In separate letters of support to Acting FAA Administrator, Dan Elwell, Governor Nathan Deal and Lt. Governor Casey Cagle both touted the benefits Spaceport Camden will offer the State of Georgia and commercial space operators.
“The Spaceport Camden project utilizes Georgia’s high-technology industry and cutting-edge research capabilities, bringing significant economic opportunities to coastal Georgia as the space industry continues its growth,” Governor Deal stated in his letter. Today, Georgia commands just 1/10 of 1% of global space economy, a market that Bank of America Merrill Lynch has projected to grow to $2.7 trillion over the next 30 years.
Lt. Governor Casey Cagle echoed Governor Deals sentiments, noting “Camden is the ideal region for space vehicle manufacturing due to its location…[and] also offers a launch range that is virtually unrestricted for the launch of spacecrafts to a wide range of orbits” Cagle further noted the regional benefits Spaceport Camden offers neighboring states stating “[t]his Spaceport not only opens up the door for economic growth in our state, but puts the Southeast on the cutting edge of scientific development.”
Spaceport Camden, coupled with NASA’s presence in Alabama and Florida and Georgia’s expertise in aerospace engineering and manufacturing, has the potential to put coastal Georgia at the epicenter of a new space corridor in the Southeast.
“We couldn’t be more excited about the momentum we have for this project,” said Camden County Administrator and Spaceport Project Lead, Steve Howard. “Commercial Space Operators are taking note of the favorable business climate and overwhelming political support for space exploration in Georgia. We are already receiving significant interest from companies looking to locate their operations in Camden,” added Howard.
Camden County plans to formally submit its launch site operator license application to the FAA, in the next few months. This application will trigger a 180-day “shot clock” for a final decision on the issuance of the launch site operator’s license.