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International Spaceport Meeting

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International Spaceport Meeting

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International Spaceport Meeting

Shown: Representatives gather for the first International Spaceport Meeting; Dr. George Nield discussing innovative ideas for spaceport development.

Global Spaceport Alliance and FAA Host Inaugural International Spaceport Meeting in Milan, Italy

Advancing Spaceport Innovation and Economic Growth Through Worldwide Collaboration

On October 13, 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation, in collaboration with the Global Spaceport Alliance (GSA), hosted the inaugural International Spaceport Meeting, held on the eve of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2024 in Milan, Italy. The meeting brought together spaceport operators and regulatory officials from over 20 countries, marking a pivotal moment for the global spaceport industry.

In a deliberate effort to promote global collaboration, the FAA and GSA invited participants from over 20 countries. This exclusive gathering was instrumental in enabling dialogue in support of worldwide cooperation in space transportation.

The event gathered representatives from spaceports, space agencies, and regulatory authorities to address key topics shaping the future of spaceport development and commercial space transportation:

  • Economic Impact of Spaceports
  • Spaceport Regulations (current and future)
  • Spaceport Cooperation
  • Operations and Infrastructure
    • National Spaceport Interagency Working Group update
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Innovative Spaceport Uses
  • Reducing Duplication and Recognition
    • Streamlining Licensing
    • Bilateral Commercial Space Transportation Agreements
  • Airspace Integration

“Based on the success of this meeting, we plan to continue the conversation at the GSA Spaceport Summit. GSA will continue to lead the discussion.” said Dr. George Nield, GSA Chairman. During the meeting, Dr. Nield presented a New Vision for Spaceports, highlighting innovations and strategies to position spaceports as central technology hubs that support a broader economic ecosystem for space-related activities, both physically and virtually. His vision emphasized the importance of developing spaceports not only as launch facilities but as dynamic engines for local and global economic growth.

Dr. Nield’s presentation extended the focus on empowering and supporting spaceports through economic development and community engagement. “Building an Economic Powerhouse Around Your Spaceport” is the theme for the upcoming GSA Spaceport Summit, where discussions will center on innovative strategies to grow the spaceport ecosystem. Through events, webinars, legislative initiatives, and Advisory Groups, GSA remains dedicated to empowering spaceports and ensuring their pivotal role in the global space industry’s future.

GSA Member Initiatives Shine Bright

The GSA takes pride in the proactive efforts of its members, who are at the forefront of advancing the spaceport industry. GSA member Merrick & Company sponsored the luncheon offering a chance for participants to continue the discussion throughout the day.

Two GSA members, Space Centre Australia and the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority have been spearheading an initiative to foster greater international cooperation among spaceports. These efforts culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) immediately following the International Spaceport Meeting, with eight commercial spaceports from across five continents (all GSA members) agreeing to explore future collaboration.

MOU Signatories: A Global Commitment

The following GSA members were the inaugural signatories to the MOU:

  • Esrange Space Center, Swedish Space Corporation (Sweden)
  • Hokkaido Spaceport, SPACE COTAN Co., Ltd. (Japan)
  • Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority (USA)
  • Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska, Alaska Aerospace Corporation (USA)
  • SaxaVord Spaceport (Scotland, United Kingdom)
  • Space Centre Australia (Australia)
  • Stargate Peru S.A.C. (Peru)
  • Sutherland Spaceport, Orbital Express Launch Limited (Scotland, United Kingdom)

The MOU aims to strengthen global access to space, enhance affordability, and create opportunities for technological innovation through shared efforts. These discussions will contribute significantly to the growth and sustainability of the commercial space sector.

Looking Ahead

The International Spaceport Meeting underscored the importance of global dialogue in advancing the spaceport industry. With exciting initiatives underway and new partnerships being forged, GSA looks forward to continuing the conversation at the GSA Spaceport Summit and other GSA events, providing an ideal forum for the expansion of international cooperation within the spaceport community.

Join us for the GSA Spaceport Summit on January 27 in Orlando, Florida. For more information and to register, please visit GlobalSpaceportAlliance.com.

FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation Announces The First International Spaceport Meeting

The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation sent this announcement out today.
We are thrilled to share it with you!

Hello!

The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation will host an International Spaceport Meeting on Sunday, October 13, 2024, in collaboration with the Global Spaceport Alliance, the day prior to the start of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2024 in Milan, Italy. This event will be held at the MICO Convention Centre, the same venue as IAC 2024.  

The International Spaceport Meeting will bring together spaceports and space regulators from all over the world to discuss topics ranging from globally consistent safety regulations, spaceport infrastructure and interoperability, best practices for spaceport security, and future international multilateral cooperation for the growing global commercial space transportation industry.  This event is the first of its kind, and we look forward to building strong international cooperation for space as an outcome from this event.  

An agenda and interest survey will be sent in the next couple of months. We are sending this early save the date notice for awareness and calendar coordination. 

We hope to see all of you in Milan. 

Thank you, 

FAA Office of Spaceports Staff

Global Spaceport Alliance

ABOUT GLOBAL SPACEPORT ALLIANCE

Established in 2015, the Global Spaceport Alliance has become the largest network of spaceports in the world. Members include spaceport operators, suppliers, and government and academic entities involved in the commercial space sector. GSA offers members timely access to information, the ability to engage with key decision makers, and the opportunity to participate in working groups targeting specific areas of interest to the spaceport ecosystem.

GSA at Capitol Hill

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GSA Capitol Hill Space Advocates Program The Growing Importance of Spaceports to the World Economy

GSA Capitol Hill Space Advocates Program 

The Growing Importance of Spaceports to the World Economy

Morgan Stanley recently projected that the space economy would grow to $1 Trillion by 2040. Contributing to this growth is the rise of spaceports across the United States and worldwide. The FAA has licensed 14 spaceports in recent years – with more applications in process. These facilities not only provide, or will provide, launch and re-entry sites for an expanding commercial space sector but also foster innovation and economic growth in the regions they serve. By distributing launch capabilities beyond traditional hubs, spaceports alleviate congestion and cater to the diverse needs of various space constituencies. Ultimately, the growth of spaceports strengthens the U.S. position as a leader in space commerce and positions it to capitalize on the vast potential of the burgeoning commercial space economy. 

To address the growing needs of the spaceport community and it need for legislative change, Dr. George Nield, GSA’s Chairman, created provisions of the Commercial Spaceflight Operations Act, a proposed bill that he has developed with these provisions:

  1. The establishment of a Commercial Space Transportation Administration, where GSA recommends moving the office of commercial space transportation out from under the FAA and having it report directly to the Secretary of Transportation at DOT.
  2. Creation of a commercial spaceflight research alliance that is inclusive, international in scope, and very collaborative. This alliance would work on issues particularly important to commercial space, as opposed to what the Department of Defense and NASA do in their respective sectors.
  3. Adoption of a National Spaceport Policy that would support the development of a network of spaceports, encompassing those owned and operated by the government, commercial spaceports, and privately owned and operated launch and landing sites. This policy would be a significant step towards not only sustaining the growth of the global space economy, but also ensuring access to space for all users, and it could bring about substantial benefits.
  4. Promotion of spaceport infrastructure funding, whether from government grants or private sources, given how important infrastructure is to all modes of transportation,
  5. Improving human space flight training by allowing people to buy tickets to fly in the back seat of high performance or former military aircraft. That is something that is allowed in other countries, and NASA continues to use such aircraft to train its astronauts. The policies should be changed to allow that type of training to be done commercially in the United States.
  6. Establishment of a goal to support the development of point to point transportation, with all the potential benefits that will have for our international spaceport community.

Click the buttons for the complete draft of the Commercial Spaceflight Operations Act:

PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE BILL
INFORMATINAL FLYER

This Commercial Spaceflight Operations Act has been presented at several forums since its introduction at the GSA Spaceport Summit in January 2024. Below are a few highlights. 

Aerospace States Association

ASA - Lt Governors

Louisiana Lt Governor Billy Nungesser, Virginia Lt Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, and Ross Garelick Bell, ASA Executive Director, at the 2024 Aerospace States Association meeting in New Orleans.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the Global Spaceport Alliance can make a tremendous difference by engaging with and helping to educate government decision makers and other important stakeholders about needed changes to policies, laws, and regulations that impact our spaceport operations. Dr. Nield the opportunity to present the Commercial Spaceflight Operations Act at the annual meeting on June 24-27, 2024 of the Aerospace States Association (ASA).

ASA is a nonpartisan organization of Lt. Governors, Governor-appointed delegates, and associate members from aerospace organizations and academia, that supports research and development funding, workforce training, economic development, excellence in STEM education, and staying competitive in the global marketplace.

This year’s meeting was held in New Orleans, and Louisiana Lt Governor Billy Nungesser served as our host. Next year’s meeting will take place in Virginia, so Lt Governor Winsome Earle-Sears will be chairing the event.

During the business meeting, there were a variety of topics discussed, including drones, hypersonics, and cyber security. Dr. Nield proposed a resolution urging passage of the Commercial Spaceflight Operations Act of 2024, including moving the Office of Commercial Space Transportation out from under the Federal Aviation Administration and having it report directly to the Secretary of Transportation, changing the definition of Space Support Vehicles to allow the use of high-performance or former military aircraft for commercial human spaceflight training, and supporting the development and funding of a National Spaceport Network.

The resolution was unanimously approved. Click the button for the signed document. 

VIEW PRESS RELEASE
VIEW ASA SIGNED DOCUMENT

JUNE 2024 CAPITOL HILL EVENT

On June 12, 2024, the Global Spaceport Alliance went to Capitol Hill for the first time to inform members of Congress and their staffs about the growing importance of spaceports to the world economy. The day’s activities began with a session moderated by GSA Chairman Dr. George Nield. The program included representatives from four very successful spaceports, including Rob Long, CEO of Space Florida; retired Major General Ted Mercer, CEO and Executive Director of the Virginia Spaceport Authority; Scott McLaughlin, Executive Director of New Mexico Spaceport Authority at Spaceport America; and Arturo Machuca, Director of the Houston Spaceport. The meeting was held in the Rayburn House Office Building and attended by a capacity gathering of Hill staffers and interested industry observers.

Pictures and t-Minus episode with the recording are located below. 

Discussed during the session were all of the exciting things happening in the commercial space arena worldwide, such as the increase in the number of launches and human space flights, the growth of the global space economy, and many other topics. Dr. Nield articulated some of the areas where GSA feels that Congress could really help in terms of support for spaceports and continuing the growth in the global space economy. Specifically, Dr. Nield summarized the provisions of the Commercial Spaceflight Operations Act.

In this program, the Global Spaceport Alliance hosted panel of spaceport operators to discuss the value that their facilities bring to the regions they serve. They will also speak to their challenges in establishing a firm foothold in the national economy. For example, there is a need for a clear national spaceport policy that would provide funding for spaceport infrastructure, just as we have done for airports, seaports, railways, and highways. The panel will also discuss potential changes to laws, policies, and regulations that would provide support for commercial space transportation research, human spaceflight training, and prospects for point-to-point transportation through space. 

Following the Hill briefing, the delegation of spaceport executives joined Dr. Nield in four meetings with members of Congress and their staffs. Dr. Nield led the discussions, in which he primarily shared the provisions of his Commercial Spaceflight Operations Act. The group first met with Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. Senior staff of the Subcommittee Brent Blevins and Tom Hammond joined the meeting. Rep. Babin showed keen interest and expressed his strong support for commercial space activities. The delegation next met with staffers from Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, and Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), whose congressional district includes Spaceport America. Finally, the group met with Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL), who serves on the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics and whose congressional district includes NASA Kennedy Space Center. Rep. Posey was very interested in our legislative initiative and was particularly supportive of the provision on commercial human spaceflight training.

Overall, this was a very successful day for GSA and its members and supporters.  GSA is committed to continuing its  engagement with government decision makers and other stakeholders and plan to organize similar events in the future.

PANEL

  • Moderator: Dr. George Nield, GSA Chair
  • Rob Long, CEO, Space Florida
  • Maj. Gen. (Retired) Ted Mercer, CEO and Executive Director, Virginia Spaceport Authority
  • Scott McLaughlin, Executive Director, Spaceport America
  • Arturo Machuca, Director, Houston Spaceport
Dr. George Nield

Moderator:
Dr. George Nield
GSA Chair

Global Spaceport Alliance

Rob Long
CEO
Space Florida

Space Florida
Maj. Ted Mercer

Maj. Gen. (Retired) Ted Mercer
CEO & Exec. Director
Virginia Spaceport Authority

Virginia Spaceport Authority
Scott Mclaughlin - Spaceport America

Scott McLaughlin
Executive Director
New Mexico Spaceport Authority

Spaceport America
Arturo Machuca - Houston Spaceport

Arturo Machuca
Director
Houston Spaceport

Houston Spaceport

NEWS

t-Minus

Listen to N2K T-Minus Deep Space weekend edition to here the recording of this meeting on Capitol Hill. 

Listen to the recording below by clicking the blue play button. 

PICTURES OF THE EVENT
Global Spaceport Alliance

ABOUT GLOBAL SPACEPORT ALLIANCE

Established in 2015, the Global Spaceport Alliance has become the largest network of spaceports in the world. Members include spaceport operators, suppliers, and government and academic entities involved in the commercial space sector. GSA offers members timely access to information, the ability to engage with key decision makers, and the opportunity to participate in working groups targeting specific areas of interest to the spaceport ecosystem.

The Hague Institute and Global Spaceport Alliance announce partnership

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Hague Institute
The Hague Institute
Global Spaceport Alliance

ANNOUNCEMENT OF PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS COMMERCIAL SPACE POLICY MATTERS

The Hague Institute for Global Justice (THIGJ) and the Global Spaceport Alliance (GSA) are pleased to announce the formation of a partnership to enable the near-term testing and operations of vehicles capable of performing point-to-point transportation through space. Although industry is making rapid progress in developing the technologies needed for such missions, there is currently a significant legal and policy vacuum in this area which could negatively impact their application.

United in purpose, THIGJ and the GSA plan to harness their collective expertise to forge an intellectual bedrock for a strategically innovative, yet judicious, bottom-up methodology. This collaboration is intended to serve as a beacon, illuminating the path forward for operators, while safeguarding the critical interests of civil society and governments.

As a first step, THIGJ and the GSA will concentrate their efforts on developing a roadmap that will address the pressing need for a comprehensive legal and policy framework. The roadmap will identify the actions required in order to allow society to benefit from the ability to transport cargo, and eventually people, on high-speed, intercontinental flights via outer space.

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The Hague Institute

Learn more about The Hague Institute for Global Justice and the Washington Compact HERE.  

Global Spaceport Alliance

ABOUT GLOBAL SPACEPORT ALLIANCE

Established in 2015, the Global Spaceport Alliance has become the largest network of spaceports in the world. Members include spaceport operators, suppliers, and government and academic entities involved in the commercial space sector. GSA offers members timely access to information, the ability to engage with key decision makers, and the opportunity to participate in working groups targeting specific areas of interest to the spaceport ecosystem.

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