From Airports to Commercial Spaceports

摘要

As the development of Horizontal Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLVs) continues toward operational status, more Airports around the world are evaluating the prospect of becoming commercial spaceports. Airports, with sufficient space, runways, facilities, and safe operating areas, can play a significant role in the expansion of commercial space activities and Point-to-Point travel throughout the world. To date, the authors have completed (or are now completing) designs of orbital and/or suborbital launch sites in Florida, California, Texas, Virginia, Australia and other locations. The authors have also accomplished detailed analysis of mission profiles for Suborbital RLVs to support the development of an application for a FAA Launch Site Operators License, including Environmental Assessment for Cecil Spaceport in Jacksonville, FL. The paper will discuss some of the history of commercial spaceports that support horizontally launched RLVs as well as outline the process that an Airport may take on its path to becoming a spaceport and some of the challenges and solutions that may occur.