Keynote - Mark Bontrager - Necessary Conditions and Infrastructure for a Successful Multi-User Spaceport

The future of successful spaceports will depend on a balance and co-location of commercial, civil, and defense activities in aviation and space flight operations. The current global orbital launch market is relatively flat with launches over the last decade migrating away from the US spaceports, but business is expected to return with growth in smallsat and microsat spacecraft launches and suborbital flights. To be successful in this emerging environment, spaceports will need to provide a number of necessary conditions to address a diverse multimodal transportation portfolio, which includes multiple regulation regimes for airspace and land use that directly impact potential customers. The key elements discussed in the paper are necessary to enable a future market-facing commercial spaceport. The greater the degree to which these elements are provided for all users, the greater the probability the spaceport can contribute to a satisfied customer base and the eventual growth of the spaceport. To this end, Space Florida is pursuing multiple efforts to enable spaceport growth including 1) partnering with the Air Force and NASA to enable commercial space operations on the Cape Canaveral Spaceport; 2) working toward the development of the Shuttle Landing Facility for multiple users; and 3) development of the Shiloh Launch Complex on the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, which is highlighted in this paper. Space Florida was created to strengthen Florida’s position as the global leader in aerospace research, investment, exploration and commerce. As Florida’s spaceport authority and aerospace economic development organization, Space Florida is committed to attracting and expanding the next generation of space industry businesses. 1 Project Manager for Research and Development, Space Florida, rkobrick@spaceflorida.gov 505 Odyssey Way, Suite 300, Exploration Park, FL 32953, +1 (321) 730-5301 ext. 236, www.spaceflorida.gov 2 Vice President of Education & Talent Supply Chain, Space Florida 3 Vice President, Spaceport Operations, Space Florida 4 Director, Spaceport Operations, Space Florida 5 Chief of Strategic Alliances, Space Florida 6 Spaceport Development Program Manager, Space Florida Necessary Conditions and Infrastructure for a Successful Multi-User Spaceport Manuscript #1013 2