Aerial image of the José Aponte de la Torre regional airport.
(Credit: Port Authority).
(CNN Spanish) ––
The government of Puerto Rico began to explore the development of a former United States Navy base in the municipality of Ceiba, in the east of the island, through the Ports Authority.
In that sense, the government proposed for this purpose the José Aponte de la Torre regional airport, which operates where the Roosevelt Roads base used to be, and aims to host possible launches of spacecraft.
With the project in its sights, the Puerto Rico Ports Authority has begun a Request for Information (RFI) process.
The goal is to find a master developer for this concept.
(Credit: Port Authority).
From nanosatellites to space transport ships
The executive director of the Ports Authority, Joel A. Pizá Batiz, detailed that, based on a desirability study commissioned in 2019 to the firm RS&H, the Ceiba regional airport and the surrounding facilities could represent a geographically strategic space for activities of manufacturing and storage of aerospace equipment.
However, possible space activities will be subject to the approval of a vehicle launch operator license.
“Aerospace activity, exploratory trips and events beyond our atmosphere arouse great interest from local and global citizens.
At the same time they generate income and significant investment in economic, human and scientific capital, "said Pizá Batiz.
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According to the official, launch activities can range from nanosatellites to space transport ships.
This depending on the licensing.
Until recently, Google used the same airport facilities for its Loon pilot project.
From there, it launched balloons to provide internet services to regions that are inaccessible or with little connectivity.
The Roosevelt Roads base ceased operations in 2004 and has an area of 3,500 hectares.
In addition, it has a 3,352-meter-long runway.
Naval BaseScience and Space
