Space Tourism

In these tough economic times, this letter to Governor Linda Lingle is part of testimony to sustain funding for several space-based initiatives which could positively impact Hawai‘i’s economy.

June 2, 2009

The Honorable Linda Lingle
Governor, State of Hawai‘i
State Capital
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, Hawai‘i

Dear Governor Lingle,

I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts with you in respect to the aerospace Bill (HB994) which was recently passed by the State legislature and to respectfully ask for your support and approval of this bill.

I have watched you take unprecedented steps to harness our economy over the past several months, and applaud your foresight and courage in promoting innovative measures to stimulate our economic recovery statewide.

Along those same lines, I am hoping that your spirit of innovation will engender your strong support and approval for HB994. This particular piece of legislation is extremely vital as we pursue the entrepreneurial field of Space Tourism. We no longer have the luxury of resting on our laurels or on the historic lead we held in the tourism industry. Change is here and we must be innovative, entrepreneurial, courageous and willing to put legislation and funding behind, and in front of, projects we sincerely believe will benefit our economy and our community.

Space Tourism… is one of those industries that we should invest in because I believe that it is imperative that we position Hawai‘i to be a global leader in the aerospace industry and in the field of technical tourism.

Market studies have shown that space tourism could become a billion-dollar industry within 20 years. We can no longer rely on sun and surf to bring our visitors and we must diversify our tourism industry now.  A number of other states – to date eleven, including (Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming) have obtained or are applying for commercial spaceport licenses to accommodate this growing demand, and the safety and environmental studies required for these licenses have been or are being funded by state governments – either directly through legislative appropriations or through established airport authorities.

Hawai‘i is strategically positioned to become the central hub for trans-Pacific spaceplane operations – yet another opportunity for our State to assume an international leadership role in creative applications of next generation technologies.  Timing is very critical now and this is the third attempt to pass spaceport license legislation and we need to act now! Spaceplanes will be ready to fly as early as 2011, and it will take at least two years to conduct the required studies and apply for/obtain a commercial spaceport license from the FAA.

With your continued advocacy and support for STEM education programs for local residents, the space tourism initiative will support and contribute to all of those defined goals through scientific research, aerospace education, training and expanded employment opportunities that will be required to support this industry and I hope we can count on your continued support for this critical industry.

Please feel free to contact me regarding any questions you may have and I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to submit this personal request to you in regard to your support and approval for HB004.

With sincerest aloha!

Judith Fox-Goldstein

Administrative Director
University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Conference Center