County leader: 'Report is 1 small step for Spaceport Camden, 1 giant leap for Georgia'

Georgia committee recommends spaceflight legislation

WOODBINE, Georgia – A Georgia Senate Study Committee is recommending legislation that sends a clear message to the commercial space community: Georgia is open for business.

A meeting was held in Atlanta on Thursday morning, where the Senate Study Committee on the Camden County Spaceport finalized its proposal to the General Assembly, regarding the challenges and opportunities tied to a possible spaceport in Georgia.

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The main takeaway from the study committee? The Georgia General Assembly should propose and pass legislation that shows the Peach State is ready for liftoff. Or, ready to accommodate liftoff, that is.

"To paraphrase Neil Armstrong, this report is one small step for Spaceport Camden, but one giant leap for Georgia," said Steve Howard, the spaceport project lead and Camden County administrator. "There is still plenty of work to do before rockets launch from Camden County, but we look forward to working with the General Assembly to make Georgia the best place in the country for aerospace entrepreneurs to do business."

Camden County officials continue to work through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation to get a launch site operator's license, the Board of County Commissioners said.

A decision by the FAA is expected in 2017. Environmental and safety reviews are in process.