Concept of a spaceport. Credit: Daniel Voyager.

Colorado Air and Space Port has secured a site operator licence from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to facilitate the country’s commercial space transportation, research, and development.

It was awarded after a 180-day review period and is the 11th licence of this type to be granted in the US.

Situated at the former site of Front Range Airport in Colorado, the planned site covers 3,200 acres.

Upon getting the licence, the facility officially became known as Colorado Air and Space Port, replacing the previous names, the Spaceport Colorado and Front Range Airport.

Colorado Air and Space Port director Dave Ruppel said: “The licence from the FAA is an important step in the process, and we’re looking forward to partnering with a company that shares our vision for the spaceport and the technological and commercial benefits it brings to Colorado.”

“The licence from the FAA is an important step in the process, and we’re looking forward to partnering with a company that shares our vision for the spaceport and the technological and commercial benefits it brings to Colorado.”

The planned Colorado Air and Space Port will be developed to accommodate vehicles to perform horizontal takeoffs and landings. Powered by jet fuel, the vehicles will take off like traditional planes and fly to a special-use airspace where rocket boosters launch the craft into suborbital position.

For landing, the craft will drop out of suborbital flight and land like a traditional aircraft.

Adams County Board of Commissioners chair Mary Hodge said: “Facilities like Colorado Air and Space Port will be developed around the country and the world.

“We’ll be building a hub that connects Colorado to commercial and research opportunities across the globe.”

The new spaceport is expected to support around 200,000 existing jobs in the aerospace industry in Colorado as well as create new ones.