The GCRSDC website has died

The Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation website, formerly at http://www.gulfcoastspaceport.org/ has disappeared. And with it, this blog terminates. Thanks to all who contributed.

—Neal

News article, The Facts, 02/28/07

County votes to terminate Spaceport By John Tompkins The Facts

Message from Torry Tvedt, 02/27/07

This morning the Brazoria County Commissioners Court voted 3-to-1 to dissolve the GCRSDC. Commissioners Payne, Sebesta, and Rhodenbaugh voted to dissolve the GCRSDC and Commissioner Harris voted against the resolution. Since the resolution was not in doubt, County Judge King could not vote.

Prior to the vote, no one spoke either for or against the resolution. The resolution passed without discussion.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call me.

Torry Tvedt
President

Message from R. Dunsmore, President of Surfside Salvagers, Inc.

http://surfsidesalvagers.blogspot.com/

Ok then not here, no Spaceport in Brazoria County, Texas

Opinion/Statement about the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation by the President of Surfside Salvagers,Inc-a Non Profit Corporation based in Brazoria County Texas -that addresses issues of social or economic importance to the area.

News article, The Facts, 02/23/07

County spaceport effort likely over, by John Tomkins, The Facts, 02/23/97

Letter to the Editor, The Facts, 02/18/0

Stop Spaceport Nonsense, by Richard Antonette, Lake Jackson

News article, The Houston Chronicle, 12/12/06

Dec. 12, 2006, 11:43AM

EXPLORING SPACEFLIGHT

Hoping to fuel an interest in space exploration, professionals help high schoolers build a rocket

Teens reaching for the stars

By RICHARD STEWART

Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle



The Amateur Spaceflight Association is a nonprofit organization formed to pioneer the field of non-professional space research and exploration.

Focus: Encourage, assist and facilitate the amateur's reach into space, enabling the advancement of space research.

Goal: Promote space-related activities that challenge technical limits of amateur spaceflight.

Staff: Volunteers of engineers, scientists and businesspeople. The group also has an Advisory Board of aerospace professionals.

Source: http://www.asa-houston.org

While others their age are learning to send their ideas into cyberspace, some Clear Lake and Clear Brook high school students are working to send their ideas into actual space.

They are spending their Saturdays designing, building and testing a rocket engine that they hope will lift small student-built experimental payloads more than 60 miles above the Texas coastal prairie to the edge of space.

"This is the generation that is going to Mars," Al Williams said, sitting at a computer while students tested a device to measure the thrust of the rocket. Williams is a member of the Houston-based Amateur Spaceflight Association, a group of engineers who spend their work days in space-related industries and are mentoring the students.

The test was exceedingly low-tech. Students took the sensor outside to a parking lot and drove a van's front left tire onto it. Later one student bounced up and down on the bumper to see if his weight registered on the computer.

Their research and development lab, as well as much of their equipment, is strictly hand-me-downs.

The work is being done in what once was a kitchen of an unmarked building that houses computers for Boeing researchers near the manned spacecraft
center.

The group's five computers were donated by Baylor College of Medicine. Other parts were leftovers from a fighter jet design program.

"Education always has been a major component of ASA," said the group's president, Rob Morehead, a NASA flight controller.

When it was founded several years ago, members thought they would work with area college students. They found that many colleges already had their own active space-related groups, so they joined with high school students.

All kinds of skills are needed in space development, Morehead said.

Civil engineering students from Brazoswood High School in Clute already have built a test stand in a field in Brazoria County so the engine can be ground-tested. County officials are seeking to have the site, near Oyster Creek, licensed as a commercial spaceport.

Three years ago the ASA flew an 18-foot rocket from the site, and hopes to reuse it for the new engine.

The engine being built by the students looks deceptively simple, but is much more complicated than its solid-fuel cousin.

Built mainly of stainless steel, it is, in effect, a set of nozzles directing streams of alcohol and liquid oxygen into a combustion chamber where they erupt into flames and shoot out of the bottom of the rocket, propelling it upward.

Notebooks of involved mathematical calculations by the students show that everything should work, but now they're putting the theories to test.

Much of what they're doing looks like plumbing as they connect oxygen, alcohol and helium tanks to the engine and various valves, sensors and meters.

"If this is rocket science, it isn't too hard," said Clear Brook junior Thomas Markovich as he used a wrench on a piece of pipe.

Ed Klein, a project director for the space shuttle, said he enjoys the project because he gets to work with his son, Jason, a junior at Clear Lake High School.

"It's fun to actually get hands-on experience," said Jason, who wants to become an engineer.

Students aren't getting school credit for the project, he said, but each expects to get some nice letters of recommendation from the mentors. "That will look good on the résumé," he said.

Once the rocket engine is assembled, the next step will be to test it by pressurizing it with compressed air and helium, and then practice fueling
it.

After that, the rocket engine will be taken to the Brazoria County site and put on the test stand for a test firing. That will probably be early next year, Morehead said.

richard.stewart@chron.com

Message from Torry Tvedt, 11/12/06

The weekend launches of the Tripoli Amateur Club have been completed. Following is a brief recap of the events.

1. Although the traffic on Entrance Road to the Brazoria NWR was fairly heavy during Saturday, the biggest hindrance to the launches was a brisk and steady wind. No launches were attempted until the afternoon. Of the small rockets that were launched, one fell in a lake and another fell extremely close to Entrance Road. Many launches were postponed until Sunday.
   
   
2. The wind was not a hindrance on Sunday. Although traffic on Entrance Road was probably heavier than on Saturday, it proved to be only a minimal deterrent to launches.
   
   
3. Numerous rockets veered far from the planned landing zone. Several strayed off of the GCRSDC spaceport leased property and feel into adjacent property. No permission had been obtained from these landowners. This generated hard feeling from the landowners toward Tripoli.
   
   
4. These occurrences probably constitute violations of FAA regulations [14 CFR 101 Subpart C §101.25 (g)]. This regulation states, "No person may operate an unmanned rocket – within 1,500 feet of any person or property that is not associated with the operations."
   
   
5. Some of the rockets were launched within 500 feet of Entrance Road. This action is also a probable violation of the regulation.
   
   
6. There were no confrontations between members of Tripoli and refuge visitors. The only confrontation was between Tripoli and landowners concerning retrieval of errant rockets that strayed far from their intended landing zone.

I feel that the events of this weekend clearly demonstrate that the hazards to the refuge and to nearby communities are very real. It should be kept in mind that the rockets that were fired during the weekend were quite small and the danger can be expected to only increase if larger rockets are ever fired from this location. If there was any doubt that the location chosen by the GCRSDC is unsuitable, the events of this weekend should dispel these
doubts.

Torry Tvedt
President
979-849-8725

Message from Laura Brandes to the membership, 11/10/06

I feel the need to add my "two cents" worth of opinion on the Refuge Friends vs. the Spaceport. I have no doubt that if this development meets its objectives that there will be an economic impact within the Brazosport area; however, the biggest impact will be wherever the Space Engineers are located which at this time is the NASA Space Center area that is within a reasonable commute distance. I have no doubt that the Economic Development Director has no precise answers to the impact on the environment and/or the economy since his job is more political than scientific. I look at the environmental impact of the Florida launch site and can only conclude that the flora and fauna have adapted nicely to the roar of the significantly larger shuttles and rockets that take off from these launch pads. Also, I have no doubt that the inevitable "failure to launch" will result in a negative impact on the surrounding land and/or water at which time lawsuits will prevail and the activity will cease because the liability will have become greater than the net gains--this is the "wave of change" in operation within today's litigious society.

The type of action suggested by the Friends is insignificant and childish. It does not represent the usual visitation to and usage of the BNWR. If the televised and print media cover this proposed action, the Friends will not have any "friends" as the group will look as if it is against free enterprise and Brazosport's economic development. To maximize political impact, the elected officials look at the numbers; therefore, individuals should be encouraged to send their message to these decision-makers with the assistance of the Friends providing a model communication and the appropriate titles with mailing addresses. (This is one time that snail mail has more impact then email.)

I regret that the Friends is being encouraged to take this action as the organization is not significant enough to impact the spaceport at this stage in the planning process. The group needs to use their energy to expand the refuge areas so that the forthcoming development coming south on 288 has as little negative impact as possible on the incredible acreage of natural habitat that we enjoy in the Brazosport area.

Laura Brandes

Message from Torry Tvedt to Edward Hunter, 11/10/06

I have received your e-mail and wish to state our position on this weekend’s planned activities and our position on the proposed Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport. Our position is not the result of a rush to judgment, but rather a position that evolved after an extensive effort to gather and understand as much factual information on the proposed spaceport as possible. This includes obtaining and thoroughly digesting all available contractors’ reports made to the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation (GCRSDC), inviting the CEO of the GCRSDC to address our group to explain their plans for the spaceport, meeting with community business and political leaders, and regularly attending board meetings of the GCRSDC. Additionally, we are following the progress of three additional proposed U.S. commercial spaceports. Based on all of these data, we have come to the conclusion that this proposed project will have a significant and adverse impact on the Brazoria NWR and on the adjacent communities.

I would like to restate our position. The Friends support space development and consider it to be a national priority. We support the location chosen for three of the four proposed commercial spaceport projects that we have been following. We support the effort to diversify the economy of southern Brazoria County. However, we strongly believe that the location chosen for the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport is completely inappropriate. We oppose this choice. I do not feel that our position is consistent with the term, "Luddite."

My suggestion that people visit the Brazoria NWR during the weekend is a lawful and non-confrontational way to demonstrate support for the refuge while also showing opposition to the location of the proposed spaceport. To do otherwise would concede the right of GCRSDC to intrude upon our rights to use the public use areas of the refuge. Keep in mind that amateur rocketry is but the first phase of the proposed project. Three additional phases are planned. Each subsequent phase is much more intrusive than the previous one.

I respect your right to take exception to my position. I invite you to contact me and explain your concerns. I promise to listen with an open mind. I ask in return that you give me an opportunity to explain my concerns and that you also listen with an open mind.

Torry Tvedt
President
Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges
979-849-8725

Message from Neal McLain to FOBWR Board, 11/10/06

Board:

With all due respect for Torry Tvedt, I don't think this is a good idea. I'd prefer a situation where we would work with the Tripoli Amateur Rocket club and similar groups, rather than trying to sabotage their events. As Edward Hunter pointed out, his group might indeed "be a great help towards forming a consensus on how to manage the area and how to prevent problems..." http://nothereplease.blogspot.com/

I move that we call off the proposed "steady stream of cars."

I also suggest that some of us might wish to attend as a group, watch what's going on, and introduce ourselves.

Neal McLain

Message from Shawn Meuth, 11/09/06

I had to read the original post twice, just to make sure I read it right. I agree with Edward...Luddites solve nothing, and that kind of thinking can only lead to trouble. I sincerely hope that you will all give a second thought to how you're being represented.

Thanks,
Shawn Meuth

Message from Edward H. Hunter III, 10/09/06

Gee, I feel that this is not a group that I wish to be associated with. Your attitude towards a group that could be a great help towards forming a consensus on how to manage the area and how to prevent problems is deplorable. I will be signing off this forum, Luddites are not whom I wish to be associated with.

Edward H. Hunter III
Houston, Texas

Message from Torry Tvedt, 11/09/06

Friends

The Tripoli Amateur Rocket club is planning to launch rockets from the Gulf Coast Spaceport Corp. site adjacent to the Brazoria NWR this weekend. They plan to launch on both Saturday and Sunday. Since they have agreed to suspend launches when one or more cars are close to the launch site on the entrance road to the Discovery Center, we would like to have a steady stream of cars all day, both days. Launches will be from about 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM on Sat. and from about 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM on Sun.

If you are able to fit a visit to the Brazoria NWR on one of both of these days, it might help convince the racketeers that the Brazoria site is not a good place to launch. If you do come, remember that there will be no parking on Entrance Road and any car parked there will be sited by refuge law enforcement. But there is no minimum speed, so you may drive-by slowly (and often).

In addition, ducks, geese, and other migratory birds are now showing up. Furthermore the weather promises to be beautiful. The Discovery Center will be open if you have not yet had an opportunity to see how the interactive display is shaping up.

Hope to see you this weekend.

Torry Tvedt
President
979-849-8725

News article, The Houston Chronicle, 09/30/06

Test rocket found week after crash Associated Press. Houston Chronicle, 09/30/2006

Letter to the Editor, The Facts, 08/05/06

Spaceport spokesman provided misinformation by Gerald Propst, Freeport

Letter to the Editor, The Facts, 07/26/06

Spaceport Project Would Be Waste Of Taxpayers' Money by Richard Antonette, Lake Jackson

Letter to the Editor, The Facts, 07/25/06

Keep up pressure against Spaceport by Scott Martin, Freeport.

Letter to the Editor, The Facts, 07/22/06

Canceled Spaceport Meetings Breed Suspicion by Susan Luycx, Freeport

Message from Torry Tvedt, 07/19/06

Attached is a list of our elected officials that I compiled. I have included physical addresses and phone numbers. It is probably best to send letters rather than e-mails. They seem to pay more attention. I have also included appropriate committee membership when the information was available. I have included a comment to thank the representative for their support of our position when the representative has voted against recent spending on the GCRSDC.

I hope to expand the list to include candidates for the respective offices and members of important committees.

If you have additions or corrections, please send them to me so that I can update this list.

I feel that letters to our elected officials is an important part of our efforts.

Torry Tvedt
Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges

Attachment: http://www.refugefriends.org/pdf/Addresses.xls

Letter to the Editor, The Facts, 07/19/06

Oppose Spaceport by Scott Martin, Freeport.

Letter from Meta Ann Kirby to Stacey Zee (FAA) 07-18-06

http://tinyurl.com/qpgdl

Letter from Brandt Mannchen (Sierra Club) to Stacey Zee (FAA) 07-18-06

July 18, 2006

Ms. Stacey Zee
Environmental Specialist
Commercial Space Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
c/o ICF Consulting
9300 Lee Highway
Fairfax, Virginia 22031

Dear Ms. Zee,

Enclosed is a copy of an article that appeared in The Houston Chronicle on July 16, 2006, page B3, entitled, "Some say spaceport a bad idea - Concerns raised in Brazoria County about proximity to wildlife refuge".

The reason that the Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club (HSC) draws your attention to this article is due to the emphasis that the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation (GCRSDC) gives to the ultimate fully built spaceport project.

Notice the picture that accompanies this article shows the fully developed spaceport. Notice also the 7,000 job figure used to promote the fully developed spaceport is used prominently in the article.

It is important for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to understand that the GCRSDC is not interested in launching a few small rockets. If the spaceport never progressed beyond the so-called first phase, launching the Black Brandt V family of rockets, then the GCRSDC would not be interested in spaceport. It is the fully developed spaceport that GCRSDC wants and is attempting to get FAA to approve.

It is disingenuous for GCRSDC to on one hand to say they are interested in the smaller rockets while at the same time promoting the fully developed spaceport using the figures they have concocted for full build-out. Once GCRSDC gets its foot in the door it will be much harder for the FAA to muster the political courage to "just say no". Momentum due to approval of the first phase along with FAA's built-in conflict of interest of promoting and regulating space development will make it virtually certain that the fully developed spaceport will be approved.

Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge (BNWR) is no more than 0.7 miles from the proposed location for spaceport. The HSC drove the road that leads to BNWR and past the spaceport site and measured the distance. "As the crow flies" spaceport is even closer. The HSC urges FAA to look at the entire, fully built-out, spaceport in an environmental impact statement and not segment its review into two parts. Once the first phase location is approved it will be very difficult for citizens to protect the BNWR from the harmful impacts that spaceport will have.

The HSC appreciates this opportunity to comment. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Brandt Mannchen
Chair, Forestry Subcommittee
Houston Sierra Club
Lone Star Chapter
5431 Carew
Houston, Texas 77096
713-664-5962
brandtshnfbt@juno.com

Editorial, EarthHouston.net (07/17/06)

Crowd gathers to decry raising satelites (sic) from sensitive Lake Jackson site. EarthHouston.net.

News article, The Houston Chronicle, 07/16/06

Spaceport raises concerns in Brazoria County By RICHARD STEWART: Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle, 07/16/06

Comments by David Plunkett, 07/14/06

FYI - There is an article in The Facts this morning ("Spaceport committee considers options").   In a message to Brazosport Birders last night I said:

"Hopefully, County officials have gotten the message that there needs to be a meaningful dialogue on the concerns.   I would characterize their attitude to date as “arrogant” and indicating that anyone opposed to the concept as 'unreasonable' and against progress."

Quotes in The Facts can be distorted but it appears that the attitude still has not changed for David Steadman.   A couple of his quotes in the article are:

• “I frankly could not believe the venom, the vilification that went through that room,” he said Wednesday during the organization’s board meeting.
  
• “The truth is we have to take into consideration most of what was said was sensationalized and some was distorted,” he said.   “I think to counter that kind of effort, really, is something we need to give serious thought to if we proceed farther with this.”

Fred Welch's comments below seem to be more in line with what we would hope for.   Unlike previous comments, there is finally a statement from their consultant that exclusion zones really are mandatory.

I also thought Rob Morehead, president of the Amateur Spaceflight Association in Houston, had some interesting things to say at the Tuesday meeting about the limitations at the Kennedy Spaceport and the proposed locations in New Mexico and Oklahoma.   I talked to him briefly before the meeting and suggest we open a dialogue with him so we better understand his perspective.

It is unfortunate that no one from the Spaceport Corporation offered any substantive information on what their plans really are.

David Plunkett

News article, The Facts, 07/14/06

Spaceport committee considers options by Chris Robinson, The Facts, 07/14/06

Message from Torry Tvedt, 07/13/06

I would like to thank everyone who attended and, especially those who participated, in the FAA meeting last Tuesday. We certainly got many peoples attention and demonstrated that there is serious opposition to the spaceport project. The story was picked up by the AP and reported several places other than locally. I think that everyone acted responsibly andshowed their concern and passion.

We won a battle, but unfortunately, the war continues. We need to maintain our effort. I feel that our effort should now be directed toward influencing the FAA, our elected officials, and the public. I suggest that we write letters to both elected officials and to the Facts and to the Chronicle expressing our views. I really feel that such letters will help. I'll soon be sending out a list of addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses to send these letters.

Thanks for the good work!!

Torry Tvedt
President
Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges

News article, The Facts, 07/12/06

Opposition strong against spaceport at forum by Chris Robinson, The Facts, 07/12/06

News articles, The Houston Chronicle, 07/12/06

Spaceport objections aired By RICHARD STEWART: Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle, 07/12/06

Spaceport meeting to blast off in Brazoria By JUAN A. LOZANO Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle, 07/12/06

FAA Handouts, 07/11/06

Following are links to the handouts that the FAA provided to the public at the public information meeting earlier today.

• Public Information Fact Sheet
• Public Information Meeting Slides
• Proposed Action Poster
• NEPA Process Poster
• FAA Order 1050.1E Poster
• Agency Information Poster

Source: Stacey M. Zee, Environmental Specialist
Commercial Space Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
(202)267-9305 voice (202)267-5463 fax
email: Stacey.Zee@faa.gov

News article, The Houston Chronicle, 07/11/06

Lake Jackson residents oppose proposed site for spaceport By RICHARD STEWART: Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle, 07/11/2006

News article, The Houston Chronicle, 07/11/06

Spaceport meeting to blast off in Brazoria By JUAN A. LOZANO: Associated Press, 07/11/06

Letter from Demi-John resident to The Facts, 07/06/06

Launches endanger to homes, plants

Can Mr. Stedman say 41 percent? That's the percentage of rockets that failed on their maiden launch in 2005, according to Federal Aviation Administration statistics. I'm sorry, but that just doesn't sound like a good percentage rate to me.

It's amazing how people forget to mention that in all of the propaganda. Now, just why do you think that is? And do they think the abort button works every time a rocket goes off course or has a fuel leak? Not. Can you imagine what would happen when a rocket wouldn't abort and would come crashing down into the new LNG pipeline going down along Highway 523? A rocket makes a very big, deep hole on impact.

How about this: Hitting Dow or one of the petrochemical companies. And don't forget about people and homes. That certainly would boost our area's economy, now wouldn't it? Commissioner Dude Payne sees it as a "pie in the sky" situation. Perhaps. I see it as a "cow pie in the sky" debacle.

Bill Mladenka, Demi-John

Letter from Sierra Club to GCRSDC, 07/04/06

July 4, 2006

Mr. David A. Stedman
Chief Executive Officer
Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation
201 East Myrtle, Suite 139
Angleton, Texas 77515

Dear Mr. Stedman,

On June 2, 2006, the Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club (HSC) sent the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation (GCRSDC) a letter that asked a series of questions and requested specific documents (copy enclosed).

On June 9, 2006, the GCRSDC sent the HSC a letter which did not respond to the request to answer questions and provide documents.

It has been 32 days since the HSC’s information request. When will GCRSDC answer the questions and provide the documents that the HSC has requested? The HSC is willing to visit the offices of the GCRSDC to review and pick-up the documents.

The HSC looks forward to the GCRSDC response regarding this information request. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Brandt Mannchen
Chair, Forestry Subcommittee
Houston Sierra Club
Lone Star Chapter
5431 Carew St
Houston, Texas 77096-1247
713-664-5962
brandtshnfbt@juno.com

Board of Directors of the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation meeting announcement

The Board of Directors of the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation will hold the next quarterly meeting on Wednesday, July 12, 2006 at 4:00 P.M. The meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers at Pearland City Hall. There will be representatives at the meeting from the FAA.

An agenda is attached for your review. A public notice will go out later today with the agenda only.

Please let me know if you have changes.

I hope you have a great weekend and 4th!

Best regards,

Debbie Pennington
Director of Operations
Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County
201 E. Myrtle, Angleton, Texas 77515
979-848-0560
debbiep@eda-bc.com
http://www.eda-bc.com

---

AGENDA
Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation
Quarterly Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 2006

A quarterly meeting of the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation (GCRSDC) will be held at 4:00 P.M. on Wednesday July 12, 2006. The meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers at Pearland City Hall, located at 3519 Liberty Drive, Pearland, Texas 77581-5416. The following items will be brought before the board for consideration and or approval.

I. Consider and Approve Minutes from the March 27, 2006 Board Meeting.

II. Receive Chairman’s Report

III. Receive CEO’s Report

IV. Receive Consultant’s Report

V. Receive Status Report from FAA on Licensing Procedures

VI. Old Business
A. Website RFP
B. Update on Structures Planned at GCRSDC Launch Site
1. Interlocal Agreement
2. Road
3. Parking lot
4. Launch pad

VII. New Business
A. Update on Grant from State
B. Report on Public Meeting with FAA on July 11, 2006

VIII. Board Member Comments

IX. Public Comments

X. Adjournment

David A. Stedman
President, CEO
Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation

Editorial, Sierra Club Houston Regional Group, July 2006.

Spaceport Threatens Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge – Letters Needed Now by Brandt Mannchen

Letter to the Editor, The Facts, 06/28/06

County amends spaceport deal By Velda Hunter, The Facts, 06/28/06

Important Meetings on Spaceport

This is a reminder of three important dates with regard to the proposed spaceport project:

June 28, 2006 (Wednesday)
Planning Meeting of Friends Spaceport Committee for FAA presentations
6:00 PM
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory (Lake Jackson)

June 29, 2006 (Thursday)
Board of Directors of the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation
3:00 PM
Pearland City Hall

July 11, 2006 (Tuesday)
FAA Public Meeting on Spaceport Licensing
6:00 PM
Lake Jackson Civic Center

The agenda for the June 28th Friends Spaceport Committee meeting will be:

1. Finalize the topics that will be presented at the FAA Meeting.

2. Prioritize the topics.

3. Select presenters.

4. Finalize the subjects that will be covered in our written response to the FAA and select authors.

I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday.

Torry Tvedt
President
Friends of Brazoria Wildlife Refuges
979-849-8725

Stacey Zee's response to Brandt Mannchen's message of dated 06-21-06

---------- Forwarded Message ----------

Thank you for the information Brandt. The meeting materials will be posted on the FAA/AST website immediately after the July 11th meeting - http://ast.faa.gov/lrra/comp_coop.htm

Stacey M. Zee
Environmental Specialist
Commercial Space Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
(202)267-9305 voice (202)267-5463 fax
email: Stacey.Zee@faa.gov

[Attachment (letter from Brandt Mannchen to Stacey Zee 06-21-06) deleted]

Letter from Brandt Mannchen (Sierra Club) to Stacey Zee (FAA) 06-21-06

Dear Stacey,

I could not remember if I had sent you this document so I am sending it now. I went through all the minutes and other information on the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation website and pulled statements that appear significant when looking at the magnitude of the proposed spaceport.

I received your email about the July 11, 2006 FAA meeting and saw on June 20, 2006 in the Houston Chronicle the public notice. Unfortunately I will be at the airport seeing a child off to Minnesota that evening. I will try to get another representative of the Houston Sierra Club to come but I may not be successful. I really wanted to come and am very interested in this issue.

Please send me any information you distribute at the meeting and please keep me on your list. The letter I sent you previously, copies of letters to the GCRSDC, and this document I am sending you now are part of the Houston Sierra Club's scoping input for this proposal. Please keep me informed. Thank you.

Brandt Mannchen, Chair, Forestry Subcommittee, Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club, 5431 Carew, Houston, Texas 77096, 713-664-5962, brandtshnfbt@juno.com


Spaceport Items of Interest

1) There is a Texas Aerospace Commission (TAC). Minutes, Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation, November 29, 2000

2) There are requirements for range safety, environmental studies, and a business plan to get approval from the FAA on license. Minutes, GCRSDC, August 7, 2001

3) The GCRSDC can sign a memorandum of understanding with the TAC and FAA which allows the TAA to assist in the pre-licensing process and shore information with GCRSDC. Minutes, GCRSDC, August 7, 2001

4) The Phase I and Phase II part of the study funded by the state grant "would address an environmental overview to identify all elements of an environmental impact statement needed to secure licensing." Minutes, GCRSDC, May 22, 2002

5) The Phase I report has been turned into the TAC and comments returned on the report and the GCRSDC approved work on Phase II. Minutes, GCRSDC, December 4, 2002

6) "The results are that we can operate and launch certain expendable launch systems and sub orbital rockets from the Brazoria county site. FAA coordination has also been very favorable for the study." Minutes, GCRSDC, December 4, 2002

7) "Consider and take possible action on request from Johnson Space Center Model Rocket Club for possible small rocket launches from proposed GCRSDC site". Agenda, GCRSDC, June 30, 2003

8) "Consider and take possible action on the grant proposal to receive funding from the State of Texas for up to $325,000 to support work outlined in Phase III of our work from Turner, Collie, and Braden Engineering." Agenda, GCRSDC, April 14, 2004

9) "Ratify Property Lease with The Dow Chemical Company". Agenda, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

10) "Consider and take possible action on proposed revision of Corporate Bylaws". Agenda, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

11) "There is an opportunity for the GCRSDC to become the first market-driven spaceport … so we must look at the public sector customers including agriculture, energy, homeland security, intelligence, nano and bio technology, transportation, environmental and flood control … There is a five to one multiplier for non-launch activity as opposed to launch activity." Minutes, GCRSDC, march 24, 2005

12) "… reported that they met with the licensing group of the FAA, discussed Phase I and Phase II and received positive feedback from the FAA … The FAA wants the group to look at a five-year window for a business plan and environmental assessments. The business plan must show viability of the project." Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

13) "Anyone using the facility will have to be insured. The agreement is a seven-year lease on four acres of land for the facilities site and an agreement to have access for retrieval on over 3,000 acres." Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

14) "… reported that one item remains to be clarified with the State which is insurance. We cannot obtain an insurance binder not knowing what activity we are insuring … added that we have the ability to insure suborbital rockets which are exempt from licensing due to size and distance. Once we obtain a licensed launch, the companies involved must carry their own insurance." Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

15) "… the outline of a business plan was done in Phase II work … the work done in Phase I and Phase II can be rolled into a business plan … the efforts in Phase I and Phase II will assist in suborbital licensing … suborbital rockets are smaller and reach an altitude of up to 15,000 feet. They are also exempt fro licensing … that it will be suborbital rocket activity that will be addressed in the initial business plan that will cover the next three to five years. The impact will be negligible with possibly three to five events a year." Minutes, GCRSDC, march 24, 2005

16) "… Dow is not looking at research, but rather supporting a good think for the county." Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

17) "Consideration and Possible Approval of Request Relating to Stationary Rocket Engine Test from Robert Morehead of ASA". Agenda, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

18) "Request by Brazoswood Rocket Club for Single and Two-Stage Rocket Launches". Agenda, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

19) "Request for Funding Under New Texas Emerging Technology Fund". Agenda, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

20) "Previous to today, we have worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because our project affects their land which is adjacent to our site and we have access through their land to access the 3,600 acres on which we will be located. We have worked with the Dow Chemical Company to obtain a lease on the site and surrounding land for retrieval." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

21) "Our 1.3 million request did not make it through the last session of the legislature." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

22) "In terms of new prospective customers, meetings have taken place with SpaceHab representatives to discuss potential possibilities of using our site to assist with recovery of a spacecraft they would launch from Florida,, splash down in the Gulf and then could possibly be through Port Freeport and brought to our site for refurbishment … With respect to our business plan, we could possibly use a portion of the funding earmarked for U.T. to go toward a competitive analysis and a potential customers list provided by Michael Bomba." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

23) "David Stedman has met with Al Sterks, Director of the Demi-John Island Property Owners Associations, who has forwarded a letter of concern to Herb Bachner. David assured Mr. Sterks that we have plans to launch small test rockets, that we are not putting in a runway in our initial plans, and promised that if we ever got to a point where we were going to do any kind of horizontal launch or recovery where we would need a runway, we would let him know up front and talk to him about it honestly. Mr. Sterks seemed okay with what we are doing." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

24) "We have been working with David Stedman to accelerate the approval of the funds from the State." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

25) "Chairman Willy reported that the 2006 legislative funding is $325,000 … David Stedman reported that there are two potential avenues for funding that are still available to us. One is the Texas Emerging Technology Fund. Also, there may be an opportunity to obtain funding through our educational proponent." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

26) "Phase I was actually a feasibility study in terms of locating and identifying a site in Brazoria county that is capable of launching sub-orbital rockets and expendable launch vehicles … The Dow site is the primary site and capable of launching both sub-orbital and expendable vehicles. This site has also been identified as a location for overall development, not just in terms of launching vehicles, but also a location for attracting space related industries into the area … Phase II went through more of an analysis as to whether or not there were any fatal flaws in terms of these sites, with regard to launch safety aspects, environmental impacts and the economics. Phase II resulted in additional launch safety analysis primarily associated with suborbital vehicles and median, small expendable launch vehicles … A preliminary business plan was prepared to look at the economics in terms of developing a spaceport in Brazoria County. Both Phase I and Phase II reports were provided not only to the Spaceport Board, but also to the FAA for their review and comments. At the meeting held in January, we received very positive feedback from the FAA relative to those studies and they also provided some initial guidelines in terms of proceeding to provide the documentation necessary to obtain a site license. The site license we are about to begin now in terms of Phase III will focus on license to launch sub-orbital vehicles from our site. We are looking at licensing the site in a step license fashion as recommended by the FAA. We will begin with the sub-orbital vehicle license and alter extend that into the expendable vehicle license. The Phase III studies will focus primarily on environmental assessment along with additional flight safety analysis with some specific rockets or a family of rockets that we may want to focus on. As we proceed with Phase III, we will continue to coordinate with the FAA … but initially this process is estimated to take from sixteen to eighteen months due to the environmental assessment … David recommended that since we only have a lease on one site, that we only request licensing for the one site. Fred Welch added that an environmental assessment would be for only one site, and reported that the FAA had recommended that we use one class of rocker on one azimuth and strongly suggested that maybe we use something like the Black Brandt where there has already been a lot of data compiled." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

27) "… Amateur Spaceflight Association … Three or four high school and/or college teams will particulate with ASA throughout the development of the rocket motor, rocket test facility and the rocket test itself … The fuel will be liquid oxygen and methyl alcohol. The system is a pressure fed motor so there are pressure tanks the blow the propellants into the motor. Helium is used to pressurize the tanks, nitrogen to dry the system out and liquid nitrogen is for the preparation test to verify the system work … write a letter to the county requesting the infrastructure that has been previously talked about including the concrete pad, the gravel road into the site, the electrical and the observation area … in reference to the budget of roughly 18.8 ($18,800) … This would be over and above the grant … The fastest we could get it done is about eighteen weeks that would put us at Thanksgiving weekend." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

28) "Request by Brazoswood Rocket Club for Single and two-Stage Rocket Launches … They currently use soccer fields for launching D-engine rockets, running on two-stage, solid engines." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

29) "The aerospace future is in private development and private interest." Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

30) "Presentation Apex Commercial Payload" and "Presentation on Space Commerce Park". Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

31) "We have concentrated on commercial space operations. There is a lot of publicity focused on space tourism. The board should consider this possible direction in the future." Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

32) "The environmental engineers will be working with Stacey Zee to obtain and coordinate the use of existing environmental documentation available from the FAA, as it relates to rocket characteristics. The information will need to be translated to the specific site and need to reflect our plans for at least the next five years … We are looking at the Black Brandt family of suborbital launch vehicles, as a viable commercially available launch vehicle, for pursuit of a site license. Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

33) "A field investigation was performed … to evaluate wetlands, water of the U.S. and archeological resources for the proposed launch pad site, parking areas, and rocket staging area. Subsequent to that investigation, the location of the launch pad was adjusted due to flight safety concerns." Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

34) "Agency coordination letters were mailed to a number of resources agencies. To date responses have been received from the Texas Historical Commission, National Marine Fisheries Service, Coastal Coordination Council, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Corps of Engineers. There is no indication of any opposition to the project. Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

35) "Alan reported that the concern is to what extent we can license the site with an environmental assessment versus a full blown EIS. That will be a question until the FAA reviews the work that the engineers have been doing. Chairman Willy noted that the site work the country has planned can now move forward since the lease and location issues are solved." Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

36) "Chairman Willy reported that plans have been submitted to Dow to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife for infrastructure that would be built from funds coming from the county. The plans include a 20 x 20 (or 40 x 40) concrete pad including bolt structures that would accommodate different types of launch rails. The plans also include a quarter mile of road, 220 electrical wiring, and an observation deck attached to an office." Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

37) "Mike Kearney, of SpaceHab, gave a brief update on their activities and reported that NASA has a draft RFP for a commercial orbital cargo transportation service." Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

38) "Mike Kearney presented his idea for a Space Commerce Park targeting commercial space enterprise. The goal is to provide executives offices, laboratory facilities and light manufacturing space." Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

39) "We have received the approval to go ahead with the slab, wiring, culverts and roadway. The county facilities crew is tied up in Alvin until April. The GCRSDC is asking local industry to donate a construction office that can be elevated above the floodplain." Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

40) "In terms of environmental, the archeologist report is complete." Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

41) "All infrastructure avoids the wetlands area, except for a small area the road would have to cross. TCB has met with Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Their concern is wildlife impact." Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

42) "Alan Jefts responded that the FAA is willing to receive everything piecemeal." Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

43) "Chairman Willy asked if we have zeroed in on the Environmental Impact Study as opposed to an Environmental Assessment. Alan Jefts responded that no potential environmental impact has been determined, but that decision will be us to the FAA. Environmental studies will continue over the next couple of months." Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

44) For the rocket engine test, "A timeline was presented which includes development beginning in March and public test firing in June". Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

45) "Chairman Willy reported that a 40 x 40 concrete slab will be poured for the launch pad. Electricity will be a 200 conversion to 110 going back to a generator. Parking and road will be fresh concrete, with culverts set by the county Engineering Department. The office building will not be in the initial work." Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

46) "Goal: Establish a process to fully license a regional spaceport/airport site in Brazoria County by mid-2002." April 2000, GCRSDC slide show.

47) There are three vehicles that will return to earth at spaceport including the aerospacecraft ramjet, reusable spacecraft, reusable orbit transfer craft. April 2000, GCRSDC slide show.

48) Discussions with the FAA began as early as September 15, 1999. April 2000, GCRSDC slide show.

49) One of the industries that the Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County has targeted is aerospace. Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County, June 2006, http://www.eda-bc.com/aboutus/aboutus.asp

50) The GCRSDC website has a illustration of a completely developed spaceport which includes consolidated administration engineering and flight operations facility, upper stage manufacturing and maintenance facility, aerospacecraft assembly and payload integration facility, ramps, propellant loading area, tank farm, runway, ejector ramjet run-up area, cryogenic propellant supply line, and aerospacecraft run-up area. April 21, 2006, http://www.gulfcoastspaceport.org/SpaceAccess1.jpg

51) Companies in the re-usable launch vehicle competition include Lockheed Martin, Kelly Aerospace Boeing, Space Access, and Kistler Aerospace. Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue1

52) The GCRSDC was created by the Texas Legislature in 1998. Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue1

53) "The commercial spaceport would operate like an airport. It would be a gateway for the launch of commercial air cargo into space. The initial market for the US spaceport industry is the commercial satellite market." Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue1

54) "The spaceport will be a multi-billion dollar project. It is estimated that the cost to design and build the launch vehicles used at the spaceport will be close to $5 billion dollars. The cost for construction of the spaceport is estimated at %500 million dollars." Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue1

55) "It is estimated between $3 to $5 million dollars will be needed for engineering and design work to develop and license the facility. The Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation will be seeking assistance from the State of Texas and Washington to support this effort. It is estimated that a local match of $500,000 to $1 million will be needed to leverage with the additional funding being sought. Support will be sought from business, industry, and others having a direct or indirect benefit from the spaceport, through private sector donations." Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue1

56) "But having experimental launches shows the FAA the site has the capability and demonstrates the safety measures necessary for approval for larger vehicles. Welch said the site could be prepared for less than $30,000. But first the board must conclude a lease with Dow Chemical Co., which owns the land for the site near Demi-John the agency would use for experimental launches." Spaceport advocates re-launch campaign, Michael Wright, The Facts, August 27, 2004

57) "The Amateur Spaceflight Association, will take one step closer to this goal on Saturday, May 3, with a rocket launch from the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport in Brazoria County … The May 3 launch will consist of a ½ scale version of their space-capable rocket … This flight will go faster than the speed of sound, reaching an altitude of approximately 11,000 feet … The full-scale launch would fly to an altitude of 75 miles above the earth and provide a zero gravity environment for research and development purposes for several minutes. The vehicle would return to Earth with its payload and touch down via parachute." Press release, GCRSDC, April 15, 2003

58) "We got a lot of great ideas and we are going to begin a phased approach starting with suborbital vertical launches … Fred has done a remarkable job of gathering all of our resources and I look forward to working with him to create a master plan for our Spaceport initiative that will be focused on job creation in Brazoria County … On the other hand, West Texas recognizes our advantage for launches over water, and for orbital launches toward a polar or equatorial orbit." Press release, GCRSDC, April 23, 2004

Brandt Mannchen
Chair, Forestry Subcommittee
Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club
5431 Carew
Houston, Texas 77096
713-664-5962
brandtshnfbt@juno.com
June 9, 2006

"Spaceport Items of Interest" from Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club

Posted by Neal on behalf of Brandt Mannchen:

These are exerpts or facts I found on the webiste of the GCRSDC. They would be useful in making our arguements against the site of the spaceport.

Brandt Mannchen

Spaceport Items of Interest

1) There is a Texas Aerospace Commission (TAC). Minutes, Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation, November 29, 2000

2) There are requirements for range safety, environmental studies, and a business plan to get approval from the FAA on license. Minutes, GCRSDC, August 7, 2001

3) The GCRSDC can sign a memorandum of understanding with the TAC and FAA which allows the TAA to assist in the pre-licensing process and shore information with GCRSDC. Minutes, GCRSDC, August 7, 2001

4) The Phase I and Phase II part of the study funded by the state grant “would address an environmental overview to identify all elements of an environmental impact statement needed to secure licensing.” Minutes, GCRSDC, May 22, 2002

5) The Phase I report has been turned into the TAC and comments returned on the report and the GCRSDC approved work on Phase II. Minutes, GCRSDC, December 4, 2002

6) “The results are that we can operate and launch certain expendable launch systems and sub orbital rockets from the Brazoria county site. FAA coordination has also been very favorable for the study.” Minutes, GCRSDC, December 4, 2002

7) “Consider and take possible action on request from Johnson Space Center Model Rocket Club for possible small rocket launches from proposed GCRSDC site”. Agenda, GCRSDC, June 30, 2003

8) “Consider and take possible action on the grant proposal to receive funding from the State of Texas for up to $325,000 to support work outlined in Phase III of our work from Turner, Collie, and Braden Engineering.” Agenda, GCRSDC, April 14, 2004

9) “Ratify Property Lease with The Dow Chemical Company”. Agenda, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

10) “Consider and take possible action on proposed revision of Corporate Bylaws”. Agenda, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

11) “There is an opportunity for the GCRSDC to become the first market-driven spaceport … so we must look at the public sector customers including agriculture, energy, homeland security, intelligence, nano and bio technology, transportation, environmental and flood control … There is a five to one multiplier for non-launch activity as opposed to launch activity.” Minutes, GCRSDC, march 24, 2005

12) “… reported that they met with the licensing group of the FAA, discussed Phase I and Phase II and received positive feedback from the FAA … The FAA wants the group to look at a five-year window for a business plan and environmental assessments. The business plan must show viability of the project.” Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

13) “Anyone using the facility will have to be insured. The agreement is a seven-year lease on four acres of land for the facilities site and an agreement to have access for retrieval on over 3,000 acres.” Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

14) “… reported that one item remains to be clarified with the State which is insurance. We cannot obtain an insurance binder not knowing what activity we are insuring … added that we have the ability to insure suborbital rockets which are exempt from licensing due to size and distance. Once we obtain a licensed launch, the companies involved must carry their own insurance.” Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

15) “… the outline of a business plan was done in Phase II work … the work done in Phase I and Phase II can be rolled into a business plan … the efforts in Phase I and Phase II will assist in suborbital licensing … suborbital rockets are smaller and reach an altitude of up to 15,000 feet. They are also exempt fro licensing … that it will be suborbital rocket activity that will be addressed in the initial business plan that will cover the next three to five years. The impact will be negligible with possibly three to five events a year.” Minutes, GCRSDC, march 24, 2005

16) “… Dow is not looking at research, but rather supporting a good think for the county.” Minutes, GCRSDC, March 24, 2005

17) “Consideration and Possible Approval of Request Relating to Stationary Rocket Engine Test from Robert Morehead of ASA”. Agenda, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

18) “Request by Brazoswood Rocket Club for Single and Two-Stage Rocket Launches”. Agenda, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

19) “Request for Funding Under New Texas Emerging Technology Fund”. Agenda, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

20) “Previous to today, we have worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because our project affects their land which is adjacent to our site and we have access through their land to access the 3,600 acres on which we will be located. We have worked with the Dow Chemical Company to obtain a lease on the site and surrounding land for retrieval.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

21) “Our 1.3 million request did not make it through the last session of the legislature.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

22) “In terms of new prospective customers, meetings have taken place with SpaceHab representatives to discuss potential possibilities of using our site to assist with recovery of a spacecraft they would launch from Florida,, splash down in the Gulf and then could possibly be through Port Freeport and brought to our site for refurbishment … With respect to our business plan, we could possibly use a portion of the funding earmarked for U.T. to go toward a competitive analysis and a potential customers list provided by Michael Bomba.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

23) “David Stedman has met with Al Sterks (sic), Director of the Demi-John Island Property Owners Associations, who has forwarded a letter of concern to Herb Bachner. David assured Mr. Sterks that we have plans to launch small test rockets, that we are not putting in a runway in our initial plans, and promised that if we ever got to a point where we were going to do any kind of horizontal launch or recovery where we would need a runway, we would let him know up front and talk to him about it honestly. Mr. Sterks seemed okay with what we are doing.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

24) “We have been working with David Stedman to accelerate the approval of the funds from the State.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

25) “Chairman Willy reported that the 2006 legislative funding is $325,000 … David Stedman reported that there are two potential avenues for funding that are still available to us. One is the Texas Emerging Technology Fund. Also, there may be an opportunity to obtain funding through our educational proponent.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

26) “Phase I was actually a feasibility study in terms of locating and identifying a site in Brazoria county that is capable of launching sub-orbital rockets and expendable launch vehicles … The Dow site is the primary site and capable of launching both sub-orbital and expendable vehicles. This site has also been identified as a location for overall development, not just in terms of launching vehicles, but also a location for attracting space related industries into the area … Phase II went through more of an analysis as to whether or not there were any fatal flaws in terms of these sites, with regard to launch safety aspects, environmental impacts and the economics. Phase II resulted in additional launch safety analysis primarily associated with suborbital vehicles and median, small expendable launch vehicles … A preliminary business plan was prepared to look at the economics in terms of developing a spaceport in Brazoria County. Both Phase I and Phase II reports were provided not only to the Spaceport Board, but also to the FAA for their review and comments. At the meeting held in January, we received very positive feedback from the FAA relative to those studies and they also provided some initial guidelines in terms of proceeding to provide the documentation necessary to obtain a site license. The site license we are about to begin now in terms of Phase III will focus on license to launch sub-orbital vehicles from our site. We are looking at licensing the site in a step license fashion as recommended by the FAA. We will begin with the sub-orbital vehicle license and alter extend that into the expendable vehicle license. The Phase III studies will focus primarily on environmental assessment along with additional flight safety analysis with some specific rockets or a family of rockets that we may want to focus on. As we proceed with Phase III, we will continue to coordinate with the FAA … but initially this process is estimated to take from sixteen to eighteen months due to the environmental assessment … David recommended that since we only have a lease on one site, that we only request licensing for the one site. Fred Welch added that an environmental assessment would be for only one site, and reported that the FAA had recommended that we use one class of rocker on one azimuth and strongly suggested that maybe we use something like the Black Brandt where there has already been a lot of data compiled.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

27) “… Amateur Spaceflight Association … Three or four high school and/or college teams will particulate with ASA throughout the development of the rocket motor, rocket test facility and the rocket test itself … The fuel will be liquid oxygen and methyl alcohol. The system is a pressure fed motor so there are pressure tanks the blow the propellants into the motor. Helium is used to pressurize the tanks, nitrogen to dry the system out and liquid nitrogen is for the preparation test to verify the system work … write a letter to the county requesting the infrastructure that has been previously talked about including the concrete pad, the gravel road into the site, the electrical and the observation area … in reference to the budget of roughly 18.8 ($18,800) … This would be over and above the grant … The fastest we could get it done is about eighteen weeks that would put us at Thanksgiving weekend.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

28) “Request by Brazoswood Rocket Club for Single and two-Stage Rocket Launches … They currently use soccer fields for launching D-engine rockets, running on two-stage, solid engines.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

29) “The aerospace future is in private development and private interest.” Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

30) “Presentation Apex Commercial Payload” and “Presentation on Space Commerce Park”. Minutes, GCRSDC, June 23, 2005

31) “We have concentrated on commercial space operations. There is a lot of publicity focused on space tourism. The board should consider this possible direction in the future.” Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

32) “The environmental engineers will be working with Stacey Zee to obtain and coordinate the use of existing environmental documentation available from the FAA, as it relates to rocket characteristics. The information will need to be translated to the specific site and need to reflect our plans for at least the next five years … We are looking at the Black Brandt family of suborbital launch vehicles, as a viable commercially available launch vehicle, for pursuit of a site license. Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

33) “A field investigation was performed … to evaluate wetlands, water of the U.S. and archeological resources for the proposed launch pad site, parking areas, and rocket staging area. Subsequent to that investigation, the location of the launch pad was adjusted due to flight safety concerns.” Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

34) “Agency coordination letters were mailed to a number of resources agencies. To date responses have been received from the Texas Historical Commission, National Marine Fisheries Service, Coastal Coordination Council, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Corps of Engineers. There is no indication of any opposition to the project. Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

35) “Alan reported that the concern is to what extent we can license the site with an environmental assessment versus a full blown EIS. That will be a question until the FAA reviews the work that the engineers have been doing. Chairman Willy noted that the site work the country has planned can now move forward since the lease and location issues are solved.” Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

36) “Chairman Willy reported that plans have been submitted to Dow to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife for infrastructure that would be built from funds coming from the county. The plans include a 20 x 20 (or 40 x 40) concrete pad including bolt structures that would accommodate different types of launch rails. The plans also include a quarter mile of road, 220 electrical wiring, and an observation deck attached to an office.” Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

37) “Mike Kearney, of SpaceHab, gave a brief update on their activities and reported that NASA has a draft RFP for a commercial orbital cargo transportation service.” Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

38) “Mike Kearney presented his idea for a Space Commerce Park targeting commercial space enterprise. The goal is to provide executives offices, laboratory facilities and light manufacturing space.” Minutes, GCRSDC, December 15, 2005

39) “We have received the approval to go ahead with the slab, wiring, culverts and roadway. The county facilities crew is tied up in Alvin until April. The GCRSDC is asking local industry to donate a construction office that can be elevated above the floodplain.” Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

40) “In terms of environmental, the archeologist report is complete.” Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

41) “All infrastructure avoids the wetlands area, except for a small area the road would have to cross. TCB has met with Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Their concern is wildlife impact.” Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

42) “Alan Jefts responded that the FAA is willing to receive everything piecemeal.” Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

43) “Chairman Willy asked if we have zeroed in on the Environmental Impact Study as opposed to an Environmental Assessment. Alan Jefts responded that no potential environmental impact has been determined, but that decision will be us to the FAA. Environmental studies will continue over the next couple of months.” Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

44) For the rocket engine test, “A timeline was presented which includes development beginning in March and public test firing in June”. Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

45) “Chairman Willy reported that a 40 x 40 concrete slab will be poured for the launch pad. Electricity will be a 200 conversion to 110 going back to a generator. Parking and road will be fresh concrete, with culverts set by the county Engineering Department. The office building will not be in the initial work.” Minutes, GCRSDC, February 15, 2006

46) “Goal: Establish a process to fully license a regional spaceport/airport site in Brazoria County by mid-2002.” April 2000, GCRSDC slide show.

47) There are three vehicles that will return to earth at spaceport including the aerospacecraft ramjet, reusable spacecraft, reusable orbit transfer craft. April 2000, GCRSDC slide show.

48) Discussions with the FAA began as early as September 15, 1999. April 2000, GCRSDC slide show.

49) One of the industries that the Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County has targeted is aerospace. Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County, June 2006, http://www.eda-bc.com/aboutus/aboutus.asp

50) The GCRSDC website has a illustration of a completely developed spaceport which includes consolidated administration engineering and flight operations facility, upper stage manufacturing and maintenance facility, aerospacecraft assembly and payload integration facility, ramps, propellant loading area, tank farm, runway, ejector ramjet run-up area, cryogenic propellant supply line, and aerospacecraft run-up area. April 21, 2006, http://www.gulfcoastspaceport.org/SpaceAccess1.jpg

51) Companies in the re-usable launch vehicle competition include Lockheed Martin, Kelly Aerospace Boeing, Space Access, and Kistler Aerospace. Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue 1

52) The GCRSDC was created by the Texas Legislature in 1998. Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue 1

53) “The commercial spaceport would operate like an airport. It would be a gateway for the launch of commercial air cargo into space. The initial market for the US spaceport industry is the commercial satellite market.” Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue 1

54) “The spaceport will be a multi-billion dollar project. It is estimated that the cost to design and build the launch vehicles used at the spaceport will be close to $5 billion dollars. The cost for construction of the spaceport is estimated at %500 million dollars.” Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue 1

55) “It is estimated between $3 to $5 million dollars will be needed for engineering and design work to develop and license the facility. The Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation will be seeking assistance from the State of Texas and Washington to support this effort. It is estimated that a local match of $500,000 to $1 million will be needed to leverage with the additional funding being sought. Support will be sought from business, industry, and others having a direct or indirect benefit from the spaceport, through private sector donations.” Reality Vision, GCRSDC, December 2000, Volume 1, Issue 1

56) “But having experimental launches shows the FAA the site has the capability and demonstrates the safety measures necessary for approval for larger vehicles. Welch said the site could be prepared for less than $30,000. But first the board must conclude a lease with Dow Chemical Co., which owns the land for the site near Demi-John the agency would use for experimental launches.” Spaceport advocates re-launch campaign, Michael Wright, The Facts, August 27, 2004

57) “The Amateur Spaceflight Association, will take one step closer to this goal on Saturday, May 3, with a rocket launch from the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport in Brazoria County … The May 3 launch will consist of a ½ scale version of their space-capable rocket … This flight will go faster than the speed of sound, reaching an altitude of approximately 11,000 feet … The full-scale launch would fly to an altitude of 75 miles above the earth and provide a zero gravity environment for research and development purposes for several minutes. The vehicle would return to Earth with its payload and touch down via parachute.” Press release, GCRSDC, April 15, 2003

58) “We got a lot of great ideas and we are going to begin a phased approach starting with suborbital vertical launches … Fred has done a remarkable job of gathering all of our resources and I look forward to working with him to create a master plan for our Spaceport initiative that will be focused on job creation in Brazoria County … On the other hand, West Texas recognizes our advantage for launches over water, and for orbital launches toward a polar or equatorial orbit.” Press release, GCRSDC, April 23, 2004

Brandt Mannchen
Chair, Forestry Subcommittee
Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club
5431 Carew
Houston, Texas 77096
713-664-5962
brandtshnfbt@juno.com
June 9, 2006

Letter from Sierra Club to GCRSDC, 06/02/06

Posted by Neal McLain with permission of the author:

Mr. David A. Stedman
Chief Executive Officer
Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation
201 East Myrtle, Suite 139
Angleton, Texas 77515

Dear Mr. Stedman,

This letter is in response to the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation's (GCRSDC) May 1, 2006 letter to the Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club (HSC) regarding our April 25, 2006 pre-scoping letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concerning spaceport.

1) Regarding GCRSDC's assertion that spaceport's location, about 0.7 miles from the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge (BNWR), is similar to the location of the John F. Kennedy Space Center to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, we disagree.

The John F. Kennedy Space Center was established before the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. A buffer zone was needed to provide a safety and security zone for John F. Kennedy Space Center. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service accepted management within the buffer zone, which became Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, with the understanding that it would serve a subservient purpose to the John F. Kennedy Space Center.

The GCRSDC is very a different situation. BNWR has been in existence for four decades and its purpose, protection of fish and wildlife resources, is established and not subservient to any other purpose. GCRSDC is attempting to regulate, intrude on, and take part of BNWR as part of its airspace and use as a safety zone. This impact, which we believe is not compatible with the creation of the BNWR, is in addition to any direct impacts that spaceport may have on BNWR due to launches, fires, explosions, accidents, spills, erosion, debris fall, propellant or other toxic chemical releases, and interruption of visitor use or refuge management.

2) Regarding the GCRSDC's assertion that wildlife has not been hazed, the HSC believes that if spaceport s constructed and operated as indicated on its website including amateur rocket launches and more long-term development including a consolidated administration engineering and flight operations facility, upper stage manufacturing and maintenance facility, aero-spacecraft assembly and payload integration facility, runway, propellant loading area, tank farm, cryogenic propellant supply line, aero-spacecraft run-up area, and ejector ramjet run-up area that wildlife will be hazed by operation of the spaceport and wildlife habitat will be degraded or destroyed.

3) Regarding the assertion that GCRSDC will create 7,000 jobs the HSC believes it is GCRSDC's responsibility to reveal what types of jobs these are; where they will occur; what direct, indirect, connected, secondary, and cumulative impacts they will have; and the methodology and accuracy that estimated the number of jobs created by spaceport.

4) Regarding GCRSDC's assertion that DOW will use the spaceport site for a chemical manufacturing facility the HSC believes that the likelihood of DOW using this site for such a facility is limited. If DOW wanted to use this site for a chemical plant why would it allow GCRSDC to construct spaceport? Surely DOW, after over two decades, would have plans for this site. The site is not located near DOW's main chemical plant. Its location next to BNWR does not make it an ideal site to develop a new chemical plant.

The HSC has a number of questions we request GCRSDC answer about itself and its operations. These questions include:

1) Is GCRSDC a public or private entity?

2) If GCRSDC is a public entity, what legislative authorization does it have and who provided that authorization?

3) What other public entities sponsor GCRSDC?

4) If GCRSDC is a private entity, what corporate or other private entities sponsor it?

5) If GCRSDC is a public-private entity, what public and private entities sponsor it?

6) Does GCRSDC own the site near the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge (BNWR)?

7) Does GCRSDC plan to buy the site?

8) How large is the GCRSDC spaceport site?

9) Are there plans to expand the GCRSDC spaceport site?

10) Does GCRSDC lease the site from DOW?

11) If GCRSDC leases the site from DOW what is the cost of the lease per year?

12) What is the extent of DOW's involvement in the GCRSDC?

13) Who are the investors in GCRSDC?

14) Are the directors of the GCRSDC appointed or elected?

15) Who appoints or elects the GCRSDC directors?

16) When are the GCRSDC directors elected or appointed?

17) Where does funding for GCRSDC come from?

18) How many employees does GCRSDC have?

19) What are the job titles of all GCRSDC employees?

20) Are any GCRSDC employees salaried?

21) If GCRSDC employees are salaried what are their salaries?

22) Are GCRSDC directors paid?

23) If GCRSDC directors are paid how much are they paid per year?

24) Does GCRSDC plan to move spaceport, for larger flights, at a later date to Peach Point or some other place in Brazoria County or some other county?

25) Can GCRSDC legally fly rockets over public or private structures?

26) Where does GCRSDC's legal authorization for over-flight of public or private structures come from?

27) Does GCRSDC have liability insurance for accidents or damage to private lands or BNWR?

28) How will GCRSDC retrieve rocket parts?

29) Will GCRSDC close the road to BNWR pre, during, or post launches?

30) Where will re-entry for spaceport craft occur?

31) Does GCRSDC have a budget?

32) What is the GCRSDC budget?

33) How many launches from spaceport will occur per year and per month?

34) Who will use spaceport for amateur rocket launches?

35) What liability insurance will amateur rocket launches at spaceport have?

36) Who will use spaceport for commercial rocket launches?

37) Will there be safety zones established at spaceport?

38) What limitations come with the safety zones at spaceport?

39) What evacuation plan does spaceport have?

40) What emergency plan does spaceport have?

41) Where will the 7,000 jobs created be located?

42) What are the job titles for the 7,000 jobs?

43) What grants does the GCRSDC have?

44) Who administers those grants?

45) What technology will spaceport use to launch payloads?

46) Who makes the rocket technology that spaceport will use?

The HSC requests a copy of the follow documents:

1) The 2005 and 2006 GCRSDC budgets.

2) The GCRSDC Federal Aviation Administration application for a license for spaceport.

3) The legislative authorization that created GCRSDC.

4) The GCRSDC by-laws.

5) A copy of any GCRSDC grant.

The HSC appreciate this opportunity to communicate with GCRSDC and looks forward to the responses to our questions and our document request. Thank
you.

Sincerely,

Brandt Mannchen
Chair, Forestry Subcommittee
Houston Sierra Club
Lone Star Chapter
5431 Carew St.
Houston, Texas 77096-1247
713-664-5962
brandtshnfbt@juno.com

FAA Press Release (06/02/06)

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is holding a public information meeting for the Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport Development Corporation's proposal to develop and operate a commercial launch facility in Brazoria County, Texas. The public information meeting will provide an opportunity for interested parties to learn about the FAA's licensing process and provide input on the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) that will be prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act. The draft EA will analyze the environmental impacts of the proposed action. The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 11, 2006, at 6:00 pm at the Lake Jackson Civic Center, 333 Highway-332-East, Lake Jackson, Texas. An informal poster session will start at 6:00 pm followed by a formal FAA presentation at 6:30 pm. After the presentation, there will be a public statement period during which members of the public may provide up to a three-minute statement. The FAA also will accept written comments at the public meeting. Comments or questions also can be submitted to the FAA by mail to Ms. Stacey M. Zee, FAA Environmental Specialist, Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport EA, c/o ICF Consulting, 9300 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22031; by fax at (703) 934-3951; or by e-mail to GCRSpaceportEA@icfi.com.

Stacey M. Zee
Environmental Specialist
Commercial Space Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
(202)267-9305 voice (202)267-5463 fax
email: Stacey.Zee@faa.gov

News article, The Facts, 06/01/06

Spaceport raising concerns by Chris Robinson, The Facts, 06/01/06

Additional Information on Spaceport from TC&B

Posted by Neal on behalf of Torry Tvedt:

In response to my request to the GCRSDC, Debbie Pennington (staff member) copied the "Phase II Report" and "Environmental Reconnaissance" report prepared by Turner Collie & Braden for the GCRSDC. I picked these reports up this morning and have not yet had time to read them. Unfortunately, both are Xerox copies so distribution will not be as simple as it was for the Phase I Report.

In addition, Debbie told me that the GCRSDC has requested that the FAA hold public hearings on the spaceport ASAP, but no date has yet been set. She promised to let me know as soon as a date is set. I think that we also need to keep in touch with the FAA.

Once I have read these reports, I'll summarize them and find a way to make the material available to any one who wants to read it.

Torry Tvedt
979-849-8725

Friends of Brazoria Refuges - Spaceport Committee Meeting - May 2, 2006

Posted by Neal on behalf of Torry Tvedt:

This is a reminder that the Friends Spaceport Committee will meet tomorrow (5/2/06) at 3:00 PM at the Discovery Center of Brazoria NWR. The agenda for the meeting follows.
Torry Tvedt
President, Friends of Brazoria Refuges

---

Agenda:
Spaceport Committee
FRIENDS OF BRAZORIA WILDLIFE REFUGES
Discovery Center
Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge
May 2, 2006
3:00 PM
1. Call to order - Torry Tvedt
2. Reports

a. Concerns (Talking Points) - Plunkett & Cornell
b. GCRSDC Articles of Incorporation - Tvedt
c. Turner Collie & Braden - Phase I Report - Tvedt
d. Letter to FAA by HSC - Tvedt

3. New Business
4. Adjourn

Not Here Please

Hello all:

This is Neal. I've created this blog as a central coordination point for local response to the proposed Gulf Coast Regional Spaceport. This is public blog, which means that anyone can read it. However, only members can post messages for others to read. All interested parties are invited to become members; to join, just send me your e-mail address and I'll add it. Send your request to me at nmclain@annsgarden.com .

If you contact the FAA about the Spaceport, you may wish to post a copy of your communication to this blog. This will provide an opportunity for other parties to supplement what you've said in their own communications to the FAA.

The contact person at the FAA is:
      Stacey Zee
      Federal Aviation Administration
      202-267-9305
      stacey.zee@faa.gov

Before contacting the FAA, you might wish to review the FAA's website to get a feel for the process. An excellent place to start is "Federal Aviation Administration Commercial Space Transportation" available at
http://ast.faa.gov/files/pdf/06_AST_Env_Review.pdf

Several other documents are posted in the Friends website: http://www.refugefriends.org/Projects.htm

Just so we can all get to know each other, I'm asking each member to post a paragraph or two about who you are and how the proposed spaceport will affect you.

To get the process started, here's my own paragraph. I'm retired from the technical side of cable tv industry. One of my tasks in this job involved the construction of antenna towers. Over the years, I prepared and submitted many new-tower "notifications" to the FAA.

I live in Brazoria, so the proposed spaceport doesn't directly affect me. My interest in this issue stems from the fact that I'm a Board Member of Friends of Brazoria Refuges. I also serve as the group's webmaster.

Neal McLain
Brazoria, Texas
979-798-2284
nmclain@annsgarden.com

Letter from Torry Tvedt to public-at-large, April 2006

Spaceport comes to Brazoria County and the Brazoria National
Wildlife Refuge, April 2006

FAA Notice of Intent, Federal Register, 03/27/06

Notice of intent to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, Federal Register, 03/27/06

News article, MSNBC.com, 05/25/05

FAA sets up plan for spaceflight permits by Leonard David, MSNBC.com, 05/25/05

News article, Space.com, 05/25/05

Interim Ground Rules Proposed For Civilian Spaceflight Industry by Leonard David, Space.com, 05/25/05

FAA Guidelines, 05/01/05

Guidelines for Experimental Permits for Reusable Suborbital Rockets, Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation, May 2005 [PDF]>

FAA Advisory Circular, 03/22/05

Hazard Analyses for the Launch or Reentry of a Reusable Suborbital Rocket Under an Experimental Permit, Federal Aviation Administration, March 22, 2005 [PDF]

News article, Houston Chronicle, 03/29/00

Brazoria spaceport step closer to reality, Houston Chronicle, March 29, 2000