Exploring The Future Aerospace Industry in Hawaii
By Hawaii State Senator Will Espero
Last week, the Senate Economic Development and Taxation Committee and the House Economic Development and Business Concerns Committee convened a one day conference titled “Hawaii’s Aerospace Industry: The Next Frontier at the State Capitol.”
Director Jim Crisafulli of the Office of Aerospace Development was instrumental in securing experts from across the nation and locally to discuss the future of the aerospace industry in our state.
At least 250 individuals attended the conference which was filled with a wealth of information from government, the private sector, academia, and non-profits involved in this exciting field. The intent of the conference was to promote Hawaii’s aerospace industry and bring attention to the many initiatives and projects being implemented today.
Some of the experts who gave informative presentations were Elliot Pullman of The Space Foundation, Lt. Col Scott Hunt of the Maui Air Force Research Laboratory, Joe Lehman of Lockheed Martin Space Systems, David Kerr of the Joint Planning & Development Office of the Federal Aviation Administration, Charles Smith of NASA Ames Research Center, Bill Larson from NASA Kennedy Space Center and Chris Moore from NASA headquarters.
Distinguished speakers from the University of Hawaii included Nick Kaiser - Associate Director for National Telescope Projects, Institute for Astronomy; Jeff Taylor – Lunar Scientist, Hawaii Institute for Geophysics & Planetology; Luke Flynn – Director, Hawaii Space Grant Consortium & Hawaii Space Laboratory; and Joe Ciotti – Director, Center for Aerospace Education, Windward Community College.
In all, 33 speakers shared their knowledge, vision, and working experience in this fully loaded forum promoting Hawaii’s aerospace industry.
Wayne Shiroma, Co-Director of the Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory, spoke of the U.H. small satellite program which could begin launching small satellites into space by 2010. We would be the first university in the nation with this capability. Working with our federal government at Kauai’s Barking Sands base, this endeavor would propel the U.H. program to the forefront of small satellite launches with our military. Commercial launches would be the natural progression of this program involving university students.
Frank Schowengerdt, Director of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES), presented a plan to build a lunar training base on the Big Island which would help the United States return to the moon and beyond. China, India, Russia, and Japan are competing with the U.S.A. to be the first to return to the moon by 2020, and Hawaii’s volcanic terrain and Apollo training history make it the ideal location on earth to establish a lunar base. NASA will be conducting field tests in Hawaii this November, and this will be a major story for Hawaii.
Chuck Lauer, vice-president of business development for Rocketplane, explained his plans to bring space-tourism to Hawaii by being the first company in the world to fly tourists into space point-to-point from the Big Island to Honolulu. This industry is in its infancy, but with other efforts being planned in other jurisdictions, it is an industry ready to “blast-off”. Securing a commercial spaceport license from the FAA is imperative to make this happen.
These three initiatives are closer than many people realize. The possibility is very strong that all 3 projects will be viable and be successful. These projects will launch Hawaii’s aerospace industry to greater heights than today. Our world-renowned astronomical observatories will be complimented by the growth of this space industry, and Hawaii’s youth and residents will have more opportunities for high-skilled, high-paying jobs.
Aviation and aerospace are the lifeline of Hawaii. We must invest in these industries to improve Hawaii’s future and assure a quality of life second to none.
Nainoa Thompson, Chairman of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, closed the day by connecting the early voyages of early Native Hawaiians with the exploration of today’s Hawaiians. His dear friend, the late Astronaut Charles Lacy Veach of Hawaii, was his inspiration and can be the inspiration for future generations.
Hawaii will play a major role in the United State’s aerospace future. We will play a major role in the pacific rim’s exploding efforts. This is a global opportunity we must support.
Senator Will Espero represents the 20th Senatorial District (Waipahu, Ewa, Ewa Beach and West Loch) on the Island of Oahu. He also serves as the Chair of the Senate’s Public Safety Committee.