NMSU students help with the groundwork of the spaceport

During the summer of 2005, NMSU graduate students were part of a team tasked with designing an economic development plan for the Southwest Regional Spaceport to be built in Upham, N.M.

The students – Andrew Dorsey, Peter Dearing, Rodolfo Acosta, Craig Naramore, Jason Cowden, Clinton Turner and Robert Vickrey – helped researchers study a variety of issues ranging from infrastructure to community development for the New Mexico Economic Development Department through NMSU’s Arrowhead Center.

Dorsey studied spaceport infrastructure, working with Jeffery Teich, a professor of management.

“Spaceports need their own medical facilities, fire departments, police departments, security and meteorological support, among other things,” said Dorsey, who is now working with the team assisting project manager Pam Wood to help New Mexico communities develop business plans so they, too, can be a part of the new industry.

For example, Alamogordo has asked for help in developing a strategic plan so it might one day provide training facilities. Peter Dearing, an MBA student, tackled liability working with department head of finance Lizbeth Ellis. Dearing said there are numerous legal hurdles in licensing a spaceport.

“The average third-party liability insurance premium ranges from $100,000 to $400,000,” Dearing said. “If New Mexico wants to get this going as a viable commercial enterprise they need to do something to help the insurance aspect of this, either through legislation to limit liability or through some other mechanism.”

Rodolfo Acosta, an MBA student, worked with Tony Popp, a professor of economics. He researched potential competitors and customers.

“I had no idea the amount of people who wanted to go into space and how much they are willing to pay,” he said.

Kevin Boberg, associate dean of the College of Business and the director of Arrowhead, said students must be involved in these serious projects to keep them engaged and to retain them. One of three reasons the Arrowhead Center exists is to provide students with directed learning experiences.

“They are absolutely critical,” he said. ”The project would be impossible without them.”

Jeany Llorente