spaceport

Virgin Orbit selects Japanese airport as launch site
Virgin Orbit announced April 2 it has identified an airport in Japan as a potential site for launch operations, joining airports in the United States and Great Britain as hosts for the air-launch company.

Florida airport seeks spaceport license
A Florida airport is making progress on a long-running effort to obtain a commercial spaceport license despite a lack of customers for the facility.

Foust Forward | How to succeed in spaceports without really launching
For most people, the term “spaceport” conjures up visions of launch pads and gantries, with rockets taking off vertically. But for some, spaceports are becoming a place where businesses, rather than rockets, take off.

Georgia spaceport decision delayed
A Georgia county has asked the Federal Aviation Administration to place its application for a commercial spaceport license on hold in order to change the types of vehicles it expects to launch from the site.

Rocket Lab to build second launch pad in New Zealand
Just days after marking the completion of a new launch site in Virginia, Rocket Lab announced Dec. 18 that it has started work on a second pad at its original launch site in New Zealand.

Rocket Lab inaugurates U.S. launch site
The U.S. Air Force will be the first customer for a Rocket Lab Electron launching in 2020 from a new launch site in Virginia, the company announced Dec. 12.

Brazil continues efforts to attract launch business
The government of Brazil is ready to move into the next phase of efforts to attract commercial launch business to the country with the ratification of an agreement with the United States.

Former FAA official calls for national spaceport policy
The former head of the Federal Aviation Administration’s commercial space office says the government should create a policy that promotes the development of spaceports as not just launch sites but also as hubs for economic development.

Relativity to build launch site at Cape Canaveral
Relativity, the startup developing a small launch vehicle using additive manufacturing technologies, announced Jan. 17 it has won approval from the U.S. Air Force to build a launch site at Cape Canaveral.

Georgia spaceport attracts small launch vehicle developer
A Georgia county seeking to develop a spaceport has attracted a small launch vehicle company to set up operations and, hopefully, launch from there.

Colorado airport receives FAA spaceport license
A Colorado airport has received a commercial spaceport license from the Federal Aviation Administration despite a lack of announced users of the site and concerns about conflicts with aviation.

Virgin Orbit describes interest in launching from Britain
Virgin Orbit says an agreement that could lead to LauncherOne missions from an English airport is part of an effort to both better meet the needs of its customers as well as support the U.K. space industry.

Lockheed Martin, Orbex to launch from new British spaceport
The British government announced July 16 that it will provide funding to two companies, including an American aerospace giant, who plan to use a newly announced launch site in Scotland.

U.K. selects Scottish spaceport site
After years of study and consideration, the British government announced July 15 that it will start development of a new spaceport in northern Scotland, while an English airport signed a deal that could also lead to launches from its facility.

Rocket Lab selects four finalists for U.S. launch site
Rocket Lab announced July 10 that it has selected four potential locations for an American launch site for its Electron rocket, with a final decision to come in August.