The Spaceport Company, founded in 2022, is developing mobile, sea-based launch platforms and transportable tracking & telemetry systems to support the growing commercial space transportation industry. Their innovative floating launch pads aim to provide flexible and cost-effective access to space, alleviating bottlenecks at traditional spaceports. They secured a $1.5 million contract from the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) in June 2023 to complete their first barge. Their clients include Maritime Launch Services where they provide tracking and telemetry stations.
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The rockets used in the 2023-05-22 launches were provided by Rick Maschek, a small rocket builder and launch operator engaged by The Spaceport Company.
The Spaceport Company plans to incorporate lessons from the demonstration into a project to build a sea-based spaceport capable of orbital operations.
The Spaceport Company hosted four sounding rocket launches with support from Evolution Space on 2023-05-22 from a platform in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Spaceport Company planned a demonstration in May to launch four sounding rockets from a modified ship in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Spaceport Company planned to announce relationships with launch companies and raise funds to start work on its first offshore launch platforms.
Rockets launching from The Spaceport Company’s sea-based platforms would use autonomous flight termination systems that do not require radars or other tracking assets.
The Spaceport Company’s sea-based platforms are intended to host small launch vehicles in size up to Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha, which can place about one ton into orbit.
The Spaceport Company’s initial sea-based platforms would operate several kilometers offshore in U.S. territorial waters at depths up to 60 m.
The Spaceport Company expects its demonstration launches and partnerships to help raise funding to build sea-based platforms that could be ready to enter service as soon as 2025.
The Spaceport Company has a memorandum of understanding with Virginia Space to study how its sea-based platforms could be used to augment the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island.
The Spaceport Company plans to demonstrate a sea-based launch platform in May by conducting four sounding rocket launches from a modified ship in the Gulf of Mexico.