“Spaceport in Utah. 2026.”
👆🏻That’s what 47G CEO Aaron Starks commented on my LinkedIn post this week about Utah’s revival of a 50+ year old plan to build a spaceport.
In the 1970s, Utah was a top contender to host NASA’s Space Shuttle program.
A major advantage: High elevation and thin air meant 4.5 million more pounds of payload could be launched than a sea-level spaceport over the program’s lifespan.
Cape Canaveral ultimately won – deep water was needed for booster splash-down recovery and the Great Salt Lake was too shallow.
Now, the state is revisiting that dream – and using it as a strategy.
“It’ll bring a lot of economic development, a lot of companies, a lot of venture capital,” said Aaron Starks.
Utah’s formidability helped draw Brett Loubert, head of Deloitte’s space practice, to Zero Gravity.
“This doesn't happen in every state. Just the amount of effort and the visible leadership in the state has been very inspiring,” Loubert said.
“I think Utah has a real big chance to own a big piece of this growing space economy.”
Lessons from NASA’s 1970s Site Selection
As the Apollo mission ended, NASA’s search for a Space Shuttle base drew 100+ proposed sites from 20 states:
California Gov. Ronald Reagan led a $250,000 bipartisan campaign for Edwards Air Force Base. That’s $2 million today adjusted for inflation.
Florida sent lobbyists to D.C. and organized a letter-writing blitz that sent 2,000 notes to the White House in a single day.
The New Mexico legislature authorized over $100,000 to help market the state’s bid ($800,000 in today’s dollars). Ultimately its proximity to Mexico was viewed as a security risk for shuttle flight paths.
This early space race was a preview of the fierce economic development competition that has only intensified since.
