QuoteJACKSONVILLE -- Roughly $200,000 could get you to space via Cecil Field if the Jacksonville Aviation Authority succeeds in making the airport a commercial spaceport.
The authority expects to receive approval from the Federal Aviation Administration by February 2009 to allow commercial space travel from the airport, said Todd Lindner, the authority's administrator of planning, grants and environmental programs. Although the final application was turned in Aug. 15, interim drafts have already been approved. Once the operators receive FAA approval to fly out of Cecil, the first launch could be as early as spring 2010.
Interest in commercial space travel for tourism has increased largely because of Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, said Steve Kohler, president of Space Florida. Plus, the investment community is gaining interest in commercial space travel, as more companies, such as those in the GPS and satellite TV markets, require satellite networks.
The authority's pursuit of a spaceport option comes on the heels of the U.S. Air Force announcing in July that it will allow commercial launches at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Base on the east coast of Central Florida. Unlike Cape Canaveral, Cecil Field doesn't have a space museum, but it does have many other nearby attractions, Lindner said.
"If you're going to drop $200,000, it's pretty safe to assume you have the funds to play golf and spend some time at the beach," he said.
More potential
Plus, Cecil Field has more potential for development because it isn't as limited by government restrictions as Cape Canaveral. Horizontal sub-orbital space travel -- the process of reaching space on an incline -- is generally less expensive than vertical, or straight up, launches, which will be the main type of departure at Cape Canaveral, Kohler said.
Lindner said the authority is in talks with several commercial spacecraft operators, including Oklahoma City-based Rocketplane Inc. Virgin Galactic isn't interested in coming to Cecil Field because it has already invested in a spaceport in Las Cruces, N.M.
"But if they want an East Coast presence, they said we'd be a candidate," Lindner said.
The authority will only seek operators whose aircraft are certified by the FAA. "We're not interested in experimental aircraft," Lindner said.
The application asks for approvals of two types of spacecraft:
The "Concept X" aircraft, which looks like a corporate jet, would fly about 30,000 feet to 50,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean, and then make a roughly 87 degree climb to about 300,000 feet. The vehicle, which seats four to six passengers, achieves weightlessness for about 10 minutes.
The "Concept Z" aircraft would head to the same launching zone off the coast, and then a smaller aircraft piggybacking off the larger jet would climb to about 300,000 feet. After achieving weightlessness for about 12 to 14 minutes, the vehicle, which seats up to six passengers, would glide down for a landing.
Adding commercial space travel to Cecil Field wouldn't affect the airport's other operations, Lindner said. The authority began pursuing becoming a spaceport in 2004, but it got off course when the Florida Space Agency disbanded. Now reformed as Space Florida, the public-private partnership is assisting the JAA in its bid and in seeking commercial space carriers.
http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2008/09/01/story2.html?b=1220241600^1691672
ANYONE WANNA BUY A DUCK? GOT A DUCK?? DUCK SOUP!
I don't know how many towns and cities all over the nation are going through this but to read the TU one would think we have a lock on it... Sorry ya'll we are not even the best ex-military base to do this with. We're going to allow all this experimental stuff to overfly the city and some of it to "glide back"...yeah, right. Ohio has a lock too, so does Oklahoma both of which have huge old NORAD - MAC Air Force Bases... I mean "space ports". Oh California has a half dozen also and don't leave out Arkansas and, South Dakota and...
I love Jacksonville, I just never realized it is the same love I have for the Confederacy, the battleship Yamato and the Charge of The Light Brigade.
Since I pinkled on the parade here, thought you'd like my images of our space port in action, JAX STYLE!
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/JULESVERNEmoonGun.jpg)
The GREAT and FIRST launch from the former site of Jacksonville
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/JulesVernejourneytoMoon.jpg)
Being a railroad town without a depot, our city fathers have figured out a STEAM POWERED rocket train!
ALL HAIL FREEDONIA!
ALL HAIL JACKSONVILLE!
Captain Spalding / AKA OCKLAWAHA
Ha ha ha!!
Well, at least they're trying for it.
I'm glad to see the city is still persuing it. Its not like the city is giving away tens of millions to lure in some company, they are simply trying to increase Cecil's flexibility. Cecil has an extremely long runway that is perfect for this type of venture and it would be the closest commercial spaceport to Orlando.
Also, tourism isn't the only use for a commercial spaceport. Satellites, low orbit weather equipment, and other experimentation equipment can also be launched in this manner.
Quote from: Jason on September 02, 2008, 11:09:30 AM
I'm glad to see the city is still persuing it. Its not like the city is giving away tens of millions to lure in some company, they are simply trying to increase Cecil's flexibility. Cecil has an extremely long runway that is perfect for this type of venture and it would be the closest commercial spaceport to Orlando.
Also, tourism isn't the only use for a commercial spaceport. Satellites, low orbit weather equipment, and other experimentation equipment can also be launched in this manner.
anything that doesn't cost the taxpayers money and brings activity out there is a good thing, if some investors think they can turn a profit doing this great!
If I were in control I would consolidate all the general aviation at cecil and close down places like craig which imho is functionally obsolete