The Virginia State Senate is proceeding to advance commercial space policy bills that will earmark state income tax revenue generated by commercial human spaceflights and another bill exempting certain space launch data from the state's Freedom of Information Act. Both measures are expected to pass the 40-member Senate and be referred to the 100-member House of Delegates.
Reported on a vote of 15-to-0, Senate Bill 1447 addresses tax revenues generated by commercial spaceflight by requiring the transfer such potential revenue to the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority beginning July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2016. The amount of revenue to be generated for the spaceport by this measure is unknown.
State Senator William C. Wampler, Jr. (R-Bristol) seeks to transfer potential state revenue generated by Virginia from sales of private human spaceflights aboard the Russian Soyuz brokered by Vienna, Va.-based Space Adventures to further develop the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport to accommodate planning, design and construction of the state's spaceport facility co-located at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility.
Space Adventures President Tom Shelly backed the measure in a communication to Wampler and the Virginia General Assembly. The firm has a record of eight contracts for citizen cosmonauts to fly aboard the Soyuz between 2001 and 2009. Marketing two seats for $150-million each for treks around the moon in 2015, Space Adventures expects to resume orbital spaceflight sales with the Russians in 2013-2014 at a rate estimated between $30 to $50 million each.
Reported on a vote of 15-to-0, Senate Bill 1447 addresses tax revenues generated by commercial spaceflight by requiring the transfer such potential revenue to the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority beginning July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2016. The amount of revenue to be generated for the spaceport by this measure is unknown.
State Senator William C. Wampler, Jr. (R-Bristol) seeks to transfer potential state revenue generated by Virginia from sales of private human spaceflights aboard the Russian Soyuz brokered by Vienna, Va.-based Space Adventures to further develop the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport to accommodate planning, design and construction of the state's spaceport facility co-located at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility.
Space Adventures President Tom Shelly backed the measure in a communication to Wampler and the Virginia General Assembly. The firm has a record of eight contracts for citizen cosmonauts to fly aboard the Soyuz between 2001 and 2009. Marketing two seats for $150-million each for treks around the moon in 2015, Space Adventures expects to resume orbital spaceflight sales with the Russians in 2013-2014 at a rate estimated between $30 to $50 million each.
Va. Gov. Bob McDonnell is backing a budget amendment to increase the operational funding for the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority during the 2011 General Assembly session. The governor has been a vocal supporter of the commercial spaceport and growth of the aerospace industry in the state.
The Senate General Laws & Technology Committee also reported Senate Bill 1337 to exempt data shared by commercial space launch firms with the Virginia Commercial Spaceflight Authority from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The bill's intent to protect propriety data of Orbital Sciences Corporation's utilization of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.
The Senate General Laws & Technology Committee also reported Senate Bill 1337 to exempt data shared by commercial space launch firms with the Virginia Commercial Spaceflight Authority from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The bill's intent to protect propriety data of Orbital Sciences Corporation's utilization of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.
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