Global Spaceport Alliance Hosts Successful 9th Annual GSA Spaceport Summit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[ALEXANDRIA, VA., February 9, 2024] The 9th Annual GSA Spaceport Summit, organized by the Global Spaceport Alliance (GSA), took place on January 29th at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. This year’s summit was the first time this event has been open to non-GSA members and saw a record-breaking attendance.

The event featured former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine as the keynote speaker. His insightful address commended GSA, emphasizing the critical significance of a robust spaceport network and assuring access to space as a national security priority.

“Nearly 200 attendees joined the GSA Spaceport Summit, setting a new record with a growth rate that is double last year’s event. Representatives from 20 spaceports across the US, UK, Sweden, Italy, Japan, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Peru, and Portugal participated, along with additional representatives from Canada and France,” stated James Causey, GSA Executive Director.

According to the Space Report, there has been a 48% increase in proposed spaceports worldwide over the past four years. This increase is reflected in the membership growth of the Global Spaceport Alliance, the largest international network of spaceports. The GSA organization has seen a 220% growth rate in memberships as the nascent spaceport industry expands and the need for assistance and representation grows.

In his remarks, GSA Chair Dr. George Nield unveiled a spaceport-oriented legislative initiative called the “Commercial Spaceflight Operations Act of 2024.” The proposed legislation is a comprehensive bill that seeks to, among other things:

• Establish an Assistant Secretary for Commercial Spaceflight under the Secretary of Transportation.
• Establish a Commercial Space Transportation Administration reporting directly to the Secretary of Transportation.
• Establish a clear National Spaceport Policy.
• Provide up to $500 Million over 5 years for spaceport infrastructure expenditures.
• Remove regulatory barriers to human spaceflight training.
• Acknowledge the importance of high-speed point-to-point space travel and require a detailed report.
• Create the Commercial Spaceflight Research Alliance, a government-funded independent research consortium.  

Pam Underwood, Director of the Office of Spaceport at the FAA, provided an update on the work of the National Spaceport Interagency Working Group, tackling issues such as aging infrastructure, congestion, and capacity. She laid out the foundational priorities of the working group, such as establishing a Spaceport Network Planning System (SNPS) and a Spaceport Capital Improvement Plan (SCIP) as counterparts to similar FAA programs for airports.

The next GSA Spaceport Summit is scheduled for January 27, 2025, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Throughout the year, GSA will host webinars and Advisory Group meetings.

###