Governor Crist Announces Space Florida's Efforts to Capture State's Aerospace Economy

  

TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist and Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp today announced Space Florida's efforts to attract commercial space companies to Florida. Companies include Bigelow Aerospace, XCOR, Rocketplane Corporation, as well as one of the competing teams for the Google Lunar X Prize, which previously had not considered launching from Florida. In addition, Space Florida is also negotiating with Orbital Sciences Corporation to win their business for Florida.

In total, Space Florida is aggressively pursuing more than 50 different space-related firms for the commercial Florida's space market. Space Florida is pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities within Florida's aerospace industry in time to address aerospace workforce issues by 2010 when the NASA space shuttle program retires.

"The involvement of entrepreneurs and private corporations in the United States' launches is creating new economic opportunities for our state's aerospace industry," Governor Crist said. "This rapid shift is opening doors for new companies and technologies that are blurring the previous separations between aviation and spaceflight - and between civil, military and commercial industries."

The space and aerospace economy of the future includes more than the space shuttles and rockets of the traditional space sector. It will include emerging services and products that meet the needs of the next generation of aerospace companies. Florida, through Space Florida's efforts, is actively fostering the growth and development of the aerospace industry and working aggressively to diversify the aerospace economy throughout Florida. Space Florida is the state's public-private partnership for space-related economic growth.

"The path forward involves vigilance in Space Florida's three key areas of focus: Spaceport Operations; Business Development; and Education, Research and Development, and Workforce," said Governor Crist. "It is through these three key areas that Florida will develop the next generation of the aerospace economy, ensuring it benefits for generations to come."

"Florida is focused on the vision of a profitable civil, military, and commercial aerospace industry that contributes to scientific research, national defense, satellite communications, research and development, and vital support for the International Space Station," added Lt. Governor Kottkamp. "With a number of economic incentives and customer services, Florida is able to provide tailored assistance based on the needs of the company."