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Tue, May 16, 2006

States See Their Futures In The Stars

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.

FMI: www.virgingalactic.com, www.rocketplanekistler.com, www.blueorigin.com

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