Move over, Oklahoma and New Mexico: Hawaii is firing up its quest to become a new launch site for space tourism. Already hosting an energetic aerospace education and development program, the Island of Love is getting star-struck about the possibilities for space tourism.
Speaking of stars, yes, that's Elvis, in Blue Hawaii. Why is he here? Either to fuel the conspiracy theories that the King isn't really dead, to tout another theory, or just plain for the eye candy. *
As you can see, decades ago Elvis had the concept of a really big engine. Elvis here explains the technology of clustered main engines, cleverly disguised as a pineapple basket. This theory notes that the pineapple basket, turned upside down, would be eerily similar to the space shuttle main engines. (Then again, sometimes a pineapple basket is just a pineapple basket.)
But what a basket of space goodies Hawaii has to offer, its officials say. Although they've been working on space and technology development for years, the state is picking up momentum as the space tourism industry develops.
Hawaii offers a natural environment for space launches and tourism, according to Jim Crisafulli, director of the state's Office of Aerospace Development. In an ongoing press outreach, he told Honolulu's KHNL that Hawaii offers many options for space development:
Aerospace is one of the definitive growth industries for the state. It's one of these industries that once it matures it will not be exported. And the reason for that is what Hawaii has."
...The moon/Mars-like terrain on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are ideal for testing and evaluating new technologies that will take us back to the moon.
Hawaii's legislature is considering a bill that would set aside state funds to cover the costs of a $500,000 spaceport license from the FAA. New Mexico's Spaceport America was granted a license in December 2008.
The Oklahoma Spaceport in Burns Flat received its FAA license in June 2006. Although somewhat contemptuously referred to as "the little spaceport on the prairie" by those who believed the facility would never get its license, the spaceport now serves as:
- Current test and evaluation location for Armadillo Aerospace . Armadillo won the first level of the XPrize Northrup Grumman Lunar Lander in October 2008.
- Future launch site of Rocketplane
Hawaii's Crisafulli believes that space tourism will bring solid economic growth to the state:
Once the space planes start launching from Hawaii, the annual revenue from this one event alone is projected at $200 million per year. And that is flying one space plane in and out of Honolulu once per week.
In August, 2008, the Hawaii legislature hosted a day-long event focusing on the potential for aerospace development. They noted:
The University of Hawaii is home to over $60 million in annual grants for space-related programs from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
The U.S. Military has also made significant investments in Hawaii's aerospace industry, such as the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site (AMOS) which sits atop Haleakala. It supports the largest space surveillance site in the nation.
Local companies such as Oceanit, Novasol, and Trex Hawaii, are developing new products to support aerospace activities such as atmospheric monitoring and weather forecasting, advanced air traffic control, advanced optical communications and electro-optical tracking systems.
National companies such as Boeing, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin are already established in Hawaii.
What's Possible…
Rocketplane Global will discuss Hawaii's potential as a commercial launch site. Hawaii's location near the equator makes our state an ideal sit to support commercial space launch. In fact, Hawaii is the only state in the country from which payloads may be launched into orbit, polar or equatorial, without flying over populated areas.In the next coming months, NASA will be identifying strategic locations across the U.S. that may be able to simulate extraterrestrial conditions on earth. NASA's goal is to return humans to the Moon by 2020, and to Mars in the following decade. Hawaii's environment, geography, terrain, and technological assets make the state very competitive in this site selection.
Space tourism, education, and the continuing development of technology that helps explore Earth's resources are prime growth industries in the coming years, space boosters believe. Hawaii's quest for a spaceport and an FAA license could be only the beginning of a new sector of Hawaiian tourism, Crisafulli says.
*Clearly, the photo of Elvis is there just because well, it's Elvis in Blue Hawaii. Also clear: my editor needs to send me to Hawaii to personally research the potential for a spaceport there.
Comments