Pecos Valley RC&D Area

"Helping West Texans help themselves"

Counties Served

Crane Ector Loving Pecos

Reeves Terrell Ward Winkler

For Information Contact: Pecos Valley RC&D Area Greg Huber, Coordinator 3600 S. Stockton Highway, Suite 6 Monahans, TX 79756 Phone (432) 943-3888 Fax (432) 943-4129

Pecos County Spaceport Development Program

In 1999, the state of Texas gave the authority for counties to create spaceport authorities. Texas Aerospace Commission developed a “stair step” approach for these new authorities to attract a spaceport to Texas. Pecos County in far west Texas was chosen as a possible inland site for reusable launch vehicles.

In June 2001, Pecos County Commissioners Court created the Pecos County/West Texas Spaceport Development Corporation. The following goals were developed:

1) Develop a reusable launch facility in Pecos County;
2) Create Jobs;
3) Promote Tourism;
4) Bring new technology to west Texas;
5) Develop a global educational program for Texas Schools; and
6) Acquire environmental, technical, and economic data to support the development of the launch site.

In order to achieve these goals, the Corporation received grant funding from Texas Aerospace Commission and USDA-Rural Development. The money helped prepare business plans, economic impact studies, and educational programs with several Texas universities and high schools. Pecos Valley RC&D Council adopted this project to assist with technical and environmental issues. In October 2002, the Corporation experienced its first successful rocket launch. A contract was then signed with JP Aerospace to use the Pecos County launch site to develop a space-maneuvering vehicle and the Combat Access program for the U.S. Air Force.

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