KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
The Pacific Spaceport Complex — Alaska wrapped up a series of defense-contracted launches this summer and is looking ahead to a busy schedule this fall and into next year.
The state-owned Alaska Aerospace Corporation (AAC) operates the launch complex on Kodiak’s Narrow Cape. Its launch history involves primarily federal government contracts, though in recent years, the corporation has stressed they’re planning to expand into commercial contracts.
“We’ve got a couple of … commercial launches this fall that we’re tracking, and we’re getting prepared for them,” AAC President and CEO Mark Lester said on Wednesday. “We’re also preparing for a number of launches next year. Tracking about 10 launches next year. Some of those probably won’t happen. But that’s kind of the cadence that we’re looking at in the future.”
Lester declined to say who the commercial client launching this fall is. The client hasn’t yet fixed a launch date, but he says they’ll let the public know when it’s decided. The launch facility is required to give the Federal Aviation Administration and the Coast Guard a 30 day notice to request for air, road and water closures.
This past summer’s Arrow 3 launches, in partnership with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and the Israeli Missile Defense Organization, were hailed as a success from both organizations. Lester says it was an indication of the spaceport’s capabilities.
“I think that kind of demonstrates moving forward, [that] the spaceport can do … more launches, and how we don’t disrupt the fishing community or the air taxi community down to Old Harbor and other villages. And how we can support the economy with space launches, in a way that doesn’t impact others.”
Another public town hall about the future of the Pacific Spaceport Complex is being planned for October. Lester also said they plan to hold an open house of the launch facility next month.
