In 2019 GSA established a series of working groups focused on specific subject areas. The Working Groups will consider the topics and make recommendations for GSA activities, including national and international policy initiatives that may be communicated to relevant governance bodies.
Attending members agreed to serve on the respective working groups as follows:
GSA Working Groups
The ability to conduct high-speed, long-distance transportation, specifically point-to-point transportation through space, will be a major game-changer for the global space economy. The ability to fly from one side of the Earth to the other in less than 90 minutes will radically change not only how we travel, but how we communicate and how we do business. This working group will address the issues relating to spaceport readiness for this exciting eventuality.
- Oscar Garcia, InterFlight Global, Co‐Chair
- Arturo Machuca, Houston Air and Space Port, Co‐Chair
- Francisco Partida, Special Projects Manager, City of Brownsville
- Ben Hernandez, Arizona Spaceport Alliance
- Todd Lindner, Jacksonville Aviation Authority
- James Lassiter, Corgan
- Dave Ruppel, Colorado Air and Space Port
Universities are ideal partners for spaceports, which will be hubs for innovation and the development of new technologies wherever they exist. This working group will discuss potential opportunities for academic engagement with current and emerging spaceports.
- Charles Miller, Spaceport America, Chair
- Karyn MacVean, Arizona Spaceport Alliance
- Robert Aillon, Leviathan Space Industries
- Cherie Matthew, Corgan
- David Pollard, Spaceport Cornwall
- Shinichi Takata, Space Port Japan Association
- Dan Loewen, Orion’s Quest, Michigan Space Launch Initiative
Even before commercial human spaceflights become routine, many spaceports may have a chance to host space-related aircraft activities for training or research and development purposes. This working group will investigate how we can facilitate the operation of such “Space Support Vehicles,” which could provide near-term revenue and business opportunities for spaceports.
- Dave Ruppel, Colorado Air and Space Port, Co‐Chair
- Robert Aillon, Leviathan Space Industries
- Scott McLaughlin, Spaceport America
- Oscar Garcia, InterFlight Global
Spaceports have unique infrastructure requirements which can often require significant investment. This working group will seek to identify common infrastructure needs and recommend potential legal, policy, and regulatory changes that could allow spaceports to better respond to the financial challenges they face.
- Victoria Mechly, RS&H
- Hidetaka Aoki, Space Port Japan Association
- Scott McLaughlin, Spaceport America
- Alma Miller, UTRGV’s CARA/STARGATE
- Chanse Watson, Hancock County Port and Harbor
- Pat Hynes, FAA Center of Excellence for Commercial Space Transportation, NMSU
- Francisco Partida, City of Brownsville | Department of Aviation
- Todd Lindner, Mojave Air and Space Port
- Chad Nickell, Air Liquide
- Patricia Hynes, NM FAA CECST
- Robert Aillon, Leviathan
- Steve Moran, Spire
- Cherie Matthew, Corgan
- Francis Walker, Corgan
- Craig Smith, Oklahoma Air & Spaceport
- Melissa James, REACH
- Steve Howard, Camden Spaceport