...5th Annual KESSA Conference in Bowling Green, Ohio. Spaceports represent critical infrastructure for the 21st century, creating the foundation for technology development, economic growth, and advances space competitiveness. The evaluation was well received by attendees. At the conclusion of the two-day summit, KESSA Conference stakeholders adopted Futron’s recommendation to perform a feasibility study on the spaceport concept.

This past June, members of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Space Special Interest Group (SIG) joined with Futron to write a journal article on the potential of a spaceport off the coast of Kenya near the Italian-owned Broglio Space center facility. Futron incorporated advice from Phezu Space, LLC, which is also developing a similar South African spaceport concept. Phezu suggested the Kenya spaceport could provide the greatest benefit if it served the entire East African Community (EAC). Futron and NSBE Space SIG agreed and brought Phezu Space and its African affiliate, Isibizo Phezu Space Pty Ltd, into the conceptual development. Futron led the four-organization team in developing the East African Spaceport concept and writing the journal article.

“An East African spaceport, coupled with cooperation addressing space advancements in South, West, and North Africa will be one catalyst for integrating space technology into this rising continent’s economic, political, and societal development,” said Allen Herbert, CEO of Phezu Space, LLC.

The Futron team named the future East African spaceport “Uhuru,” meaning “freedom” in Swahili. The vision for the Uhuru Spaceport is a dynamic space hub that leverages the emerging commercial space industry to help create sustainable economic growth for the entire East African region. The Uhuru Spaceport’s development will be guided by Futron’s Spaceport Toolkit capability. This capability delivers an ecosystem of services and providers to a comprehensive set of  spaceport requirements including Master Planning Support; Operations Support; Business Strategy, Planning, and Process Improvement; Sales and Marketing Support Services; Risk, and Crisis Management; Safety, Assurance, and Audit Compliance; and Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Services. Futron has successfully worked with approximately ten spaceports worldwide, providing a variety of business, management, and operational support services.