Legislature(2021 - 2022)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
03/09/2022 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Alaska Aerospace Day at the Capitol | |
| University of Alaska | |
| Alaska Aerospace Corporation | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE LABOR AND COMMERCE STANDING COMMITTEE
March 9, 2022
1:31 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Senator Joshua Revak, Vice Chair
Senator Gary Stevens
Senator Peter Micciche
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
MEMBERS ABSENT
Senator Mia Costello, Chair
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATIONS: ALASKA AEROSPACE DAY AT THE CAPITOL
Lieutenant Governor Kevin Meyer
Ross Garelick-Bell, Aerospace States Association
Cathy Cahill, PhD, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Robert McCoy, PhD, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Milton Keeter, Jr., Alaska Aerospace Corporation
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR KEVIN MEYER
State of Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided introductory remarks for Alaska
Aerospace Day at the Capitol.
ROSS GARELICK-BELL, Executive Director
Aerospace States Association
Alexandria, Virginia
POSITION STATEMENT: Reported on the national activities of the
Aerospace States Association in the last year and specifically
about the upcoming annual meeting in Girdwood.
CATHY CAHILL, PhD, Director
Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided an update on ACUASI's activities
over the last year to build the drone industry in Alaska.
ROBERT MCCOY, PhD, Director
Geophysical Institute
University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF)
Fairbanks, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Discussed the Geophysical Institute's
ongoing aerospace research and operations.
MILTON KEETER JR., CEO
Alaska Aerospace Corporation
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Delivered a presentation about the Alaska
Aerospace Corporation.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:31:31 PM
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS called the Senate Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee meeting to order at 1:31 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Gray-Jackson, Revak, and Acting
Chair Stevens.
^Alaska Aerospace Day at the Capitol
ALASKA AEROSPACE DAY AT THE CAPITOL
1:32:11 PM
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS announced the committee would hear
presentations for Aerospace Day at the Alaska State Capitol. He
asked Lieutenant Governor Kevin Meyer and Ross Garelick Bell to
provide introductory remarks.
1:32:38 PM
KEVIN MEYER, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Alaska, Juneau,
Alaska, thanked the committee for taking time to learn more
about the aerospace activities in the state, including rocket
launches, drones, satellites, general aviation, and military
aviation. He described aerospace as an emerging industry and
highlighted its economic boost to the economy due to the efforts
of these entities to buy and hire locally. He introduced the
presenters that included Dr. Cathy Cahill from the University of
Alaska who would talk about drones; Dr. Robert McCoy from the
University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute who would
talk about the rocket launches from Poker Flats; and Milton
Keeter, Jr. from the Alaska Aerospace Corporation who would talk
about rocket launches from Kodiak.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MEYER introduced Ross Garelick-Bell from the
Aerospace States Association to talk about what is happening
nationally in aerospace and the requirement for each member
state to have an Aerospace Day to educate legislators and the
public about activities in this area.
1:36:16 PM
ROSS GARELICK-BELL, Executive Director, Aerospace States
Association (ASA), Alexandria, Virginia, stated that he was
pleased to see more states resuming activities related to
aerospace as they emerge from COVID. In particular were the
activities in Alaska to prepare for the ASA annual meeting from
June 26 to July 1 in Girdwood. He noted that the day trip to the
Pacific launch site in Kodiak was attracting was attracting a
record number of state-elected officials. The meeting also
coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 17 mission to
the moon. Astronaut and moonwalker Harrison Schmidt, a former US
Senator from New Mexico, will be the keynote speaker and intends
to attend to tour to Kodiak to look at the new generation of
space exploration and activities. He noted that Lieutenant
Governor Meyer had been involved in the planning and
organization of the meeting and activities and that the schedule
was forthcoming.
MR. GARELICK-BELL reported that on the national level, ASA took
time during COVID-19 to reorganize and strengthen itself, which
resulted in increased state interest and participation. He
acknowledged that the increased interest was due in part to the
fact that the aerospace industry was determined essential during
the pandemic, so companies kept their employee and kept
manufacturing for defense purposes. A number of states now see
this as a way to diversity their workforce.
^University of Alaska
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS invited Dr. Cathy Cahill to begin her
presentation.
1:39:19 PM
CATHY CAHILL, PhD, Director, Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft
Systems Integration (ACUASI), University of Alaska Fairbanks
(UAF), Fairbanks, Alaska, reminded the committee that last year
she was charged with informing legislators about ACUASI and
drones and the potential use of drones across the state for
things such as mapping, surveying, wildlife management,
infrastructure, medical supply delivery, and the host of other
operations that are essential to access and conduct business in
the state.
DR. CAHILL also reminded the committee that last year she talked
about the potential uses for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and
avoided the use of the term "drone," but because of the
preference for gender neutral language and because UAS implies
there are no humans in the loop, the term "drone" is again being
used.
DR. CAHILL noted that she also talked about Beyond Visual Line
of Sight (BVLOS) last year. This is the ability to fly a drone
outside the pilot's the line of sight. This is what is needed
for all long-distance missions in Alaska, but the FAA
regulations currently do not allow this. The concern is about
the potential for a manned and unmanned aircraft collision.
There has been progress in addressing this problem, but no final
resolution.
1:42:11 PM
DR. CAHILL reviewed slide 6 that describes ACUASI's work with
Vigilant Aerospace over the last year in conduct, detect, and
avoid testing. The slide read as follows:
• Conducted Detect and Avoid testing - DAA systems
are designed to spot other aircraft in the air
and either alert the pilot to their presence or
autonomously avoid them
• Included scripted encounters with crewed fixed-
wing and rotorcraft aircraft and with test drones
• Culminated with BVLOS test flights along the
Trans-Alaska Pipeline System in June 2021,
testing drones equipped with on-board
FlightHorizon PILOT DAA system, on-board radar,
ADS-B In, and GPS. Thank you to Alyeska Pipeline
Service Company for their support!
She said the data from this testing shows that this technology
is advancing and the way it is presented is advancing the
technology.
DR. CAHILL turned to slide 7 that shows a simulated cockpit view
of a Vigilant Aerospace screen. The red spot identified as
Unmanned Aircraft (Ownship) in the center of the yellow circle
is the test aircraft. The surrounding yellow circle shows how
far away any other aircraft needs to be to maintain the FAA's
definition of well clear. The white arrow in the red spot
indicates detected air traffic and the projected trajectory that
comes within the well clear range. The unmanned aircraft is
given directions to speed up and turn left within 19 seconds, so
the pilot is able to maneuver and avoid a violation of "well
clear" and move forward.
DR. CAHILL highlighted that ACUASI was also asked to join the
FAA rulemaking committee. She reviewed slide 8 that read as
follows:
• The FAA asked ACUASI to be a member of their
Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) for low-
altitude BVLOS operations
• 89 organizations representing traditional and
drone pilots, technology and communications
providers, first responders, public operators,
etc. participated in the BVLOS ARC
• We fought to protect Alaska's unique airspace for
both drones and traditional aircraft
DR. CAHILL reported that the Aviation Rulemaking Committee's
consensus document was given to the FAA to move it forward. She
acknowledged that she was the thorn in everybody's side because
she had to ensure that she was protecting the airspace for
Alaska and its unusual circumstances. For example, aircraft in
Alaska do fly below 500 feet and not all aircraft in Alaska
broadcast ADS B. The hope is that this input will keep the
airspace safer for both traditional aviation and the unmanned
aircraft that are coming.
1:46:11 PM
DR. CAHILL displayed slide 9 that showcases ACUASI aircraft in
their new hangar at the Fairbanks International Airport (FIA).
The aircraft shown is the Sea Hunter and three Sentries. Sea
Hunter is a 16-foot wingspan, 300 pound aircraft and Sentry is a
12-foot wingspan 400 pound maximum takeoff weight aircraft.
Preparations are underway to fly from FIA this spring. Slide 11
chronicles the Governor's visit to the hangar. She extended an
invitation to visit to legislators. She highlighted that outside
of the military, very few programs in the country are testing
the larger unmanned aircraft.
1:47:26 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked where the flights from Fairbanks are
going.
DR. CAHILL replied that the initial focus will be to get air
traffic control comfortable with their presence by flying a
pattern from the airport numerous times. Then the first flight
probably will be to Nenana. This provides an opportunity to fly
beyond visual sight of the pilot, although the aircraft will
always be in line of sight of a chase plane. The goal of the
FAA's Beyond Program is to fly from Fairbanks to Galena unmanned
within two and one-half years.
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS asked how far a drone can fly.
DR. CAHILL replied that the Sea Hunter currently is being flown
in Canada and those flights are generally about eight hours,
although the fuel capacity is for about 12.5 hours. The cruising
speed is 100 miles per hour. She noted that a company ACUASI has
been working with has converted Cessna Grand Caravans to
unmanned aircraft. The expectation is that this rated aircraft
with a safety pilot aboard and autonomous system will be flying
out of the Fairbanks International Airport this summer. This is
a life-changing step toward less expensive cargo deliveries to
communities.
1:49:14 PM
DR. CAHILL displayed slide 11 and explained that Transport
Canada declared ACUASI essential and asked the team to return to
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada to fly the SeaHunter aircraft and survey
shipping lanes for North Atlantic right whales using their
artificial intelligence camera payload. The next two slides show
the difference between what the naked eye sees and what the AI
camera sees in the water. When a whale is identified, an alert
is sent and Transport Canada and the Department of Fisheries and
Oceans slow shipping traffic in the St. Lawrence Seaway to
preserve this endangered whale.
DR. CAHILL turned to slide 14 and described ACUASI disaster
response:
• ACUASI is part of an FAA project that aims to
develop a concept of operations for how different
federal, state, and local governments, civil
operators, and others can deploy drones
cooperatively after disasters, such as
earthquakes, volcanoes, ice jams, river flooding
and oil spills
• ACUASI and the Alaska Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) are
using drones to identify areas with high
avalanche potential
In the next year or two, mock exercises will be run in Alaska
and other parts of the US.
1:51:08 PM
DR. CAHILL reviewed some of the partnerships ACUASI has
developed:
• The number of non-disclosure agreements and
partnerships between ACUASI and aerospace
companies, oil and gas producers, pharmaceutical
companies (Merck), air cargo companies (including
Alaskan air carriers), Federal agencies, etc. has
skyrocketed in the last year
• ACUASI and the State of Alaska DOT&PF are working
together to advance aviation safety and
infrastructure in the State
DR. CAHILL specifically mentioned partnerships with Merck,
Phoenix Solutions, and Alyeska Pipeline Service Company. She
attributed the expanding number of partnerships to the FAA
telling companies who want to advance these technologies to go
to Africa or Alaska.
1:51:48 PM
DR. CAHILL discussed the ACUASI's funding increases that are
outlined on slide 16:
• ACUASI received two major grants/contracts during
the past 6 months
similar Cold Regions Research and Engineering
Laboratory ($8M)
similar Federal Aviation Administration ($4.05M)
• Both awards address the ability to detect, track,
and identify unauthorized drones under a
diversity of conditions, but especially under the
challenging conditions of Alaska in winter
DR. CAHILL reviewed ACUASI's education focus outlined on slide
17:
• UAA, UAF, and UAS are all developing drone
courses UAA: Remote Pilot w/operations over
people
similar UAF: Certificate in UAS operations and
additional degrees in aerospace
engineering
similar UAS: Drones in environmental studies
• ACUASI conducts STEM outreach events
She highlighted that the FAA has encouraged ACUASI to do
outreach in remote communities in Alaska. She said they go for
the children but it's an educational event for the entire
community.
1:53:48 PM
DR. CAHILL reviewed what ACUASI is planning to do in the next
six months:
• Conduct our first large drone flights from FAI
• Assist partners in flying the first converted
Cessna Grand Caravans in Alaska (with safety
pilots on board)
• Fly our first drone mission between Fairbanks and
Nenana
• Conduct a paid medical supply delivery between
two communities with Merck
• Return to Canada for whale monitoring
• Conduct several flight campaigns for the CRREL
and FAA projects
• Continue our work with the State of Alaska DOT&PF
• Conduct STEM outreach across Alaska
DR. CAHILL noted that the foregoing doesn't mention ACUASI's
many research projects.
1:55:39 PM
DR. CAHILL described what ACUASI plans to do with the $10
million funding increment in the Governor's budget:
• Hire faculty and instructors to support
drone/aerospace curricula at UA
• Identify locations for and begin to establish
three emerging technology test ranges
• Accelerate the testing and pioneering flights
needed to prove the safety of BVLOS operations in
Alaska through the FAA's BEYOND program
DR. CAHILL relayed the following about ACUASI's plans for the
future:
ACUASI will continue to lead the way to the safe
integration of drones into the Alaskan airspace
• ACUASI will be flying large drones from Alaskan
airports to demonstrate drone capabilities and
test Alaskan business cases
• ACUASI and its partners will be developing the
technology and processes for monitoring oil and
gas infrastructure
• ACUASI will be transferring commercial operations
it pioneered to Alaskan companies
DR. CAHILL concluded with the same statement she made last year.
"We are going to lead the way to make this happen."
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON asked at what altitude drones fly.
DR. CAHILL replied that SeaHunter set the record at 15,003 feet,
but she had experience with aircraft with a 141 foot wing span
that was designed to operate at about 80,000 feet and deliver
broadband.
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS commented on the safety benefit and
potentially increased accuracy of using unmanned aircraft to
spot herring.
DR. CAHILL agreed that the current technology was well suited
for spotting herring balls without the danger of midair
collisions.
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS asked if there were any lessons learned for
the industry generally and Alaska in particular from the use of
drones in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
DR. CAHILL answered yes, there are a lot of lessons to be
learned. Drones are being used very effectively in Ukraine and
that is spurring US technology providers to develop counter
systems. She offered her belief that this has been a wakeup call
for the US military about the current operations in Alaska. The
Gray Eagles and Shadows at Fort Wainwright should be used more
regularly and under varied conditions that are less than ideal,
particularly in winter.
1:59:05 PM
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS thanked Dr. Cahill and welcomed Dr. Robert
McCoy.
1:59:21 PM
ROBERT MCCOY, PhD, Director, Geophysical Institute, University
of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, provided an outline of
his talk, all of which was to emphasize that Alaska is an
aerospace state. He displayed slide 2 that provides an aerial
view of the state with specific identification of the following:
• The Poker Flat Research Range 35 miles from UAF that
currently houses NASA employees and three rockets that are
poised to launch suborbital up into the Brooks Range and
the Arctic Ocean;
• The Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak
Island from which Alaska Aerospace Corporation launches
orbital and suborbital;
• The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program that Dr. Cahill
discussed;
• UAF's nine satellite dishes that are related to downlinking
data from polar orbiting satellites; and
• The university-owned High-frequency Active Auroral Research
Program (HAARP) that has substantial potential to support
aerospace in the military in Alaska.
DR. MCCOY directed attention to the picture of the globe on
slide 3 to distinguish between the launches from Kodiak and
Poker Flat. Poker Flat launches suborbital focusing mainly on
night launches and the aurora. Poker Flat also has a limited
launch zone out to the Arctic Ocean but not over the pipeline to
the west or into Canada to the east. By comparison, Alaska
Aerospace Corporation has a much larger launch range from one of
the best space ports in the country.
2:01:50 PM
DR. MCCOY turned to slide 4 and directed attention to the map of
the state and table of the five zones they launch into,
depending on the winds and how high the payload is going. He
noted the successful launch last week into zone 3 looking for
pulsating aurora. He pointed to the chart of NASA sounding
rocket launch vehicles to illustrate the variety of rockets, the
largest of which is four stage. The first three stages have fins
that allow the rocket to spin as it accelerates upwards. By the
time the fourth stage ignites, the rocket is in the atmosphere.
He recounted the following data points about Poker Flat rocket
launches:
• The first launch was March 5, 1969, 53 years ago;
• The largest rocket launched was 11 tons;
• The longest rocket launched was over 76 feet;
• The highest apogee of any launch was 930 miles;
• In keeping with a clean range policy, helicopters are
deployed whenever it is possible to recover a payload that
came down in the Brooks Range; and
• More than 1,800 meteorological rockets have been launched
2:03:00 PM
DR. MCCOY directed attention to the photos of the Poker Flat
Research Range on slide 5. The photo on the bottom left shows
the launching rail and the building that houses the rail that
slides back in preparation for a launch. He reported that Poker
Flat is the largest land-based range in the world. It has five
rails and the capability to launch up to five rockets in a few
seconds. Other facilities at the launch site are funded by the
National Science Foundation (NSF). This includes the Poker Flat
Incoherent Scatter Radar that is the size of a football stadium
and provides the opportunity to probe the ionosphere while
flying through with rockets.
The photo on the top right of slide 5 depicts the Light
Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Observatory that has three lasers
and provides the ability to study ranges or distances from 60-
150 kilometers. The university recently received funding for a
fourth LIDAR that will be moved to the HAARP once it's built.
DR. MCCOY turned to slide 6. He explained that when an investor
brings their rocket to Poker Flat, the scientists and NASA
employees test it for several weeks before it is taken to the
rail, bolted on, and readied for launch. At that point the
rocket can be held until the conditions are suitable. He
highlighted that Poker Flat provides a much more favorable
launch test site than White Sands because of the differing
population densities and evacuation measures that must be taken
to ensure the area is all clear. Poker Flat launches can hold
for weeks and launch to an event.
2:04:44 PM
DR. MCCOY displayed slide 7 and spoke to the photo on the upper
left that show helicopter assisted recovery of a payload. The
photo on the top right shows the March 5, 2022 LAMP mission
launch to study the pulsating aurora. He noted that the payload
came down in the river, which will make recovery a little more
challenging. Two more rockets will launch in the next few weeks
depending on the weather and aural conditions. He said the photo
on the bottom of the slide shows all the things to measure the
upper atmosphere and ionosphere. This includes radars on Kodiak,
King Salmon, and Adak as well as the Poker Flat Incoherent
Scatter Radar and all the sky cameras the institute has in Fort
Yukon, Toolik, Kaktovik, Eagle, and Venetie. He noted that most
of the data was ionospheric and that the Missile Defense Agency
recently granted permission to share it with the Clear Space
Force Station to support Long-Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR).
These are part of the 80-100 new instruments that have been
installed in Alaska recently.
2:06:23 PM
DR. MCCOY displayed slide 9 to illustrate that polar orbiting
satellites can be used to map all regions of the world. These
satellites orbit 11 times a day and because of its high
latitude, nine of those orbits pass right over Fairbanks. The
picture on the left of slide 10 depicts the viewing horizon.
NASA owns four of the satellites in Fairbanks and the university
uses their own to downlink about 40 percent of NASA's polar
orbiting data. Additional data is downlinked and shared with the
Department of Defense National Geospatial Information Agency and
others.
DR. MCCOY turned his attention to the satellites shown on slide
11, explaining that the dishes are S and X band. NASA recently
provided funding for a K band dish with the intention to launch
the NASA Indian Space Research Organization (NASA-ISRO)
satellite, which will have the capability of generating 150
petabytes of data. He showed an example of a synthetic aperture
radar image of Cook Inlet from space and commented that the
Department of Defense is very interested in the capabilities of
this radar. He noted that the image on slide 12 was of New
Orleans during Hurricane Ida in 2021. The Alaska Satellite
facility has more than 100 employees so it has a lot of
capability to collect, process and send out this type of data.
2:08:03 PM
DR. MCCOY said the UAF Geophysical Institute also works with the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Their
satellites pass directly over Fairbanks. UAF's Geographic
Information Network of Alaska institute has satellite dishes at
Filmore Creek and one on campus and they downlink data about
wildfires in summer and snow cover in winter. He pointed to the
image on slide 13 that was taken in October and noted that the
turquoise areas indicate snow cover.
DR. MCCOY stated that in 2015 DoD gave UAF the High Frequency
Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP), the largest and most
powerful ham radio in the world. It is a 33 acre phased high
frequency array that can transmit in the ham frequency range of
2.8 to 10 MHz. It is powered by five 3,600 hp diesel engines
that can generate 3.6 MW. HAARP was built with congressional
earmarks and funding from the Air Force Research Laboratory
(AFRL), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and the Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). He mentioned the
potential use of HAARP for over the horizon radar to map a
phased array of the umbrella covering Alaska. He also commented
on the antenna installations in Delta Junction and the potential
uses to detect launches, cruise missiles, and hypersonic
vehicles.
2:10:37 PM
DR. MCCOY described installing antennas in Delta Junction and
noted that someone from the Naval Research Lab was looking at
the potential to detect launches. He noted that at the request
of the Alaska Aerospace Corporation, UAF has been developing
plans for a special certificate in spaceport operations and
management that can be delivered remotely.
DR. MCCOY thanked the committee and restated that Alaska is an
aerospace state. It is a leader in the country and has a bright
future.
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS commented on potential help now that
earmarks were back in Congress.
DR. MCCOY mentioned a new grant from the National Science
Foundation that will provide five years of funding for HAARP
2:13:18 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON extended her thanks for the presentation
and magnificent graphics.
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS thanked Dr. McCoy for the presentation and
his service to the state.
^Alaska Aerospace Corporation
ALASKA AEROSPACE CORPORATION
2:13:57 PM
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS invited Milton Keeter Jr. to begin his
presentation.
2:14:10 PM
MILTON KEETER JR., CEO, Alaska Aerospace Corporation, Anchorage,
Alaska, provided an outline of his presentation:
[Original punctuation provided.]
• Purpose of Presentation
• To provide the Legislature with pertinent
information concerning the state-owned
corporation
• To inform the Legislature of 2021 corporation
activities
• To update the Legislature on Alaska Aerospace's
financial position
• To provide a preview of projected future
operations and targeted business markets
2:14:28 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE joined the committee.
MR. KEETER described Alaska Aerospace Corporation and its
history:
[Original punctuation provided.]
• State-Owned corporation established in 1991 to
diversity economy with aerospace industry
• Nine-member Board of Directors, plus two
legislative ex-officio members
• Established and trusted launch capabilities
• FAA-licensed commercial spaceport
• Operates the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska
(PSCA)
• Twenty-eight launches since 1998
• Business-oriented, low-cost, efficient &
effective
• No government sustainment funding
2:16:36 PM
MR. KEETER summarized slide 4, PSCA PROVIDES AMERICA WITH
ASSURED ACCESS TO SPACE
• Kodiak Island, Alaska
• Located on 3,700 acres of public land at Narrow
Cape
• Year-round launch operations
• Designed for both national security and
commercial launch
• Efficient for Low Earth Orbit (LEO), sun
synchronous, and high inclination orbits
• ~$120M of capital investment
• Federal, State, and private-sector funding
• On-going Federal Spaceport Enhancement Program
equips spaceport to continue to meet future
launch needs
MR. KEETER directed attention to the image on the right of the
slide and highlighted that the 110-220 degree launch azimuth is
the largest of any spaceport.
MR. KEETER turned to slide 5 that provides a virtual tour of the
3,700 acre spaceport. He pointed out:
• Commercial launch pads The two in the picture are currently
being used by commercial customers. A rocket is currently
on the pad in Kodiak.
• Integration & Processing Facility
• Spacecraft & Assemblies Transfer This building moves away
from the rocket when it is ready to launch.
• Launch Pad 2 Primarily used to launch larger vehicles.
• Launch Service Structure (Launch Pad 1) This provides a
controlled environment to work on a rocket.
• Rocket Motor Storage Facility
• Payload Processing Facility Provides a controlled
environment.
• Instrumentation Field Vehicles are tracked and terminations
executed. Instrumentation close by also provides the
ability to do real time weather data for vehicles and
missions.
• Maintenance Support Facility The brain safety telemetry
system inside converts data from antennas into readable
data for the spaceport and customers.
• Launch Mission Control Centers Missions are executed and
followed from this location.
2:22:15 PM
MR. KEETER reviewed slide 6 that shows the six launch pads and
noted the recent facility addition for a new commercial
customer.
MR. KEETER reviewed the spaceport's typical customers.
GOVERNMENT CUSTOMERS
• Missile Defense Agency
• Space and Missile Defense Command
• United States Space Force
COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS
• Astra Space
• US based company
• Rocket 3.2 reached space from Kodiak in Dec 20
• 40-foot tall, kerosene/LOX fuel
• 2022 PSCA launches
• ABL Space Systems
• US based company
• RS1 is a two-stage, ground-launched vehicle
• 88 feet tall
• Phantom Space
• US based company
• Dakota Rocket is a two stage , ground launched
vehicle
• 61 feet tall LOX and RP-1 fuel ? In development
for 2023
• Other commercial companies in negotiations
2:24:44 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE asked if the location of the launch site makes
a difference depending on the orbit.
MR. KEETER said the first consideration is what orbit the
payload has to get into. If it's part of a constellation, it's
probably trying to fit into a specific location between other
satellites. The second consideration is the performance of the
rocket, because they don't all have the capability or
performance to get into a specific orbit. He noted that Kodiak
is easier for the smaller launch vehicles because a large, high
performance vehicle isn't needed.
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS recalled that one of the reasons for
selecting Kodiak was the distance from any populations centers
should there be an aborted flights. Hawaii was the closest.
MR. KEETER agreed.
2:28:22 PM
MR. KEETER reviewed slide 9.
LAUNCH SUPPORT TO OTHER SPACEPORTS
• Range Safety & Telemetry System (RSTS) Support to
Rocket Lab (USA)
• Launch Complex One, Mahia peninsula, New
Zealand
• AAC supported first ten Rocket Lab launches;
May 2017 Dec 2019
• Agreements with other launch sites for similar
support
• Agreement signed with Spaceport Camden, Georgia
• Agreement signed to support United Kingdom
spaceport
2:29:41 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE asked if there was an international agreement
regarding satellite locations to prevent competitors from
getting in one other's way.
MR. KEETER explained that the owner of the payload or satellite
has to register with the Department of State, the FAA, and other
agencies. Once it's in orbit they must show the location and
then its tracked through China Mountain.
SENATOR MICCICHE asked how this fits with launches from China,
Russia, and other countries.
MR. KEETER said he couldn't speak to how their satellites are
registered, but China launches are tracked.
2:31:34 PM
MR. KEETER reviewed slide 10.
AMERICA'S ONLY FINANCIALLY SELF-SUSTAINING SPACEPORT
• Corporation's activities are 100% funded by
contracts
• Alaska Aerospace has not received state general
fund sustainment funding since 2014
• All salaries and expenses are funded by new
dollars to Alaska
• Alaska Aerospace has generated over $227M in
launch revenue since first mission in 1998
• FY21 revenues were down ~50% due to COVID
mission delays and cancellations
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS recognized Craig Campbell was in the
audience.
MR. KEETER reviewed slide 11.
POSITIVE COMMUNITY ECONOMIC IMPACT
• Spaceport launches have generated ~$80.0M
economic impact to Kodiak
• Commercial launch will transform into enduring
operations (e.g., Kodiak-based staff, light
manufacturing, logistics, refurbishment, etc.)
• Alaska-purchased Goods, Services, and Labor:
~$16.3M annually
• Kodiak: $5.5M, Anchorage: $9.3M, Rest of State:
$1.5M (average FY17-FY19)
• Supporting Alaska's 'New Space' entrepreneurs
MR. KEETER reviewed slide 12.
BUILDING AN ALASKAN SPACE WORKFORCE
• Developing an Alaska-grown workforce
• Transitioned from ~75% Lower-48 workforce to
95% Alaska workforce (75% on Kodiak)
• Spaceport Manager & Deputy Manager born and
raised on Kodiak Island
• Partnered with University of Alaska Space Grant
Program
• Sponsor of Internship Programs at AAC and PSCA
• Enhancing technical job skills through technical
training and career development
• On-the-job skill learning opportunities
• Increased STEM-focused responsibilities for
staff
• Experience at multiple spaceports and mission
types
2:34:37 PM
MR. KEETER reviewed slide 13.
PARTNERSHIPS & COLLABORATION
• Creating Alaska's New Space Economy
• Rapid & Agile Space Launch (RASL) Innovation
Center
• Commercial spaceport license for Poker Flat
Research Range
• Professional Certificate in Spaceport
Operations & Management
• Integrating space launch into Kodiak's way-of-
life
• Pre-coordinating launch schedules and closures
with the community to minimize impacts on
shared use of air, sea, and land
• Spaceport Master Plan Completed: Documents
current and future site lay-out
• Spaceport Ambassador program with Kodiak Civil
Air Patrol
• Board Member on Kodiak Economic Development
Corporation
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS noted the community support for the launch
installation and asked if there were future plans for the site
that he could share.
MR. KEETER said his vision is to increase the commercial
customer base, which would make additional launch pads
necessary. He relayed that he'd also like to create an
environment for a reentry pad so one of the stages of the rocket
could be recovered and reused. There are ongoing discussions
with government customers to generate more consist use of the
facility. Future growth plans also include the Aleutian
hypersonic test flights.
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS mentioned the misfire several years ago
that damaged a structure and asked if redundancy in the system
was part of the plan.
MR. KEETER replied it's a concern but it's difficult to have a
redundant launch pad for every rocket.
2:40:39 PM
SENATOR MICCICHE commented that most legislators were very proud
of how far the corporation had come.
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS recalled that he was on the Kodiak Borough
Assembly when the rocket site was first approved. The impact on
the community had been very positive.
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS asked Lieutenant Governor Meyer if he had
closing comments.
2:41:58 PM
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MEYER thanked the committee for hosting the
second Aerospace Day at the Alaska Capitol. He expressed hope
that SJR 10 would pass so the day would be celebrated in March
every year. He also extended thanks to the presenters.
SENATOR MICCICHE asked if there was a launch date that the
committee could travel to Kodiak to experience.
MR. KEETER answered that the next launch date is scheduled for
March 13-15. He noted there was an integrated launch schedule on
the website.
ACTING CHAIR STEVENS thanked the presenters.
2:48:49 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Acting Chair Stevens adjourned the Senate Labor and Commerce
Standing Committee meeting at 2:48 p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SLAC 3.9.22 - Aerospace Day Presentation, Cahill.pdf |
SL&C 3/9/2022 1:30:00 PM |
|
| SLAC 3.9.22 - Aerospace Day Presentation, McCoy.pdf |
SL&C 3/9/2022 1:30:00 PM |
|
| SLAC 3.9.22 - Aerospace Day Presentation, Keeter.pdf |
SL&C 3/9/2022 1:30:00 PM |
|
| SLAC 3.9.22 Aerospace Day Info Pamphlet.pdf |
SL&C 3/9/2022 1:30:00 PM |