Studying Spaceport Sheboygan

This week’s issue of The Space Review features a report on plans to establish a spaceport in the unlikely locale of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. There’s been some confusion about the effort since initial activities have been focused on creating an educational center in the town, but spaceport proponents tell Eric Hedman that they are serious about eventually creating a facility for horizontal-takeoff vehicles on the shores of Lake Michigan, taking advantage of a sector of reserved airspace over the lake. Why Sheboygan? Backers say that there are a wide variety of other recreational activities there, from fishing to golfing, that space tourists and their families could partake in while in the area for a space flight. But then, how compelling will those reasons be in, say, January?

2 comments to Studying Spaceport Sheboygan

  • Surfer

    They propose to build a north/south runway just offshore of a major resort. I’m sure this will be a great “view” for the folks who came to stay ont he shores of the lake with lake views. What a joke.

    That area is also a surfing/kitesurfing/windsurfing mecca and their plans would eliminate that activity in the area as well.

    The military fly “box” out in lake Michigan adjacent to Sheboygan is a good place to fly, but there’s no place for a runway for this endeavor.

    George French of Rocketplane Kistler is behind this and it’s all about ego to be able to do flights right in his backyard (he lives in Green Bay).

    The prodominant wind direction is west – so almost all landings are in a crosswind, while that’s not a problem, it’s less than ideal.

    Also – shoreline fog is a BIG issue on the lakeshore from March through July. Not what you want to be dealing with on a possible engine out landing, let alone a powered landing.

    The majority of the area recreation is by people who have NO economic means to take a $250,000 rocket ride. Though the proximity to Chicago is probably a draw for Mr. French.

  • james lee

    ” Backers say that there are a wide variety of other recreational activities there, from fishing to golfing, that space tourists and their families could partake in while in the area for a space flight.”

    What’s sad is that is the same Line George French used on
    the Oklahoma Spaceport Authority, when he was
    BSing his way into their tax credit.

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