Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Fwd: The Write Stuff



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Begin forwarded message:

From: The Write Stuff - Orlando Sentinel <online@orlandosentinel.com>
Date: March 12, 2013 7:49:20 AM GMT-06:00
To: bobbygmartin1938@gmail.com
Subject: The Write Stuff

The Write Stuff

Elon to Texas: 'It is looking quite good' for Texas launch site

Posted: 11 Mar 2013 07:26 AM PDT

Updated and revised 9:30 a.m. 3/12/13 with response from SpaceX spokeswoman:

From Christina Ra, at SpaceX:

"SpaceX has been considering multiple sites including Florida, Texas, Georgia and Puerto Rico for a future private launch facility.  This site, wherever it maybe, will be *in addition to* our existing launch sites at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Air Force Bases.  The sentiment of the post below is incorrect – the new site would not replace SpaceX's Cape Canaveral site.  Additionally, Florida is still under consideration. "

The world's premier space entrepreneur has been launching most of his Falcon 9 rockets from Cape Canaveral — including the one that sent the Dragon capsule to the International Space Station two weeks ago.

But many of SpaceX's future launches may be headed elsewhere.

The Brownsville Herald reported over the weekend that SpaceX founder Elon Musk's desire to have his own launch site is zeroing in on South Texas. That would mean as soon as he can, he might take his longterm business to Texas, and presumably the lucrative future of commercial space flight could follow.

Musk has been launching Falcon 9s from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base adjacent to Kennedy Space Center because the pads are available and KSC and the area provides all the support infrastructure a space company would want.

Yet long term, Musk wants a launch pad that's not controlled by NASA or the U.S. Air Force, because, frankly, working through government bureaucracies annoys impatient entrepreneurs. 

It's not just SpaceX. A viable privately-operated launch site would be attractive to all the emerging commercial space companies. What's at stake could be the future home of commercial space.

Texas has offered a site outside of  Brownsville. Space Florida, the Sunshine State's public-private partnership tasked with keeping and attracting space business, has been trying to work with NASA to offer a private site at the north end of Kennedy Space Center. Other sites also are in contention for his business, including ones in Georgia and Puerto Rico.

Here's what the Brownsville Herald just reported on Musk's Elon Musk comments Friday at a hearing before the Texas House of Representatives Appropriations Committee in Austin:

Musk said Texas still is the leading candidate for a SpaceX launch site.

"It all seems to be progressing pretty well," Musk said. "We are optimistic about making this work in Texas in the Boca Chica area."

He added, "It is looking quite good. Any support that Texas can offer would obviously be helpful."
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