Space Center: Hernando County is preparing for the future

Florida’s aviation and commercial aerospace industry is booming and growing at an astonishing rate. (A Spaceballs reference for die-hard Mel Brooks fans.) A group of local leaders and educators are looking to make sure Hernando County grows with it.

Florida had relatively few space launches per year between 2010 and 2019, but by 2023, the number of launches from Florida’s Space Coast has soared to 72. Double or more than this number. Last year, the number of global orbital launches reached a record high of 223, an increase of nearly 20% from 186 launches in 2022.

The driving forces behind the rapidly increasing launch cadence are diverse. The most famous of them are private companies such as Space X and Amazon, which all plan to create their own global satellite networks. Each network requires literally launching thousands of satellites into orbit. (As of this month, Space X has more than 6,000 satellites in orbit as part of its Starlink constellation, with plans to add at least 6,000 more, according to the company.)

Over the past few years, dozens of other private companies have emerged with the goal of providing rental launch services, astronaut training, space technology development, space tourism, and even commercial space stations. At least two plan to operate commercial stations by the end of the century.

There are also government needs, covering everything from space exploration to weather forecasting to national security. The federal government has awarded contracts to hundreds of private companies over the past few years. These contracts not only require the companies to develop technologies that meet government needs, but also require the companies to actually send those technologies into space and, in some cases, the moon.

We’re not just talking about the U.S. government. Last year, several foreign governments launched astronauts and payloads into space from Florida. Countries and companies around the world use the services of various commercial aerospace companies, such as Axiom, United Launch Alliance, and SpaceX. In fact, global launch demand still exceeds launch capacity, resulting in a backlog of payloads waiting to enter space.

The economic impact of commercial aerospace in Florida is not limited to the major companies involved. Every private company must rely on dozens of subcontractors for its development and supply chain needs.

A significant increase in aerospace activity in Florida over the past few years has caught the attention of local school districts and government entities.

Enter Sophia Watson, president of Wilton Simpson Technical College in Hernando County. The college is part of the county school district and began planning in 2019 to build a new large campus on the northeast corner of Brooksville Regional Airport.

After Watson and others attended a 2022 conference hosted by Space Florida, a government entity designed to promote Florida’s space economy, an idea was born. Watson and other local leaders recognize the need to prepare for the demands of the commercial space boom and attract businesses, as well as prepare students to be part of the future workforce. Watson found himself leading efforts to bring the space center’s small business incubator to the region and focus on advanced technologies that could be used in space. Watson said the new airport campus is the place to do that.

Commenting on the effort, Watson said: “Given that the aerospace industry operates in three distinct phases – groundwork, launch and space operations – we recognized that Hernando is well suited to serve the operational phase. Make a contribution. Tomorrow’s space will require the same industries that exist today.

She praised Hernando County as the perfect location for the space center, saying, “In addition to our proximity to the Space Coast, our local assets include a workforce actively seeking advanced employment opportunities, excellent training institutions and a collaborative community. Spirit. Our space center is another way to position Hernando as a leading partner in the industry.

Hernando County Economic Development Director Valerie Pianta also expressed Watson’s enthusiasm for the plan. Pianta told the Hernando Sun: “The space center project is a great opportunity to strengthen and grow Hernando County’s involvement in the aerospace industry. The Economic Development Office has worked with the school district for many years to ensure that we have the transparency The idea of ​​a space center that caters to the needs of industry investing in the community through quality education programs is really a natural progression and focuses on entrepreneurs who are directly involved in or supporting the aerospace industry.

Additionally, the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport and Technology Center, with 2,400 acres, 7,000 feet of runway and over 100 businesses, provides the perfect backdrop. Having an incubator to develop our own capabilities “adds to the county’s robust economic development initiatives, which include business recruitment and retention programs and support from the University of South Florida’s Small Business Development Center.”

The cost to start up the facility is approximately $4,000,000. The price tag has led to seeking federal funding in the form of community block grants. Although the window to apply for funding has not yet opened, local district and government officials are already working together to make the dream a reality. So far, school, city and county officials have discussed the plan at interlocal meetings in March and are already taking concrete action.

Brooksville Mayor Blake Bell recently wrote a letter to Congressman Gus Bilirakis. The letter read:

Today, on behalf of the Brooksville City Council, I strongly urge you to consider and support the Hernando County School District’s request for federal Community Program funds. The Hernando County School District is seeking $4,000,000 in federal community program funding for the Hub to maintain an important workforce and economic development driver for the county and region. The space center program, located at the Dennis Wilfon Success Center, will focus on advancing space technology at the heart of the Hernando Technology Center. Led by the school district, many community collaborators support this exciting proposed project! In fast-growing school districts, innovation and support from federal, state, local government, and community leaders are critical. It is critical that Hernando County and the Hernando County School District be able to compete with other similar and nearby counties. A report from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) found that business incubation programs have an impact of approximately $30 on the local economy for every $1 of public investment. Under your leadership, Hernando County and the school district will achieve new heights for residents, taxpayers, students and the business community.

The Hernando Sun reached out to Congressman Billilakis’ office for comment but was told the office could not comment on the funding request so early in the process.

As one would expect, NASA is very supportive of such measures being proposed locally. Kimberlyn B. Carter, director of the Center’s Office of Engagement and Business Integration Services, told The Sun that NASA relies on a diverse STEM technology workforce to meet current and future needs. The institution has a long history of engaging students of all ages to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as promoting technological innovation and supporting growth in the commercial aerospace sector. As an agency, we are executing on a strategy to develop a vibrant economy that is sustainable, cost-effective, and safe in low Earth orbit, and NASA Kennedy’s Master Plan is working toward the sustainability of our spaceport. Be prepared. The synergy and collaboration created by all these efforts is good for students, good for NASA and the aerospace industry, and good for the country.

A report released this week by the World Economic Forum highlights the need for space centers: “In an increasingly connected and mobile world, the space economy is expected to soar to $1.8 trillion by 2035, impacting and creating opportunities for nearly every industry. Value. But it’s not just rocket science, space is playing an increasingly important role in everything from the weather forecast you see in the morning, to the dinner delivered to your door, to the phone calls you make on your smart watch. .In fact, industries such as supply chain and transportation will only become more dependent on satellites and other space technologies.

“Five industries supply chain and transportation; food and beverage; state-sponsored defense; retail, consumer goods/lifestyle; By 2035, digital communications will account for more than 60% of space economic growth.
With numbers like that, there will be plenty of room for Hernando County to get a piece of the pie.