What is next in the island's future, is perhaps space tourism. Wallops Island is 370 miles from Roanoke, located near the Maryland state line. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) is preparing for a satellite launch next week, and state leaders hope many more missions will follow. While no one expects those flights to include people any time soon, the director of the state's commercial space flight authority says it's possible.
MARS is one of only four commercial spaceports in the country licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration. The location is a major selling point according to the executive director of Virginia's Commercial Spaceflight Authority, Billie Reed. "Space station for example flies in a 52 degree inclination angle orbit right in the middle of our sweet spot. It's call location, and oh yeah we're cheaper," said Reed.
"Now the question is from here? You bet. We're wide open to it. Virginia has taken the lead if you will, setting up what is needed to support that industry," says Reed. A major reason is the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. Virginia and Maryland have joined forces to bring new commercial, government and academic projects to the NASA facility.
Virginia offers tax incentives to companies that use Wallops Island as their gateway to space. And the General Assembly has approved limits on liability for companies that offer manned space flights from the state.
Additionally, the facility plans to launcher rockets in late 2010 that will supply the International Space Station.