![]() However, the introduction of Electron has been delayed because of issues with NASA’s certification of an autonomous flight termination system that Electron, and eventually all other vehicles, will use at the range. “Between the Northrop Grumman launches and the Rocket Lab launches, we could be easily doing 20, 25 launches a year within a couple of years,” he predicted. Nash noted at the briefing that Electron is designed to launch from Wallops as frequently as once a month, while Neutron will likely launch six to eight times a year. Getting both Electron and Neutron flying regularly from MARS could dramatically increase launch activity there. That rocket will also be manufactured at a facility to be built nearby. In March, it announced it would launch its new medium-class Neutron rocket from Wallops, using the existing Pad 0-A. The company built Launch Complex 2, a launchpad for its Electron rocket, next to Pad 0-A. “One of the cleanest ways we can begin to grow this business, without doing much in terms of infrastructure, is simply get aggressive about getting out and bringing more customers to our launch port and to our range,” he said.Ī big factor in the future of MARS is Rocket Lab. Mercer said at the briefing that growing the spaceport’s launch business was a top priority, second only to looking out for the needs of spaceport personnel. Neighboring Pad 0-B hosts occasional launches of Northrop Grumman Minotaur rockets, including a Minotaur 1 launch of a National Reconnaissance Office mission scheduled for June 15. Northrop Grumman conducts an average of two Antares launches a year from Pad 0-A, sending Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station. MARS hosts only a few orbital launches a year currently. ![]() “Our new CEO and executive director is uniquely qualified to ensure that we deliver on our objectives and work to become increasing active and competitive over the next decade.” “This committee has unanimously selected the best candidate possible to take the helm of Virginia Space,” Jeff Bingham, chairman of the board of the authority, said in a briefing. The authority convened a search committee to select Nash’s successor, which led them to Mercer. ![]() Mercer retired from the Air Force in 2008 and, in 2016, became director of the Interagency Program Office for the Federal Aviation Administration’s NextGen program to modernize management of the national airspace system. Mercer held a variety of space-related roles in his 32 years in the Air Force, including commanding the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base and serving as deputy director of operations for Air Force Space Command. “Under his leadership, Virginia is poised to maximize the investments we have made in our world-class spaceport and launch into the future as a leader in space exploration, research and commerce,” Northam said of Mercer in a statement. 1 when the current head of the authority, Dale Nash, retires. Ralph Northam (D) announced June 10 that Roosevelt “Ted” Mercer Jr., a retired Air Force major general, will be the next chief executive and executive director of the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority, which operates the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at Wallops Island. WASHINGTON - The new head of Virginia’s commercial spaceport on Wallops Island says he wants to increase launch activity at the site, while acknowledging that there are limits as to how big it can grow.
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