Virginia Commercial Human Space Flight Revenue Measure Passes House 89 to 8

On a vote of 89 to 8, the Virginia House of Delegates, followed the Senate (40 to 0), in sending to Governor Robert McDonnell a measure to earmark any human space flight or human space flight training generated state income tax revenue to the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority. Gov. McDonnell offered administration support to the bill in the House following Vienna, Va.-based Space Adventures support in the Senate [SB 1447 -Wampler].

The measure, upon signature of the governor, is expected to become effective July 1, 2011 for tax years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Space Adventures is expected to resume commercial space flights on the Soyuz to the ISS in 2013-2014 and, perhaps, enlist two lunar space tourists for a $300-million flight around the Moon in 2015. The income tax paid by Space Adventures to Virginia would be promptly directed to the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority for spaceport infrastructure. The Virginia corporate tax rate is 6%.

The measure with mark the 10th anniversary of American multimillionaire Dennis Tito's first space tourist flight in April of 2001. Tito booked his trip with Space Adventures, Ltd., a Virginia-based company with offices in Moscow. Tito launched into space aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft and visited the International Space Station. A total of eight tourist flights have been sold by Space Adventures between 2001 and 2009.