Unique to any state, Florida designated space as mode of transportation in 1999. This designation recognized space in the same manner as other long-established modalities such as roads, rail, airports, and seaports. In 2019, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) established a separate Spaceport Office, aligning spaceports and space transportation with other modalities. FDOT and Space Florida work together to enable the development of space transportation infrastructure in the state through the Spaceport Improvement Program (SIP), which provides funding for projects that:
SpaceX’s new processing and Starship manufacturing facility
Cecil Spaceport improvement to its operations control center and payload process to enable commercial launch operations
Blue Origin’s new pad at Launch Complex 36
Boeing’s Starliner assembly
Airbus U.S. Space and Defense Satellite facility
United Launch Alliance’s improvements to Launch Complex 41 to enhance capabilities for medium/heavy vehicles at Cape Canaveral Spaceport
Spaceport Improvement Program investment
Total industry identified need (includes SIP investment)
The annual application cycle is open from January to March.
To learn more about the program, email Steven Bostel, Program Manager, Spaceport Planning & Development at sbostel@spaceflorida.gov.
Space Transportation Infrastructure Development Fund Information & Resources
Space Transportation Infrastructure Development Fund Application
This application solicits proposals to continue the development of space transportation infrastructure that supports Space Florida’s legislative intent and Florida spaceport territory master plans. Space Florida is designated in section 331.3011(3), Florida Statutes, to be the “single point of contact for state aerospace-related activities with federal agencies, the military, state agencies, businesses, and the private sector.” Projects for this fund are typically submitted by private companies.
Space Florida will use the qualifying applications to develop a proposed list of spaceport discretionary capacity improvement projects for submission to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Prioritized spaceport projects may be included in the FDOT five-year work program of transportation improvement projects. This application is mandatory before Space Florida can prioritize candidate projects for available State and/or Federal funding. This funding is used to reimburse construction costs for an applicant of spaceport facilities infrastructure recommended by master plans in Florida spaceport territories, up to a determined amount.
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