Back in the early 1970s, NASA used to launch small rockets from way up north in Michigan - from the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. It's been almost 50 years, but Michigan's space program may be coming back.

According to the Detroit News, the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association (I didn't even know that was a thing) wants to create a launch site in Northern Michigan to get in on the business of low-orbit satellites. They've already got $30 million promised by investors. The launch site will cost $50 million - $75 million.

Launching satellites is big business. In the last ten years, 1200 small satellites have been launched into earth orbit. The estimate is that 7000 small satellites will be launched in the next ten years. Right now, most of the launches happen in Florida and California, but the demand is starting to outpace the launch availability in those areas. The plan would be to start launches from Michigan in about three years and have about 20-25 launches every year after that. This should create a lot of jobs and bring in a lot of money to the Michigan economy. And look cool.

Between the northern lights and the space launches, it should be quite the show in Northern Michigan one day.

 

Banana Don and Stephanie McCoy amuse and thrill you every weekday morning from 5:30 – 10AM on the radio at 100.7 WITL.

Noted zythologist and all-around fun guy Banana Don can be reached via email at don.jefferson@townsquaremedia.com and on Twitter @WITLFM. Also, Facebook friend Banana Don and Stephanie at Facebook.com/BananaStephanie and Facebook.com/WITLFM.
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