So any proposal from PR is only looking for public funds. Private funds would already have been offered. Private companies never ask the government to lead a private company coop. But they are asked to provide the buildings and facilities that will later only be rented at extremely low rates in order to provide a few jobs.

Later after the original use never pans out some other private company comes by and buys the facilities for almost nothing. Normally just for the land. And coast land in PR is pretty pricey. Get the local government to invest in the already running airport then politically sink the project over the next 5 years then come by and grab it up for next to nothing. Someone could pick up he property for a promise o clean it up and very discount price.

Washington will be paying for this.

I see the rideshare missions as evidence of the demand that already exists. The existing smallsat launch companies are already launching at their maximum rate (Virgin Orbit was delayed due to delays in approvals, not due to lack of demand or due to SpaceX’s rideshare launches).

However there is also the possibility it is just a scam, and some local pols are just looking g for another program to skim.

This is nothing more than a jobs program.

On one end,you would have to extend into the ocean.
The other end has a significant displaced threshold of almost 2400 feet, indicating there is a physical obstruction of some kind. So expansion is limited.

But why. If they are thinking rocket launches, not STS, why a longer runway?

After looking at Google.maps, and seeing how close it is to housing and other populated area, I cannot see them launching anything big.

In the mean time it can then be used for all other aircraft. All the other buildings should be built by the customers who will use the runway.

But that is not uncommon. I seeing that the ESA ferries things to their sight is South America. And many items are ferried (by river) to KSC.

I am all in favor of setting up as many spaceports as possible.

I remember a documentary where a guy from AOPA says “A mile of highway gets you a mile down the road, but a mile of runway can take you anywhere”. The context was a discussion about closing the Meigs Airport in Chicago, one of many small airports closed, being closed, or proposed for closure. It was eliminating infrastructure.

We are in an era where people are wanting to build the spaceports infrastructure. I say do, because there may come a time when gov tries to shut them down, and some will. Build as many as possible, create options and competition. In this economy, it may even help a few local workers, companies.

From the article:

[The Ports Authority] wishes to select a spaceport operator to achieve two public policy goals: sustainable job creation and economic redevelopment for the region focused on space-related activities and international cargo hub ecosystems; … and best practices for airport redevelopment that will reduce environmental impacts, realize economic benefits and improve community relations.

For Puerto Rico, the need seems to be high technology jobs for its population and a better functioning airport (apparently the José Aponte Hernández airport at Ceiba). There may be some prestige desired, as the Arecibo radio telescope is now defunct. The potential jobs could be in the biotech industry, too:

The project also calls for developing a business plan for the integration of biosciences and biomanufacturing in the spaceport in Ceiba, “with an emphasis on reentry and retrieval operations of highly sophisticated cargo.”

The “emphasis on the use of barges and launches in high seas” indicates to me that they are willing to get creative in their quest for high tech jobs.

Andi: No apology necessary. And you NEVER bother me. Please keep correcting me when you see an error, which I guarantee will happen again! :)

Are there a shortage of possible US continental airports on the coast?

Depends on if people in Puerto Rico can close a business case for their location. If they can, or can’t, or if a US airport would be better is not for us to judge.

Are there a shortage of possible US continental airports on the coast?

Gary: All the same regulations would apply, in Puerto Rico or in fact anywhere in the world. The federal bureaucracy rules the actions of any American rocket company, wherever it launches from.

Andi: In this case no change. “The authority wishes built” is I think correct.