1. Roosevelt Roads Spaceport Business
Development Proposal
Presented to
Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company
August 25, 2011
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez 1
josemolina5462@gmail.com

2. Presented to:
PRIDCO: Dr. Carlos Vidal Arbona
Juan M. Aguayo-Leal, MA Consultor
Director de Desarrollo de Puerto Rico Science, Technology
Negocios & Research Trust
Informática, Telecomunicacione
s, Ingeniería y Aeroespacial Víctor Rivera Burgos
Consultor
Yasmín García Martínez Puerto Rico Science, Technology
Economista Estratega & Research Trust
José Castro-Segarra Dr. Jesús Soriano
Oficial de Innovación de Consultant
Negocios Trust for Science, Technology &
Research
Dr. James Pérez-Marcano
Director of Scientific Affairs – Life
Sciences
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez /
2
josemolina5462@gmail.com

3. Jose G. Molina-Vazquez
• Jose G. Molina has a Bachelors degree in Science in
Mechanical Engineering with an aerospace concentration
from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).
• He has worked in the aerospace industry (Hamilton
Sundstrand, United Technologies Corp.)as a manufacture
engineer in the emergency power generation system for
commercial and military aircraft.
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez /
3
josemolina5462@gmail.com

4. Roosevelt Roads Spaceport (RRS)
• Space travel is an emerging market. Spaceports for reusable
space vehicles which are capable of suborbital flights are
flourishing around the world. This type of vehicle takes off and
lands like an airplane, which needs a modified airport.
Roosevelt Roads airport presents a unique opportunity for
Puerto Rico to become a key component in the upcoming
space travel industry.
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez /
4
josemolina5462@gmail.com

5. The Trend
• This generation is revolutionizing air transportation industry to a
high speed intercontinental travel via space. Before 1903 it was
considered impossible to create a flying machine heavier-
than-air. The Wright brothers proved them all wrong and no
one knew that the airplane was going to revolutionize the
transportation industry. Today the airline industry produces 300
billion dollars a year. This trend is also seen with space travel. It
is forecast that by 2021 space transportation will be growing at
1billion dollars a year.
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez /
5
josemolina5462@gmail.com

6. Purpose
• To propose the establishment of a spaceport and the required
facilities at the Former Naval Station Roosevelt Roads.
• To create jobs.
• To lessen or eliminate the exile of intellectual capital of Puerto
Rico’s trained professionals, such as UPR Mayaguez engineering
graduates.
• To position Puerto Rico as the leader in civilian and cargo
transportation via space.
• To promote space education and technology through the
establishment of a space academy, camp and laboratories.
• To generate tourism.
• Any immediate plans of development should not limit or discard
the future use of Former Naval Station Roosevelt Roads as a
spaceport.
• To attain funds and a letter of intent to further develop this
concept.
• To obtain seed money to finance a detailed feasibility study .
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez /
6
josemolina5462@gmail.com

7. What is a spaceport?
• A spaceport is a base or shelter equipped to
launch, maintain, and test spacecraft.
• Can be used as a regional/international airport.
• 3 types of spacecraft/ 3 types of spaceport license:
• Horizontal Takeoff Horizontal Landing (HTHL):
• Scaled Composite
LLC, SpaceShipTwo/WhiteKnightTwo
• Implementable at existing airports.
• Vertical Takeoff Horizontal Landing (VTHL):
• NASA, Space Shuttle
• Vertical Takeoff Vertical Landing (VTVL):
• NASA, Saturn V-Apollo
• Blue Origin LLC, New Shepard
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez /
7
josemolina5462@gmail.com

8. Background Facts
• HTHL is a proven technology.
– Scaled Composite won the Ansari X-Prize in 2004
• Space tourism is a growing market.
• Spaceports are being developed around the world.
• Private space travel price is decreasing, hence it is reachable
to a wider population.
– 20-30 million dollars in 2001, 100-200 thousand dollars in 2010
• Private spacelines are emerging.
– Virgin Galactic, Spaceport America, New Mexico, U.S.
– Dutch Royal Airlines, Caribbean Spaceport, Curacao, Netherland Antilles
• The airline industry produces 300 billion dollars a year. The
spaceline industry is forecasted to follow the same
trend, growing at 1 billion dollars a year by 2021.
• Space Hotels/habitats/labs are being develop.
– Robert T. Bigelow, launched prototype in 2006
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez /
8
josemolina5462@gmail.com

9. Roosevelt Roads Competitive Advantages
• Runway length is 11,000 ft long. 1000 ft longer than Spaceport
America.
• Strategic location: 18 degree North of the Equator. Closer to the
Equator, less fuel needed to reach geostationary orbit.
• Located east side of the island towards the Atlantic ocean.
Surrounded by water.
• Airport facilities already exists, less investment needed to develop
a spaceport. 225 million dollars was invested at Spaceport
America, New Mexico.
• Puerto Rico is a commonwealth state of the U.S. No passport
needed traveling from and to the U.S.
• Naval port (Marina) in the vicinity: Great for space travelers to
come in their yachts and spend a week for space activities and
local tourism. Also to harbor cruise ships. It is a tourist attraction.
• Medical facilities in the area for testing and qualifying future
space travelers.
• Ramey Airbase (11,700 ft long runway)can be license for
emergency landing. (Designated for Shuttle emergency landing)
• Roosevelt Roads is located in a less dense populated area than
any other place in Puerto Rico.
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez /
9
josemolina5462@gmail.com

10. Spaceport Facilities
There are two types of facilities, ones that are required for the FAA to
license a spaceport and facilities that complement the spaceport.
Both are needed to create a world class spaceport that provides all
types services as well as an entertainment/tourist attraction.
• Spaceport Facilities:
– Launch control/ Control tower
– Fuel storage
– Spacecraft hangar/terminal
– Fire/Security
– Ground safety and equipment
• Complementary Facilities:
– Training center
– Medical center/Hospital
– Restaurants/shops
– Hotel/residential
– Marina
– Space Academy/ camp
– Viewing area
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez /
10
josemolina5462@gmail.com

11. Key Business Drivers
• Space tourism is increasing due to the decrease in space flight
price.
• The urge of shorting traveling time on Earth (Point-to-Point).
• Proven space transportation technology.
– HTHL spacecraft uses airports.
• Airlines are offering flights via space, which need modified
airports known as spaceports:
– Virgin Airline: Virgin Galactic, operating SpaceShipTwo
– Dutch Royal Airlines: XCORE, operating Lynx
• Over 16 companies are developing private spaceships, which
need a spaceport to operate from.
• Transportation services to and from space:
– Space hotels, laboratories, Moon and asteroid mining base
– Biotechnology (pharmaceuticals) will experiment and manufacture in
space.
– Import/export
• This is the future of transportation.
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez /
11
josemolina5462@gmail.com

12. Roosevelt Roads Spaceport (RRS)Benefits
• Stable and quality employment.
• Reduces the exile of intellectual capital.
• Attracts internal and external tourism.
• Reduces travel time Point-to-Point(30 minutes from PR to
Australia).
• Puerto Rico capable of cheap space research, development
and exploration.
• Attracts further aerospace companies to the island.
• Promotes STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).
• New local small business start-ups supported by RRS activities.
• Port of import and export of goods and materials to and from
space.
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez /
12
josemolina5462@gmail.com

13. Environmental Protection
• Most of Roosevelt Roads area is protected and
redeemed undevelopable, which is a benefit for
the spaceport.
• Roosevelt Roads Spaceport (RRS) can meet and
exceed the EPA standard for
containment, storage, and noise while maintaining
a profitable base of operations.
• RRS facilities will take advantage of Roosevelt
Roads natural resources (wind, water and sun) to
provide an environmental sustainable infrastructure.
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez /
13
josemolina5462@gmail.com

14. Facilities Construction Cost Estimates
• Spaceport facilities expenses: $100 to $150 M
• Equipment: $5 to $10 M
For illustration, spaceport sites cost estimates are as
follows:
• Spaceport America, New Mexico: $225 M (includes
construction of terminal and runway)
• Singapore: $115 M
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez /
14
josemolina5462@gmail.com

15. Phase 1: Feasibility Study
• To conduct a detailed feasibility study which will
include but not limited to the following:
– Scope of work
– Description of Main Features
• Facilities
• Equipment
• Operations
– Identification of User Benefits
– Potential markets
– Potential Competition
– Potential Human Factor
– Potential Projects and Development Issues
– Risk Analysis
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez /
15
josemolina5462@gmail.com

16. Acknowledgments
• Prof. Julio Morell-Rodriquez: Research
Professor, Dept. of Marine Sciences University of
Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus (DMS-UPRM)
• Lcdo. Francis Torres: Environmental Lawyer, Torres &
Garcias Lcdo
• Patricia Toro: Has a bachelors degree in
Environmental Design from UPR School of
Architecture. Pursuing Master in Architecture at
Pratt Institute in New York.
Jose G. Molina-Vazquez /
16
josemolina5462@gmail.com