The Western Commercial Space Center, Inc. launches the California SpaceportTM

The Western Commercial Space Center, Inc. (WCSC), a nonprofit corporation designated by California as the ‘‘California Spaceport Authority,’’ fosters the development of launch, manufacturing, education, and research operations related to space. After receiving recognition as the state’s authority on commercial space, WCSC oversees development of the California SpaceportTM on land leased from the Air Force at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. When completed in 1997, the California SpaceportTM will support launches from nine different vehicle configurations on a common launch pad. This paper discusses WCSC efforts to establish the commercial space infrastructure in California.