Las Vegas Spaceport Asks for FAA Licensing
A civilian space training facility — the Las Vegas Spaceport — has taken a big step toward becoming a reality. Here’s what you should know.
The Las Vegas Spaceport is a space training facility about a 45-minute drive from Las Vegas. It’s mean to “provide civilians with the most advanced space training in this world,” according to the company running it.
Although currently a space training facility for civilian space tourism, the long-term goal of the Spaceport is to become a “horizontal launch facility” for spacecraft. That will require both an airstrip to be constructed at the site, and approval from the FAA.
Permits for constriction of an airstrip at the facility were approved by Clary County officials back in May. Now, the company behind the Las Vegas Spaceport has officially asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a license to operate an airstrip for space-faring planes, according to 8 News Now.
Reportedly, the facility could have major applications beyond civilian space tourism. The CEO of the company, Rob Lauer, said that his firm has been in talks with the U.S. Space Force about a potential inland launch facility.
The Las Vegas Spaceport was first unveiled back in June 2023. The facility is built on 240 acres of land outside of Las Vegas, and is expected to cost $310 million. When it finishes, it could include an on-site hotel, a passenger terminal, an observation deck, and a restaurant.
Las Vegas residents will also be able to get a much closer view of launching spacecraft, though it’s still possible to see rockets shot into space from existing bases in California.
If you’re a space fan yourself, but you don’t want to wait for the spaceport to be complete, you can check out the Death Valley Dark Sky festival, which is an annual celebration of the celestial near Las Vegas.
Media credit: Image licensed from Adobe