at the Vostochny spaceport.
Continue reading ‘Roskosmos Signs Pact for New Spaceport’
Posted on April 12, 2009, at 1:42 pm .
ROSKOSMOS PRESS RELEASE
Space Russia exhibition opened in Blagoveschensk regional local museum on April 11. The opening is timed to the Cosmonautics Day celebrated in Russia and all over the world on April 12. The exposition was organized by Konstantin Chmarov, Vostochny space port Construction Minister in the Government of the Amurskaya region.
Continue reading ‘Russia Opens New Space Exhibit Near Site of New Spaceport’
Posted on April 8, 2009, at 4:18 pm .
Spaceport tax funds reserved for public schools
Las Cruces Sun-News
After a three-hour discussion about the fate of educational dollars that will come from a Doña Ana County spaceport tax, county commissioners decided Tuesday the money will go directly to the area’s three school districts.
Continue reading ‘Spaceport America Tax Revenues Reserved for Local School Districts’
Posted on March 30, 2009, at 3:24 pm .
Some interesting news coming out of Mexico about plans by the nation’s new space agency, Aexa, to build an equatorial satellite launch complex:
The facility will be located in the southern state of Quintana Roo on the border with Belize, said state planning minister Jose Alberto Alonso Ovando. The location was chosen after extensive studies in part because of its proximity to the Equator, he said in an interview.
Continue reading ‘Mexico to Build Spaceport, Forges Ties With Russia’
