Spaceport Fever Hits NM, OK, TX... Again
Could such storied aerospace parthenons as Florida's Cape
Canaveral, and Russia's Baikonur Cosmodrome soon be joined by
spaceflight centers in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas?
CNN reports that is a distinct possibility, as those states rush
to build commercial spaceports to cater to the next generation of
astronauts: private citizens with the sense of adventure -- and the
big wallets -- needed to journey where only professional
astronauts, cosmonauts, and taikonauts (can't forget China) have
gone before.
"It's almost humorous to watch the worldwide battle of the
spaceports," said aerospace design titan Burt Rutan earlier this
month at the International Space Development Conference.
The FAA is already reviewing proposals from the three states, as
they bid to become gateways for private space travelers. After the
needed environmental reviews and other requirements are completed,
approval could come as early as this year, with spaceflights
beginning soon afterwards.
This isn't the first time those states have gotten googley-eyed
over the thought of landing a major spaceport, however.
Back in the mid-1990s, those three states were among a dozen
others with hopes of securing the launch site for the X-33
VentureStar, a spaceship designed by NASA and Lockheed Martin to be
the replacement for the space shuttle.
After spending varying amounts of money on research studies and
marketing efforts (but no real construction), however, those
states' hopes dried up -- much as the problem-plagued VentureStar
program did -- by 2001.
This time around, to paraphrase The Who, those states are taking
steps to make sure they won't be fooled again.
"You've got to do your homework," said Derek Webber, director of
Maryland-based consulting firm Spaceport Associates, "because not
all states will succeed."
With solid proposals already from such companies as Virgin
Galactic (New Mexico) and Rocketplane Kistler (Oklahoma,) it
appears those two states, at least, will be able to cash in on the
spaceport craze... eventually. A recent study commissioned by New
Mexico predicted it's upcoming spaceport could net as much as $750
million in revenue by 2020.
New Mexico -- which, as Aero-News reported, inked
its deal with Virgin Galactic in December 2005 to construct a $225
million spaceport near Truth Or Consequences -- is expected to
select the winning architectural design from six entries on June 2.
The facility -- funded by a mix of federal, state, and local money
-- is expected to host its first flight of Rutan's upcoming
SpaceShipTwo in late 2009.
As far as Oklahoma, its proposed spaceport on the site of the
former Clinton-Sherman Airpark in Burns Flats has passed all its
requirements, and is expected to win an FAA license over the next
several weeks, said Bill Khourie, executive director of the
Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority.
Rocketplane Kistler plans to
use the facility to launch its K-1 unmanned resupply vehicle, as
well as its passenger-carrying Rocketplane XP (above), from the
Oklahoma spaceport, which would boast one of the longest runways
around. To attract travelers and new clients, the company is
planning to upgrade its mission control facilities, as well as add
such amenities as VIP lounges.
"We ultimately plan on building more sexy facilities," said
Charles Lauer, vice president of business development at
Rocketplane Kistler.
The FAA is also studying two proposed spaceports in Texas,
including a private spaceport on 165,000 acres of barren land 120
miles east of El Paso that was purchased by Amazon.com founder Jeff
Bezos.
Bezos had said his space tourism firm, Blue Origin, plans to
begin flight tests at the facility in six to seven years.
Of course, the spaceport fad isn't limited to the United States
-- as worldwide design proposals are now underway for new venues in
Singapore and the United Arab
Emirates (above), as well.
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