Safety, Legal Issues Could Ground Georgia Spaceport Plans
A proposed spaceport in southeastern Georgia faces challenges to getting off the ground. But they’re not what you might think.
According to this week’s Atlanta Business Chronicle, opponents of the project said during a hearing this week that launches from the Spaceport Camden would take spacecraft over more than 60 private homes on Cumberland Island and Little Cumberland Island.
“No U.S. facility allows vertical orbital launches to overfly a populated or environmentally sensitive land mass,” said Dick Parker, a Little Cumberland property owner. “The location of the proposed spaceport is in direct conflict with public safety issues and established private property rights.”
Parker said the frequency of launches from Spaceport Camden would require condemning the affected properties through the government power of eminent domain, assuming the owners would not be willing sellers. That would be a particularly problematic strategy in Georgia, however, because a state law enacted in 2006 prohibits the use of eminent domain for anything other than a public purpose, he said.
Supporters say Spaceport Camden not only would deliver a huge economic impact in an economically distressed part of Georgia but would enhance Atlanta’s prospects of serving as a hub for the companies that would use the site for launches.
Urvaksh Karkaria covers technology for Atlanta Business Chronicle. Dave Williams covers government for Atlanta Business Chronicle.
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