We are so , so close to commercial-grade orbital tourism . We sit on the leaflet of a new space geezerhood — an age of convenience rather than exploration , where anybody — really , anybody — can become an spaceman .
To date , only eight non - governmental deftness in the entire country have received FAA licensing approval to maneuver as spaceports . These spaceports have grown mostly from former military and NASA installations — because why build a multi - million dollar launch installation when you’re able to just buy one ? But infinite change of location ( not unlike pimpin ’ ) ai n’t easy , and it ai n’t cheap — yet . This smattering of pioneering spaceports aim to change that .
Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS)
NASA ’s Wallops Flight Facility , locate on Virginia ’s eastern shore , was established in 1945 as an aeromechanics test - bed and orbital launch facility . In the 68 year since , more than 16,000 skyrocket have taken off from Wallops , include other prototype for the Mercury Project andLADEE . These years , in increase to acting as one of NASA ’s two stay launching pads , Wallops is also home to the Mid - Atlantic Regional Spaceport ( MARS ) .
https://gizmodo.com/nasas-laser-satellite-could-deliver-fiber-optic-speeds-5990869
MARS recently hosted the maiden launch of Orbital Sciences Corps ’ autonomous Cygnus cargo logistics ballistic capsule , aboard the company ’s Antares rocket . The Cygnus , a competitor to Elon Musk ’s Dragon Capsule , successfully launch on September 18th , 2013 . Four days afterwards it achieve the ISS , docked , and deliver 1,500 pounds of supplies . [ MARS Spaceport – double : AP Photo / NASA , Bill Ingalls ]
The California Spaceport
In mental process since 1999 , the California Spaceport at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc , CA is the oldest licensed “ Commercial Space Launch Site Operator ” in America . What ’s more , it ’s the only fully - commercialized quickness in the country — it operates altogether without politics funding .
The “ Space Launch Complex 8 ” or SLC-8 ( the orbit with the orange construction Grus , above ) is the primary launch internet site . It ’s capable of supporting both polar and ballistic launch trajectories using little Minotaur form promoter , but as of 2011 , had only host a total of nine launches . [ Calspace – effigy : AP Photo / Spaceport Systems International , Bruce Fall ]
The Oklahoma Spaceport
Tucked away in the middle of Oklahoma ’s nowere resides one of the longest rails in North America — the 13,503 groundwork main drag at the Oklahoma Spaceport . That much tarmac , combined with the virtually plane - free Oklahoma skies — it ’s the first inland spaceport to completely avoid military and restricted airspace — this spaceport is ideally suited as a commercial facility for HTOL ( Horizontal Take Off and Landing ) vehicle . The Oklahoma spaceport is also home toArmadillo Aerospace , even though its lunar lander prototype is strictly a VTOL . dependable of all , the okay Spaceport even features a 9 - hole golf track . [ OK Spaceport ]
Cape Canaveral Spaceport
In addition to Wallops Island in Virginia , NASA also maintains its flight facilities in Cape Canaveral , Florida . But since the demise of the shuttlecock program , both the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station ( CCAFS ) and Kennedy Space Center ( KSC ) have been open up to extra commercial endeavors . Together , these facilities feature three combat-ready launch pad and two fighting rail for horizontal launches between them .
Launch Complex 46 and Launch Complex 20 are Cape Canaveral ’s primary launch platform . LC 46 is designed to accommodate medium class rockets like the Lockheed Athena or Orbital Sciences Corp. ’s Taurus year as well as ballistic missiles like the Trident II and Minuteman rockets . LC 20 on the other bridge player is build to handle small , suborbital launching system such as the LiteStar , Terrier , Orion , and ASAS rockets . [ Space Florida – Space Ref – paradigm : AP Photo / John Raoux ]
Cecil Spaceport
America ’s New spaceport is place at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville , Florida — at the site of the decommission Naval Air Station Cecil Field . Cecil Spaceport has only been licensed since 2010 , but already operates the necessary facility for endure horizontally launch recoverable fomite . The spaceport has 12,500 , 8,000 , and 4,000 - infantry longsighted runways already and is presently developing additional taxiways and spaceport - specific facilities . The improvements should be complete by the ending of the tenner . [ Space Florida – Jacksonville Aerospace Auth – Image : AP Photo / Oscar Sosa ]
Mojave Air & Space Port
Built at a decommissioned Navy airfield and WWII gunnery education range , the Mojave Air and Space Port has become one of the state ’s premiere run sites for private outer space vehicles . Beginning with the orbitual rocket program in the former 1990 ’s the Mojave facility has hosted some of the biggest names in commercial space travel including SpaceShipOne , which deliver the goods the Ansari X Prize in 2004 , XCOR Aerospace , Masten Space Systems , and Orbital Science Corp. [ Wikipedia – Image : ( AP Photo / Laura Rauch ]
Spaceport America
settle in the Jornada del Muerto desert drainage area of New Mexico , Spaceport America is bill as “ the world ’s first purpose - built commercial spaceport ” and is home base to secret space luminaries such as Virgin Galactic , SpaceX , UP Aerospace , and Armadillo Aerospace .
The LEED Gold - indorse adroitness covers approximately 670,000 square feet in totality and includes a pair of 47,ooo square - foot duple - height airdock as well as an on - site commission control center . The spaceport is accessible via a unforesightful shuttle drive from the nearby townspeople of Truth Or Consequences , NM . [ Wikipedia – Spaceport America ]
Kodiak Launch Complex
The 3,700 acre Kodiak Launch Complex is the only gamey height , full service spaceport in the country . situate on the 54th parallel of latitude at Narrow Cape , Kodiak Island , the KLC specializes in polar launches — those unremarkably used for putting satellites into orbit . The state - of - the - art facility include dual launch launching pad ( one for orbital launches , the other sub - orbital ) , a 17 - history rocket assembly construction , and a clean room for preparing planet . The KLC is currently building a third pad that will earmark an fabulously tight launch schedule — less than 24 hours from go - ahead to liftoff . [ Alaska Aerospace – Image : AP Photo / U.S. Navy , John F. Williams ]
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