Gateways to space? With Spaceport Camden in limbo, here are the 12 other US launch sites
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The proposed Spaceport Camden would make Georgia the ninth U.S. state home to an orbital launch facility.
Most Americans are familiar with the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, the longtime home of NASA and now the base for Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin commercial ventures. But there are 12 other spaceports scattered across the country.
Here’s a look at those other launch facilities.
Camden Spaceport opponent: Launch facility site land purchase should be left up to referendum
Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska
Located on Kodiak Island, the spaceport is one of only four with vertical launch capabilities. The facility has been in operation since 1998 and is privately owned and operated.
Mojave Air & Space Port
Located in California’s Mojave Desert, the facility is a favorite for small space technology companies. Mojave is a testing ground for the Ansari X Prize and was the launch site for SpaceShipOne, the first privately funded human spaceflight.
Vandenberg Space Force Base
Located on the California coast, government officials envision Vandenberg becoming a “national spaceport.” Spacecraft can launch to the south from Vandenberg, an advantage for reaching polar orbits.
Colorado Air & Space Port
Located adjacent to the Denver International Airport, this new facility is focused on commercial space transportation, research, and development.
Cecil Spaceport
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority has converted a former naval air station into a launch site. The current focus is to be a base for companies launching small satellites into low earth orbit.
Spaceport America
The world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport is located in the New Mexico desert near Las Cruces. The site is well-known as the test and launch site for Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic program.
Oklahoma Air & Space Port
Located in western Oklahoma, the spaceport opened in 2006 and has seen activity as a test site. However, the facility lacks infrastructure and has struggled to attract tenants. A new master plan is under development.
Blue Origin Launch Site One
Located on the Texas-New Mexico border, the site is owned and operated by the commercial space exploration company started by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon. Blue Origin’s focus is on space tourism.
SpaceX Starbase
Located on the beach in Boca Chica, Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border, the site is owned and operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company. The focus is on space tourism and transportation.
Houston Spaceport
The facility bills itself as an “urban” spaceport and trumpets its proximity to more than 200 aerospace companies doing business in “Space City.” The spaceport is still in the first phase of development.
Midland Spaceport
Co-located on the same site as the Midland International Airport, the spaceport is in development. A neighboring spaceport business park has succeeded in attracting space technology companies ahead of the launch facility’s completion.
Spaceport Wallops Island
The Goddard Space Flight Center on the Virginia seashore has long been NASA’s “other” launch facility, complimenting the Cape Canaveral site. The spaceport is a favorite of commercial, government, scientific and academic users.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Spaceport Camden would be the 13th U.S. launch facility in nine states
