“Opportunity at Work” Building a Spaceport

Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell conducted a ceremonial signing into a law a state tax measure to redirect tax revenue generated from human spaceflights sold by Vienna, Va.-based Space Adventures Wednesday, May 25, 2011. The measure is designed to help build commercial space launch infrastuture and support human spaceflights from the Virginia-based commercial Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.

Designated a part of the Administration's “Opportunity at Work” legislation, SB1447 offered by State Senator William C. Wampler, Jr. (R-Bristol), directs revenues to the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority to support the expansion of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport and to support human spaceflight in this decade. Wampler, a leading legislator in support of the spaceport, successfully obtained passage of Virginia's Zero-Gravity, Zero-Tax measure in 2008.

Gov. McDonnell noted that the space flight measure "will go far to encourage job creators to choose Virginia and invest in this state." Commercial space launch firms from around the nation are now taking a serious look-see at the space launch facilities at Wallops Island as a result of Virginia space law adopted over the past five years.