Critics and supporters of Spaceport Camden have sparred since the idea’s inception, and as the project inches closer to completion, the attacks are heating up.
Opponents of the spaceport allege that county officials have moved ahead with pursuing a Launch Site Operator License from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) despite refusing to release requested public safety information, possibly in violation of the Georgia Open Records Request Act. That allegation has led conservation groups to file a lawsuit against county officials and spaceport consultants, accusing them of being unaccountable to the public, particularly when it comes to potentially dangerous rocket launches.
The groups claim that the Georgia coast, home to billions of dollars worth of tourism and commercial uses, would be in danger if rockets were being shot into space overhead. Some have speculated that an explosion over Little Cumberland could ignite a fire in the tree canopy, while others have pointed out that similar spaceports in Alaska and Virginia make very little money, instead relying on federal subsidies.
Other critics, such as members of the Facebook group “Taxpayers against Camden Spaceport” have slammed Camden County Administrator Steve Howard, accusing him of not doing enough to bring jobs and investments into the county, while also slamming Spaceport Camden for costing too much, (nevermind the fact that it is at its core a massive jobs and investment project).
Meanwhile supporters such as Jeanne Seaver have hit back at critics, saying that “the logic behind Spaceport Camden is as simple as it is visionary.” Once the county receives its Launch Site Operator License it will attract a wide array of aerospace-related businesses and jobs, some of which will launch rockets, and some of which will support the folks doing so. It would also allow Georgia to get its foot in the door on an exploding industry, with launches nationally expected to double by 2020.
Said Seaver on the idea behind building the spaceport: “In a way, Spaceport Camden is similar to buying land to zone for office park and constructing a spec building. That spec building is intended to attract an anchor tenant; which, in turn attracts developers to build more buildings and more businesses to lease them. However, anyone in Georgia can create an office park. There is nothing special about that technique and anyone from Appling to Worth County can do it.”
She continued, “Instead of attempting to utilize the same techniques as every other county in southeast Georgia, Camden County is harnessing its unique location on Georgia’s coast to tap into a rapidly expanding marketplace. This is a revolutionary and innovative approach to growth.”
Already the spaceport is seeing use, with Georgia Tech’s Yellow Jacket Space Program successfully launching a sub-orbital rocket from the site late last month. The launch of the 8-foot tall, 26 pound rocket was meant to test and collect data on “real world performance that will allow the students to fine tune their components for more complex launches in the future.“
The county is expected to receive approval from the FAA for Spaceport Camden later this year. Last Summer, upon submitting the application for its launch license, the spaceport received vocal support from many of the state’s most high profile political leaders. Both Georgia senators, all 14 members of the congressional delegation, and Gov. Brian Kemp endorsed the project, pointing both to its benefits for STEM education as well as getting in on a $329 billion a year (and growing) industry.
