Free Republic

California lawmakers took steps this week to provide an outlay of funds for the inland Mojave Spaceport, an action also designed to keep the state aggressive in public space travel and space enterprise. The California Legislature has moved a bill to invest $11 million in the Mojave Spaceport. Noting competition from other states and nations, the Senate Committee on Transportation voted on a bipartisan 8-1 vote in favor of Senate Bill 1671 by State Senator Roy Ashburn that will ensure a competitive advantage for the first, and only, inland spaceport in the United States. The measure would establish a loan...

MOJAVE - The Mojave Airport will receive an $11 million state loan to build a spaceport terminal, hangar and related infrastructure should a bill by state Sen. Roy Ashburn pass in the Legislature. The Bakersfield Republican's bill, Senate Bill 1671, faces its first hurdle Tuesday in a hearing before the Senate Transportation and Housing committee. The funding is necessary to position the airport for future spaceport activities, such as the tourism spaceflight operations of Virgin Galactic and other emerging space endeavors. Mojave Airport became the first - and remains the only - inland spaceport in the country when it was...