Would Be The First To Allow Launches Over Populated Areas

A spaceport proposed for Camden County, GA along the Atlantic Coast in 2014 is still undergoing environmental reviews, and whether it will be approved by the FAA is still an open question.

But there is no shortage of opinion about the project, and thoughts differ even among those who are opposed to the plan.

The McClatchy News Service reports that one who believes the spaceport will be approved is Steve Weinkle, who opposes the project. He said that the license will likely be "very restricted" to meet safety concerns, but "the FAA can find a mitigation for every problem."

However, Kevin Lang, an attorney and member of the Little Cumberland Island Homeowners Association, said the FAA has never issued a spaceport license to launch rockets over inhabited areas, and he feels that it is "very unlikely" that the Georgia spaceport will be the first to get such an approval.

Another issue is the lack of a private sector spaceport operator for the site, according to Megan Desrosiers, director of the environmental group 100 Miles. She said that finding an operator willing to assume the liability for launching over a populated area will be an enormous challenge.

Camden County Administrator Steve Howard said that he is cautiously optimistic that if the license is awarded, an operator will come forward. But if no license is issued, there will be no spaceport established and Georgia will lose out on the ability to capitalize on the growing commercial space industry.

Lang said that launching a rocket over Cumberland Island would require the evacuation of large portions of Cumberland Island and Little Cumberland Island. And, the National Park Service said that such a forced evacuation or closure of Cumberland Island during launches could run contrary to the a law that prohibits transportation projects from having an adverse impact on the operations of a national park or other natural features.

FMI: www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/