Executives From Nine Spaceports Meet At Kennedy Space Center

Space Florida hosted a group of spaceport leaders from around the globe to attend the Commercial Spaceflight Federation's Spaceport Executive Summit, the first such event of its kind.

The Spaceports Executive Summit, held in conjunction with the 2009 International Space Development Conference, provided a venue for global spaceport leaders to come together in one setting to discuss best practices and challenges they face in further developing their spaceports. 

As part of the summit, Space Florida, a member of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, sponsored a tour of major launch sites at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS).

"Convening this assembly of spaceport leaders from around the world was Space Florida's first opportunity to communicate and display all that is going on in Florida,"  noted Space Florida Interim President Frank DiBello. "The focus was dialog about common challenges and opportunities between industry leaders, and we look forward to continuing long-term and robust collaborative efforts."

Bretton Alexander, President of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, added, "Florida has been the center of gravity for our nation's space launch program for NASA and the DoD for over 50 years.  This world-class venue is a worthy back-drop for these leaders from spaceport projects around the world to discuss their common challenges."

Principals from a total of nine spaceports participated in the Spaceports Summit discussions, including:

• Spaceport America in New Mexico
• Mojave Air and Space Port
• Oklahoma Space Development Authority
• Cecil Field Jacksonville
• Spaceport Indiana
• Aeroports de Catalunya
• Caribbean Spaceport
• Spaceport Hawaii
• Wisconsin Space Authority     

"Bringing together nine different spaceports to discuss common issues was tremendously useful to both large and small spaceports alike," said Stuart O. Witt, General Manager of the Mojave Spaceport and an Officer of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation.  "At the conclusion of the summit, the nine spaceport leaders all resolved to continue working together and strengthen their efforts for cooperation and collaboration."

FMI: www.commercialspaceflight.org