Provided By
Merrick & Company
May 2026
During the 1990s when work began on the Kodiak Launch Complex, what is now the Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island, it marked a turning point for commercial spaceflight.
At a time when all US orbital launch sites were closely tied to federal ranges and military infrastructure, Alaska took bold steps to decouple a US spaceport from direct federal ownership. In 1998, the Kodiak Launch Complex became the first FAA-licensed launch site not co-located with a federal installation.
The distinction was more than symbolic. By operating outside the constraints of a federal range, PSCA offered a flexible alternative for accessing polar, sun-synchronous, and high-inclination orbits, and for testing orbital launchers, missile defense systems, and hypersonic vehicles.
Situated at Narrow Cape at 57.44° North latitude, PSCA is the US’s northernmost orbital spaceport, commanding vast airspace and the northern Pacific Ocean. From this site, using a variety of mobile tracking/telemetry assets and flight safety systems, PSCA-launched missions can reach a wide fan of orbital inclinations between 59° and 110°, more than any other US launch site.
Equally groundbreaking is PSCA’s governance and economic model. Owned and operated by the Alaska Aerospace Corporation (AAC), a state entity, PSCA broke new ground again in 2015 when AAC became fully self-sustaining, shifting from state appropriations to diversified earned revenue. That transition became a catalyst for innovation, driving cost reductions, automation, and conducting a broader range of commercial and government launch missions alongside continued missile defense testing. AAC also innovated by developing its mobile Range Safety and Telemetry System (RSTS), a globally deployable capability that has become an enduring revenue-generating asset.
From its inception, PSCA embodied a spirit of independence and adaptability, a heritage that continues to shape its future. What began as a greenfield site has evolved into a dynamic economic hub for Alaska, proving that spaceports can thrive under market-driven principles. Today, AAC’s legacy of bold decisions fuels expansion beyond Kodiak Island, inspiring tomorrow’s spaceports to think bigger, act bolder, and embrace the power of innovation.
ABOUT MERRICK & COMPANY
Merrick & Company is an employee‑owned engineering, architecture, surveying, and geospatial firm headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Founded in 1955, Merrick has grown into a multidisciplinary practice serving aerospace, nuclear, biotech, national security, energy, and advanced industrial markets. In aerospace, Merrick supports spaceports, launch and reentry infrastructure, payload processing facilities, aerospace manufacturing, and government and commercial space programs with integrated planning, engineering, and regulatory‑informed design capabilities.
