Virginia Space Director announces new launch pad construction and $1.5 billion economic impact at Accomack Board meeting

UPDATED: At Wednesday night’s meeting, the Accomack County Board of Supervisors

received an update from General Ted Mercer of the Virginia Spaceport Authority. Mercer

clarified that the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport

operates independently from NASA Wallops and is wholly owned by the state of

Virginia. MARS has support agreements with NASA for range and other services.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) launch sites were designed to provide

quick and economical access to space for small and mid-sized rockets. Currently, three

companies—Firefly, Rocket Lab, and Northrop Grumman—utilize these launch pads.

 

Mercer highlighted ongoing developments, including upgrades to an existing

launch pad that will enhance the facility’s multi-user capabilities. Additionally, a new

launch pad, 0D, is being built to accommodate the new Neutron rocket, which is set to

launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in the near future. Notably, the entire

Neutron rocket will be retrievable, allowing for refurbishment and reuse.

 

 Mercer expressed gratitude to Delegate Bloxom for his role in securing state

funding for the facility and ongoing support. He then addressed workforce development,

noting that 20% of the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s workforce consists of former

interns. He also emphasized the importance of engaging students in STEM (science,

technology, engineering, and math) education early, starting in Kindergarten and

through high school.

 

Discussing economic impact, Mercer cited a study by Old Dominion

University’s Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy. The most recent study

found that over the four-year period 2018-2022 Virginia Spaceport Authority and other

aerospace industries in Accomack County increased real annual industry output in

Virginia up to $1.5 billion, compared to $1.37 billion during the previous four years. He

added that jobs in that sector pay more than two times the average of jobs in

surrounding communities, providing a significant boost to the regional economy.