Virginia JCOTS: t/Space, SpX & Orbital Sciences

[docm]

Link....<br /><br /><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>The Virginia Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) aerospace advisory panel recently met in Crystal City, Virginia to hear from commercial space launch firms t/Space, SpaceX, and Orbital Sciences regarding potential future plans to utilize the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport and what improvements that may be necessary.<br /><br />David Gump of t/Space told the JCOTS Aerospace panel that expanding the NASA Wallops Flight Facility runway would better enable t/Space to utilize the facility for horizontal launch of its spacecraft. No cost estimate was readily avaiable on the cost of runway pavement expansion.<br /><br />Virginia-based Orbital Sciences' Darcy Durham told the areopsace advisory panel that the launch gantry needed to be extended in height by several feet so as to enable the launch of the larger Minotaur IV booster. Orbital Sciences has successfully launched two orbital spacecraft using the Minotaur 1 in the past few months. The gantery expansion was estimated to be less than $500,000.<br /><br />Larence Williams of SpaceX discussed the potential of using the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport by the Falcon 9 booster rocket to service the International Space Station. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk recently responded to JCOTS aerospace advisory panel member Jack Kennedy about possible utilization of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.<br /><br />The JCOTS Aerospace Advisory Panel examined draft legislation for tax incentives [see page 9] to lure commercial space launch providers to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. The legislation first surfaced as a part of the recently enacted Virginia Spaceflight Liability and Immunity Act in January 2007.<br /><br />The JCOTS Advisory Panel met in conjunction with the Space Frontier Foundation conference as the host for the publ</p></blockquote> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[PistolPete]

It would be nice to see Falcon V/Dragon launches from Wallops Island, that way I wouldn't have to drive as far to see a manned space launch. Besides, Wallops is an incredibly underused facility anyway. This way manned launches to the ISS wouldn't conflict with unmanned interplanetary missions ie. Phoenix/STS-118. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><em>So, again we are defeated. This victory belongs to the farmers, not us.</em></p><p><strong>-Kambei Shimada from the movie Seven Samurai</strong></p> </div>

 

[docm]

Dragon will use Falcon 9. F5 is off the board IIRC. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[PistolPete]

Doh! Typo. <img src="/images/icons/blush.gif" /> I meant the Falcon 9. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><em>So, again we are defeated. This victory belongs to the farmers, not us.</em></p><p><strong>-Kambei Shimada from the movie Seven Samurai</strong></p> </div>

 

[jimfromnsf]

"This way manned launches to the ISS wouldn't conflict with unmanned interplanetary missions ie. Phoenix/STS-118."<br /><br />It isn't like there are not that many. Actually, it would be better to keep at the Cape. Keep the range busier. Also KSC will be supplying all the logistics hardware

 

[holmec]

How interesting. I wonder where it would be located (I know Mid-Atlantic....) and if it would be out of the way of annual hurricane paths. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>