Sat, Oct 19, 2024
Spaceport Will Be Home to Hypersonic Testing Initiatives
Starfighters Space has announced the addition of a new facility at Midland International Air & Space Port (MAF) in Texas. The base will serve as both an alternate launch location for StarLaunch and a host for Starfighters Hypersonic Testing initiatives.
Starfighters Space is headquartered at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida. The company operates a commercial fleet of seven F-104 fighter jets, capable of reaching speeds upwards of Mach 2 and air-launching payloads at 45,000 feet.
The new launch facility was developed under a partnership between Starfighters and the Midland Development Corporation (MDC). The Midland International Airport earned its spaceport extension in 2014, making it the first commercial spaceport to share grounds with an FAA Part 139 commercial airport. This will give Starfighters access to the field’s existing resources.
“At the end of the day, it is the team that makes the mission successful,” commented Starfighters Space CEO Rick Svetkoff. “MDC truly understood the power and resiliency of us securing multiple launch facilities and worked with us in bringing the project to life.”
The company hopes to facilitate hypersonic research at Midland through its “Hypersonic Test Corridor.” The Starfighters will serve as its airborne testbed, with access as far as Mojave and Vandenberg Space Ports in California. Starfighters Space and MDC are currently attempting to achieve FAA approval for this initiative.
The Midland facility will also be an alternate site for StarLaunch: a specialized supersonic space delivery rocket in development with GE Aeronautics.
Starfighters Space intends to put millions of dollars towards assets and tech for its Midland facility by 2027. The company also plans to open 23 full-time job slots by 2033.
“We are honored to welcome Starfighters Space to Midland,” expressed Lourcey Sams, MDC board chairman. “Their decision to expand here highlights Midland's growing reputation as a hub for aerospace innovation. We look forward to the positive impact Starfighters Space will have on our community.”
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