Spaceport
Development
Update
Prepared for:
March 04, 2026
Special Session
Paso Robles Spaceport Meeting Overview
Meeting Overview
History of spaceport project
Progress to date toward obtaining the spaceport license Remaining steps to secure approval
Projected economic impacts for the City & region
Meeting Objective
Ensure shared understanding across all three bodies
Provide consistent information in one forum
Streamline Q&A (following the effective 2022 joint session format) Meeting Elements
Staff and consultant presentations
Public comment on agenda item
Planning and Airport Commissions questions, input, and feedback in advisory capacity City Council questions, input, feedback and direction Paso Robles Spaceport Meeting Overview
City leadership has prioritized expanding and diversifying the local economy with two objectives:
Greater economic stability through industry diversification Attract higher-paying, head of household jobs in technology sectors Space Technology became a natural sector of focus due to the characteristics of the Paso Robles Airport, proximity to Cal Poly, Vandenberg Space Force Base, and to Silicon Valley. The decision was taken to pursue an FAA Commercial Spaceport License for the Paso Robles Municipal Airport and to develop a Technology Corridor. Multiple due diligence milestones have been achieved in the process to date. “Cautious Optimism”
Now 14 commercial spaceports in the US
Parallel Tracks: Licensing & Tech Corridor
• Draft FAA application
• Technical narrative (as available)
• Road map for next steps
Explosive Site Plan (ESP)
• Concept of operations
• Flight Profile
• Risk Analysis
Proposed changes to
Airport Layout Plan (ALP)
Cal Poly FAA Integrated Launch Solutions
Tartaglia Engineering
Coffman Associates
Tartaglia Engineering
Submit ALP to FAA
Licensing
Airport Master Plan Update
(FAA Grant Funded)
We are HERE
Parallel Tracks: Licensing & Tech Corridor
• Draft FAA application
• Technical narrative (as available)
• Road map for next steps
Explosive Site Plan (ESP)
• Concept of operations
• Flight Profile
• Risk Analysis
Proposed changes to
Airport Layout Plan (ALP)
Cal Poly FAA Integrated Launch Solutions
Tartaglia Engineering
Coffman Associates
Tartaglia Engineering
Submit ALP to FAA
Licensing
Airport Master Plan Update
(FAA Grant Funded)
We are HERE
www.prb.airportstudy.net
© 2026 Heddian Proprietary and Confidential 17
Private 5G – Build One Use Many
Airport Security
Virtual fencing for
cameras saves $__ M
in fencing costs
Airport/Spaceport
Internet
High-speed internet
access for tenant data
usage, research, data
aggregation,
applications, etc.
Home and Business
Internet
Event Internet and
Mobile Phone
Limited cell service for
staff, vendors, and
visitors at horse and
water parks
Shows draw large
crowds horse park
Many areas with
limited home internet
options
Fixed wireless
connectivity can
reduce underserved
areas
“The strategic move to pursue an FAA Commercial Spaceport License is a critical next step. From our perspective in the industry, the benefits of this project are three-fold:
Infrastructure for Innovation: The development of dedicated test facilities would provide an invaluable resource for local Central Coast technology firms like ours. Having a local, dedicated environment for propulsion and horizontal launch testing is a significant competitive advantage to local Central Coast companies.
Economic Magnetism: A licensed spaceport will act as a beacon for outside investment. We have already seen interest from major VC-funded start-ups and aerospace primes outside the region who are looking for exactly the type of ecosystem Paso Robles is currently building and proposing to expand.
Workforce Development: This initiative will enable local companies to create high-value aerospace testing and development jobs, as well as provide local educational partners with a hands-on test environment, ensuring that the next generation of aerospace talent is both cultivated right here in the Central Coast and can stay to live and work on the Central Coast.” Excerpt:
$1,000,000 Appropriation*
Senate Appropriations Bill
*Special Thanks to:
Senator Padilla and Senator Schiff
https://dxhub.calpoly.edu/spaceport/
Preliminary Technical
Review
2022
Cal Poly
2023
FAA 420 License
Application Phase 1
2024
Test Site Development
2025
Airport Master Plan
Update Begins…
2025
RS&H Road Map to
Licensing
2025
EIFD Scoping
2025
RS&H Economic
Impact Study
2025
Special Joint Session:
City Council
Planning Commission
Airport Commission
March 4th, 2026
Paso Robles Spaceport Development Timeline:
Andrew Nelson
Vice President, Aerospace
Jorge A Gonzalez
Senior Principal Consultant
Paso Robles
Air & Space Port
Launch Site Operator License (LSOL)
Scope of Work Evaluation
Executive Summary
04 March 2026
31 1. Tasking & Summary of Findings
2. State of the Space Industry
3. The Spaceport as an Economic Engine
4. City of Paso Robles’ Spaceport Licensing Efforts to Date
5. Estimated Remaining Work on the Spaceport License Application
6. FAA Workload, Risk Factors, and Mitigation
OUTLINE
32 Tasking and Summary of Findings
TASKING:
Review existing work on spaceport license
Determine what is left to complete
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS:
Work to date by Paso Robles quite good.
12-18 months to complete spaceport license process
STRONG MARKET FORCES SUPPORTING EFFORT:
Advanced technology driving launch cadence & new applications Supportive government policies
Significant private investment
33 State of the Space Industry
• The Space Industry is within a longterm super-cycle of growth approaching $1 Trillion/year
• Opportunities to attract:
- tech development,
- testing,
- manufacturing
-- launch systems,
-- spacecraft
- launch/landing/reentry ops,
- satellite tracking
- data storage/analytic services 0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045
US Orbital Launches (Historic & Forecasted)
Historic (Actual) Forecasted
34 The Spaceport as an
Economic Engine
• Cities have successfully pursued spaceport
licensing for economic development and
diversification including:
Houston, Mojave, Las Cruces, Midland, and Huntsville.
• A spaceport license for Paso Robles supports national & international collaborations • Partners may include governments, academic institutions, and private companies • E.g., CalPoly propulsion test stand and research
• Other spaceports boast thousands of new private-sector space jobs after 5-10+ years of development including Midland, TX, Mojave, CA, and Houston, TX. 35 City of Paso Robles’ Spaceport Licensing Efforts to Date • RS&H assessed and graded
the City’s FAA licensing efforts
• The outcomes were quite good
• Red areas are work to be done
ACCEPTABLE
AND/OR
COMPLETE
WORK
ONGOING
WORK TO BE
STARTED
License Applicant Review
Control of Public Access
Scheduling Operations
Mishap Planning and
Emergency Response
Notification Processes
Foreign Ownership (none)
Launch Vehicle Options
Concept of Operations
Launch Site Location Review
Lightning Protection
Explosive Site Plan
Airport Layout Plan
Flight Safety Analysis
Environmental Assessment
• Sonic Boom & Noise
• Emissions Assessment
Letters of Agreement
Very Good Materials Have Been Produced To Date Specialized Analysts Required
36 Remaining Work - Spaceport
License Application
• Detailed technical assessments including
flight safety and risk analyses.
• Formal Letters of Agreement (LOAs) with
the U.S. Coast Guard and FAA Air Traffic.
• Updated Airport Layout Plan (ALP) to include
designated Spaceport operations areas.
• Importantly, this ALP update will be done as part of the Airport Master Plan Update already underway, ensuring alignment and efficiency.
• Environmental review (FAA/AST)
• The estimated timeline to complete the LSOL application effort is:
• 12–18 months once funded.
37 FAA Workload, Risk Factors, and Mitigation
• Risk factors to schedule and cost include:
• FAA / AST Workload can slow down a spaceport license if no specific potential client is identified
• Recruiting a launch service provider or a reentry operator can help to ensure timely reviews from FAA
• Recommended to move forward with licensing efforts to realize potential gains from economic impacts
Paso Robles Spaceport
Economic Impact Analysis
Results | March 4, 2026
Agenda
Background and Purpose
Data and Inputs into the
Economic Model
Results
39 Background and Purpose
RIMS II Multipliers
Direct
Impacts
SpaceportRelated
Expenditures
• Employee and
Tenant Payroll
and Operations
• Construction
Projects
Indirect
Impacts
Estimates of
Goods and
Services From:
• Providers to
Businesses
Located at PRB
• The Tourism
Industry by
Visitors to PRB
spent in the
County
Induced
Impacts
Re-Spending by
Workers:
• At the PRB
• Construction
Companies doing
work at PRB
• Suppliers to PRB
Businesses
• The Tourism
Industry
Total
Economic
Impact
Employment
Earnings
Output (Gross
Regional Output)
Value Added
+ + =
40 Data and Inputs Used in the Economic Model
41 Collected Data
• Paso Robles Master Plan and Airport
financial information
• Letters of Intent and business planning information
• Other U.S. Spaceport Economic Impact studies
US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Input-Output Modeling System (RIMS II), Value Chain Examples from other Spaceports
Survey to Relevant Airport Business
Survey to Interested Parties with LOIs
Basic Data Inputs
42 Relevant Current Tenants at the Airport
to Benefit from a Spaceport at PRB
Andros Engineering
Cal Poly
David Nutile - Helicom
Evans Fabrication
KMBG/Scientific Drilling/Applied Technologies
Lewis Nunno LLC
Loyd's Aviation
Scientific Drilling
Stellar Explorations
Streamline Aerospace
Trelleborg
43 Organizations with Letters of Intent (LOI)
Cal Poly
Stellar Exploration
Gran Systems
UARX Space Solutions
Wagner Star Industries
Dawn Aerospace
44 Survey Analysis
Survey Statistics
Existing
Airport
Tenants
Businesses
with LOIs Total
Number of
Survey Requests 11 5 16
Number of
Surveys Received 5 2 7
Percent Responses 45.45% 40.00% 43.75%
Information Gathered
Average Salaries
Output per employee
Payroll and Output Taxes
Business Types
Capabilities
Business Location
Spaceport Business Interests
45 VISION
The PRB spaceport is conceived as a catalyst for economic growth, fostering the development of an advanced aerospace and space industry cluster serving both civilian and military-defense supply chains. This initiative encompasses research and development in aerospace and defense technology, as well as evaluation, testing, design, engineering, and manufacturing facilities that will support comprehensive spaceport operations. 46 Potential Value Chain Businesses
Paso Robles
Spaceport
External Support Agencies
• Advisory Boards
• Academia
• Government
• Local
Payload Provider/Operator
• Advisory Boards
• Academia
• Government
• Local
Launch and Flight Logistics
• Power Systems
• Propulsion
• Telemetry
• Interfacing/Deployment
• Computer and Electronics
Service Providers
• Mission Design
• Data Analysis
• Hardware Design/
Manufacturing
• Launch Brokering
• Maintenance and Repair
• Security and Storage
• Testing
• Payload Missions
• Payload Recovery Services 47
Expected Industry Groups
INDUSTRY
Construction
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
Machinery Manufacturing
Computer & Electronic Product Manufacturing
Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
Computer & Electronic Product Manufacturing
Electrical Equipment, Appliance, & Component Manufacturing Transportation and Warehousing
Chemical Manufacturing
Computer Systems Design & Related Services
Miscellaneous Professional, Scientific, Private Advisory, and Technical Educational Services
Tourism
Other Related Services
48 JOBS
Total number of people
employed, both full-time
and part-time.
Payroll
(Earnings)
Total employment
compensation, including
wages, benefits, and
taxes paid on behalf of
employees.
Business
Revenues
(Output)
Administration, privately
developed capital
projects and tenant
sales of goods and
services, and tourists
visiting the spaceport.
Value Added
Total contribution to the
Gross Regional Product.
It includes all payroll,
profits, and business
taxes paid
Economic Impact Measures
49 Results: Short Term
Source: BEA RIMS II Multipliers RS&H Computations
Impact Total Economic Impact
Direct Jobs 80
Total Jobs 180
Payroll (Earnings) $25,000,000
Business Revenues (Output) $68,500,000
Value Added $29,000,000
Taxes $6,400,000
Total Estimated Economic Impacts
50 Results: Long Term
Source: BEA RIMS II Multipliers RS&H Computations
Impact Total Economic Impact
Direct Jobs 315
Total Jobs 875
Payroll (Earnings) $96,000,000
Business Revenues (Output) $334,800,000
Value Added $141,800,000
Taxes $30,000,000
Total Estimated Economic Impacts
51 PickPaso.com
Recommendation:
Option 2 - Direct staff to proceed with preparing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit an agreement with a firm that is qualified to complete all remaining steps necessary for preparation and submittal of the application for a Federal Aviation Administration Commercial Spaceport License; and to direct staff to return to the City Council at a future meeting with the results of the RFP process and a recommended agreement for Council’s consideration and possible approval.