Adams County Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Spaceport Cornwall

Colorado Air and Space Port (CASP) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with United Kingdom-based Spaceport Cornwall to share resources, operations, knowledge, and launch systems for mutual benefit. The agreement was signed Nov. 8 by Adams County Manager Raymond Gonzales and Spaceport Cornwall Director Miles Carden.

The MOU outlines a shared vision between the two spaceports that are looking to integrate launch into an existing airport’s operations with a business vision for flexible, low cost, and resilient access to space for small satellite launch systems and human spaceflight.

“Creating these partnerships is critical to establishing a model for international collaboration in this burgeoning industry,” said Gonzales.

Among the opportunities created by the MOU are cost reductions by sharing site resources, launch capacity, payload processing facilities, mission and range management, logistics, expertise and policy advocacy.

“Our two spaceports are very similar and the opportunities to share information and resources with another horizontal launch facility will abbreviate our learning curve while creating a partnership that matures as we move toward point-to-point travel between international spaceports,” said Adams County Commissioner Steve O’Dorisio.

Both CASP and Spaceport Cornwall are members of the Global Spaceport Alliance and will continue to work with that group while pursuing collaboration with other global horizontal launch facilities.

“We are very happy to continue to grow our relationship with Spaceport Cornwall and to have this new MOU,” said CASP Director Dave Ruppel. “This is an amazing opportunity to collaborate with a key spaceport and partner to share best practices, policy development, and other operational elements.”

CASP was issued a Site Operator’s License from the Federal Aviation Administration in August 2018.