Leadership at Cecil Airport and Spaceport hosted a media tour giving updates on the facility and a behind the scenes look at what goes on inside those giant cement buildings.
The Spaceport is one of just 14 commercial spaceports in the entire country. Here in Florida, there are six, including Cecil.
Space Florida CEO, Rob Long, says each spaceport serves its own unique purpose.
“We’re looking at spaceport from a system perspective. Multiple spaceports, just like you see multiple airports or multiple seaports,” said Long. “Then, as an integrated whole, depending on the need for the customer or mission requirement, there are various options to fulfill that need.”
To keep up with the growing demand for more space travel, the spaceport is working with the Jacksonville Aviation Authority on expanding their facilities eastward.
“The goal for that area is for aerospace-related development,” said Cecil Airport and Spaceport Director Matt Bocchino. “So things are not necessarily aviation-centric, like you would see around the rest of the airport, but businesses that will come here because we’re a spaceport, that wouldn’t come here otherwise.”
In addition to the expansion, the spaceport is also in the initial stages of applying to become a reentry site, creating a new pathway from space to right here on the first coast.
“There’s a huge benefit to the community for the type of payloads that could come through here,” said Bocchino.
Spaceport leadership says the application process is pretty lengthy and takes around two years to complete. But it’s for a good reason.
“The FAA is very stringent about making sure that what they’re approving is safe for the surrounding community,” said Bocchino. “There’s a lot of calculations and things and noise analysis, talking to the community. Community outreach is part of the process.”
The spaceport plans to bring in a consultant to help with the application process on March 27th. If and when the license for reentry is approved, Bocchino says they already have the infrastructure in place for safe landings.