posted 08-09-2020 11:54 PM               

Gavin Brown, executive director of the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association, told the Free Press that the site could be operational in the next five or six years if plans come to fruition.

Northern U.P. Identified as Top Location for Vertical Launch Spaceport

The Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association today announced findings from a site-selection process for a vertical space launch site that has identified a location just north of Marquette.

Conducted by spaceport consultants BRPH and Kimley-Horn, the site-selection process has been a year- long effort. Sites were ranked based on several factors, including existing commercial and public infrastructure, geographic and terrestrial mapping, living standards and workforce development. Operations are expected to begin by early 2025.

"The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is home to some of the hardest working and most resourceful people in the world," said U.S. Rep Jack Bergman, who represents the 1st District. "Locating this spaceport in the U.P. will create the opportunity for our residents to use their skills, talents and technological expertise to adapt to the changing needs of the commercial and defense space industries.

The announcement for the vertical space launch comes just months after MAMA identified the Oscoda- Wurtsmith Airport outside of Oscoda as the top candidate for a horizontal spaceport. Licensing through the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, has begun for that site with operations projected to begin in late 2023 or early 2024.

"This announcement is a true win for the people of the U.P.," said Sen Ed McBroom, who represents Michigan's 38th District. "We are very pleased that the U.P.'s many attributes were recognized through the vetting process. The vertical spaceport could bring quality job prospects to the region and highlight Michigan as a center for excellence and innovation."

The two launch sites in Marquette and Oscoda, along with a yet-to-be-identified command and control center, will create more than 2,000 jobs. These sites will be instrumental in creating a space ecosystem in the state that is projected to top 40,000 new jobs by 2025.

"Michigan has a real opportunity to support a space-based ecosystem," said Gavin Brown, executive director of MAMA. "The Marquette location will be a critical component, bringing low-earth orbit vertical launch capabilities to the state to meet the domestic and global demand. By integrating sophisticated infrastructure with first-rate human talent, Michigan can be one of the leaders in the space industry.

Michigan is uniquely positioned to take advantage of integrated space resources working collaboratively to serve industries like autonomous technology, automotive, communications, medical, education and first responders. Michigan will be able to meet the demand for commercial, government and defense space launches, including the demand for complete geographic broadband coverage, including 5G for electric vehicles anywhere in the United States.

In June 2019, the Michigan Legislature appropriated $2 million to assess the feasibility of developing one or more low-orbit launch sites in Michigan. In February 2020, MAMA announced the Oscoda site as the top candidate for a horizontal launch facility.

"I'm pleased the Marquette area has been chosen as a vertical space launch site and appreciate the comprehensive and thoughtful process that led to the selection," said Rep. Sara Cambensy, who represents Michigan's 109th District. "This will help bring a new industry to the U.P. and to our state that will provide good-paying jobs to our residents."

Now that the site has been selected, MAMA will work with community, local, and state partners to solicit feedback as part of the licensing process with the FAA. A command and control center analysis is currently being conducted with an expected completion date of November 2020.

posted 08-10-2020 10:11 AM               

That anti-launch site petition has now been answered by a group supporting the effort with its own petition to "say 'YES!' to the U.P. spaceport," which had generated more than 1,600 signatures as of Saturday (Aug. 8).

posted 08-10-2020 04:27 PM               

I always assumed vertical launch was going up from the launch site, so you can have sounding rockets, or if you want to get into orbit you'd have rockets comparable to something launched out of Cape Canaveral, Mid-Atlantic, Vandenburg, etc. Rockets to orbit are multistage, with the first stage impacting maybe 200 to 400 miles downrange from the launch site.