Hawaii HB 2259: Relating to Aerospace Development

March 6, 2008 at 10:32 am | Posted in Space Law | 1 Comment

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty
The Hawaii House of Representatives have passed HB 2259: Relating to Aerospace Development (legislation tracking page) which sets aside an unspecified amount of money in order to “conduct feasibility studies for a spaceport” and to cover other expenses of investigating such a venture including obtaining a license from the FAA (hat tip Space Politics). The bill now goes to the Hawaii State Senate. The findings of the bill are in sec. 1:

The legislature finds that outer space is the next frontier and an industry in its infancy for the united States. Four decades after the courageous efforts that put human beings on the moon, advances in manufacturing are making it possible for others to experience the thrill and joy of being “weekend astronauts.” Space tourism is a potential billion dollar global industry. As a new industry, it holds tremendous economic potential for Hawaii while preserving our precious environment. Besides expanding our sources of revenue, space tourism will provide Hawaii residents the opportunity of highly skilled aerospace jobs without leaving home for the mainland. The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to issue a limited number of licenses for space ports, and accordingly, the legislature finds that it is incumbent on the State to position Hawaii for the economic advantages a license can bring.