Space Tourism: Spaceport Proposals Proliferate

Although a passenger-carrying commercial spaceship has yet to fly, four serious proposals to develop spaceports for the tourist trade in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas are under review by the FAA, The Associated Press reported on Sunday.

New Mexico already has a deal with Virgin Galactic to build a spaceport, expected to open in 2009. Texas has submitted two proposals – Blue Origin, a space-tourism company, plans to develop a 165,000-acre site near El Paso and begin flight tests around 2012. A second Texas port would be on the Gulf Coast.

The Oklahoma proposal, also pending FAA approval, would be sited at a former Air Force base that already has a 13,500-foot runway. New Mexico is expected to choose an architectural design from six entries on June 2 for its $225 million spaceport on 27 square miles of desert.

Spaceport sites in Wisconsin, Alabama and Washington also have been proposed. Virgin Galactic and Rocketplane have said they will start test flights next year.

Dollars For Development

States have plenty of economic incentive to push for the ports, according to the AP. Most are sited in desolate regions with little competition for development and a desperate need for jobs.

A study commissioned by New Mexico predicted that its proposed port could bring in $750 million and create up to 5,800 jobs by 2020.

Besides the launch infrastructure, the ports will require training facilities, luxury hotels and other services for passengers. The spaceports also can be designed to attract tourists beyond the few well-heeled flyers, generating even more jobs and revenue.

In an effort to compete, the Mojave, Calif., airport recently asked the state for an $11 million loan to help build a hangar complex and terminal for space tourism -- a proposal that met with some resistance. "We have to be competitive with other states to maintain this unique business opportunity in California," state Sen. George Runner, a spaceport proponent, told the Daily News. "For now, we have an advantage over these other locations -- we have existing infrastructure in place ... But if we want to continue to be the leader in this new industry, California must invest in the airport." Opponents labeled the loan request "millions for a billionaire," saying Virgin Galactic CEO Richard Branson, who plans to use the Mojave site until the New Mexico spaceport is ready, doesn't need financial help from the state.

Airspace Complications For Private Space Launch

Although most of the proposed spaceports are in remote areas, AOPA has expressed concerns about airspace being closed down for frequent launches, especially at the Oklahoma site, which is currently used as a municipal airport. "For three hours during each launch 16 Victor airways could be closed.

When combined with the two nearby military operations areas, a launch could severely limit the options for GA aircraft transiting across the entire state of Oklahoma," said Heidi Williams, AOPA director of air traffic services.

The New Mexico site is also a concern, AOPA said. That site is adjacent to the White Sands Missile Range. AOPA said the FAA should use the existing large restricted areas over the missile range to protect commercial launches and not take any more airspace away from general aviation use.

AOPA told the FAA that a "complete assessment of the impacts on all airspace routes, both VFR and IFR routes, must be incorporated in the final environmental assessment before full consideration is given to the establishment of the commercial spaceport at Clinton-Sherman Airport [in Oklahoma]."