Virginia's Spaceplex Study to Commece

An academic symposium will be held this fall to explore the potential of what officials are calling "Virginia's Spaceplex" in response to the planned Taurus II orbital missions to be launched from the the Wallops Island area in 2011 and years thereafter.

A one-day symposium including several Virginia universities and experts in the space industry is in the early planning stages and will likely be held in Richmond in early fall, according to Wallops Research Park Project Manager Amy Bull. The study is expected to be completed by mid-2010.

Immediate needs include providing housing and workspace for a group of Ukranians due to arrive within the year to work on Taurus II. The first stage booster for the Taurus II is being provided to Orbital Sciences Corporation by a Ukranian space launch firm.