On Tuesday Ellington Field received approval from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to establish itself as a launch site for reusable launch vehicles in Houston. This will make the facility the 10th commercial spaceport in the United States.
The idea of bringing a spaceport to the Bayou City was brought before the Houston City Council in 2013. Mayor Annise Parker spoke on behalf of the spaceport and the future impact it will have in the Houston community.
“We believe a licensed spaceport in Houston will not only serve as an economic generator for the city but also enhance Houston’s well deserved reputation as a leader and key player in the aerospace industry.”
“It is very exciting for us. This gives Houston a very different perspective,” Arturo Machuca, general manager of Ellington Airport, said. “The magnet that this license represents in attracting industry, aerospace industry to Houston is just tremendous.”
Mario C. Diaz, the Director of Aviation has great expectations and sees wonderful potential in the spaceport. He predicts it will be possible to support suborbital, orbital, and point to point travel within the next 20 years. Applications include zero-gravity testing of scientific and medical experiments, microsatellites, astronaut training and development, and space tourism.
“Having Johnson Space Center in the region let alone right next door is a big deal because they have the expertise, they have the knowledge, they have the connections, they have the drive to make space happen,” Rice Space Institute’s Dr. David Alexander said.
