Virginia gubernatorial candidate TERRY MCAULIFFE officially launched his campaign today in front of a crowd of about 200 in Norfolk laying out his transportation plan and vision for how the next Governor of Virginia can help strengthen and diversify the Commonwealth's economy. "WE MUST CONTINUE TO LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND PROVIDE STRONG SUPPORT TO OUR SPACEPORT AT WALLOPS ISLAND. THERE WILL BE A FEW STATES THAT CAPTURE THE EMERGING COMMERCIAL SPACE INDUSTRY, AND WE MUST ENSURE THAT THE COMMONWEALTH HELPS LEAD THE WAY ON THIS NEW INDUSTRY," noted McAuliffe.
In the past, McAuliffe has called the spaceport "A HUGE SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITY" that he would seek to "INVEST GREATLY" noting the importance of "PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS." McAuliffe's transportation plan raises the political awareness of the MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL SPACEPORT. The state-owned launch pads have garnered growing and significant financial and political capital from Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and THE STATE LEGISLATURE IN RICHMOND over the past few years. McAuliffe opponent Ken Cuccinelli has not been outspoken on the spaceport. With six months before Virginians go to the polls, both gubernatorial candidates will have ample opportunity to reach out Virginians commercial space launch firms, scientists, rocket and satellite engineers, spaceport infrastructure workers and space enthusiasts to raise the commercial space launch ante.
In July, Loudoun County, Va.-based Orbital Sciences Corporation will launch its first commercial cargo mission to the International Space Station from the Accomack County, Va.-based spaceport using an ANTARES BOOSTER and CYGNUS spacecraft. In August, the commercial space launch firm will loft the NASA LADEE probe to orbit the moon with a newly configured MINOTAUR 5 booster rocket.
The Virginia spaceport seeks to become a multi-user commercial space launch facility in this decade. Many of the commercial space launch developers have visited the Eastern Shore in the past year to view the pads and range control. Florida and TEXAS are potential competitors for commercial spaceflights.
Source: truth-just-ahead.blogspot.com
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