Rocket Lab seeking temporary use of Queen Sound Landing

Rocket Lab is seeking to unload rockets constructed in Maryland at the Queen Sound Landing, just off of the Chincoteague Causeway.

Accomack County Administrator Mike Mason updated the Board on ongoing discussions regarding the issue at Wednesday night’s regular monthly Board meeting.

Mason told the Board, “Representatives of Rocket Lab contacted the County in the spring, inquiring if the County’s Queen Sound Boating Facility could potentially be used as a backup barge landing location for bringing rocket components to Wallops Island. Rocket Lab’s preferred and primary cargo delivery method would be to use a dock directly on Wallops Island. Until that is available, they are considering using a barge to perform a beach landing directly on Wallops, but Rocket Lab needs an alternative if weather or nesting bird restrictions derail this option, which is where Queen Sound would come into play.

Queen Sound would be the second interim option and would involve barging a tractor trailer there containing the cargo. The barge would tie up to dolphins that would be installed, and the tractor trailer would be lifted off the barge by crane or possibly driven off via a temporary ramp onto the Queen Sound access road.

Initial stakeholder meetings were convened over the summer to discuss this option. These meetings were fact-finding sessions to determine if Queen Sound was even possible. Participants have included Rocket Lab, Virginia Space, the County and Commonwealth Department of Wildlife Resources, and Town of Chincoteague officials, who have been briefed and invited to join future discussions.

Queen Sound is actually owned by DWR, and the County’s use of the property is restricted to the activities prescribed in the agreement. Ultimately, DWR would have to consent to this possible use.

Offloading would be limited to late-night hours when traffic on Rt. 175 is minimal. Rocket Lab is fully aware that any temporary closure of Route 175 presents public safety concerns for the Town of Chincoteague, and all discussions to date indicate that Rocket Lab is prepared to fully engage with community leaders to identify and remediate those concerns. These actions could include placing aerial medical transport assets on the island.”