Sat, Oct 02, 2010
Funds Intended To Strengthen Commercial Space Activities
The FAA announced a new grant program designed to fund
projects that develop and expand commercial space transportation
infrastructure. The Space Transportation Infrastructure
Matching Grants will be awarded to four separate projects located
in Alaska, California, Florida, and New Mexico.
"The Obama administration is committed to making sure the United
States remains the world leader in space development and
exploration," said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. "This new
grant program underscores that commitment, and will help ensure
that the commercial space industry can meet our current and future
space transportation needs."
In June of this year the Obama administration unveiled a new
National Space Policy that recognizes opportunities and
advancements in commercial space capabilities. The 2010
policy lays out more specific ways for the government to make use
of commercial capabilities.
The FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation will
administer the new Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching
Grants. The first matching grants include: $43,000 for the
New Mexico Spaceport Authority to provide an Automated Weather
Observing System; $227,195 to the Alaska Aerospace Corporation for
a Rocket Motor Storage Facility; $125,000 to the East Kern Airport
District in Mojave, CA, for an emergency response vehicle; and,
$104,805 to the Jacksonville Airport Authority in Florida to
develop a Spaceport Master Plan for Cecil Field. Under the law, the
FAA can provide matching funds for specific projects being carried
out by public entities involved in commercial space activities.
The United States' space program has three sectors - civil,
military and commercial. The FAA's Office of Commercial Space
Transportation is responsible for licensing, regulating and
promoting the commercial-sector space industry. Since the office
was created in 1984, the FAA has issued licenses for more than 200
launches, licensed the operation of eight FAA-approved launch sites
known as spaceports, and has helped ensure that no loss of life or
serious injury has been associated with these efforts.
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