MLS has been working on launch vehicle development, securing clients, environmental assessments and regulatory approval in recent months. Activities include environmental assessment seasonal data collection; finalization of the layout for the launch site to meet safety criteria and topographic mapping and surveying....The company announced that Lindsay Construction has been chosen as the construction management partner and will focus on the overall launch site construction effort as well as aid in the selection of the architectural and engineering (A&E) design team....MLS, Yuzhnoye and Yuzhmash have signed a formal Memorandum of Cooperation for the delivery of Cyclone 4M rockets to the launch complex. MLS visited with the heads of these partnering companies in Dnipro, Ukraine for contractual discussions in late August....Signed Letters of Intent with satellite clients have been secured by MLS with more in the works. Nearly $400 million in commitments from satellite clients have been confirmed to fill the payload capacity of 3350 kg aboard the Cyclone 4M....Pending regulatory approvals in the coming months, MLS plans to break ground for construction in spring of 2018.
MLS making progress on planned spaceportQuote from: Guysborough JournalMLS has been working on launch vehicle development, securing clients, environmental assessments and regulatory approval in recent months. Activities include environmental assessment seasonal data collection; finalization of the layout for the launch site to meet safety criteria and topographic mapping and surveying....The company announced that Lindsay Construction has been chosen as the construction management partner and will focus on the overall launch site construction effort as well as aid in the selection of the architectural and engineering (A&E) design team.
MLS has been working on launch vehicle development, securing clients, environmental assessments and regulatory approval in recent months. Activities include environmental assessment seasonal data collection; finalization of the layout for the launch site to meet safety criteria and topographic mapping and surveying....The company announced that Lindsay Construction has been chosen as the construction management partner and will focus on the overall launch site construction effort as well as aid in the selection of the architectural and engineering (A&E) design team.
A target price of $45 million per launch is being suggested with a payload of up to 3,350 kilograms (7,385 pounds) allowed. The rocket is also suitable for sun-synchronous orbit applications. MLS notes that signed Letters of Intent with satellite clients have already been secured, with more to come.
They have spent 20 years in negotiations with Brazil to use Alcantara, to no avail.
Sometimes I fell that, had Ukraine post 1991 history been more stable and prosperous, they could have been a major space power.
Their rocket shops still have amazing knowledge and resources.
Quote from: Archibald on 01/06/2018 07:59 pmThey have spent 20 years in negotiations with Brazil to use Alcantara, to no avail.That was Cyclone 3. All hypers. This one is mostly kerolox and Ukrainian.And it was the Russians twisting Brazil's arm. Once you see launches from Canada, which has a huge number of Ukrainian's, many of them there because of Russia, the arm twisting will be no more.QuoteSometimes I fell that, had Ukraine post 1991 history been more stable and prosperous, they could have been a major space power.Russian would never allow it.Makes them economically vulnerable and exposes their backward ambitions. Ukraine also does a pretty effective job of self sabotage with its endemic corruption, instigated by Russian efforts to factionalize it. (Like with current America - "Make us $hitheads again".) Like Belgium.QuoteTheir rocket shops still have amazing knowledge and resources.All "rocket shops", including Russian, Europe, and America. Rotten leadership, insane cultural ambitions, and senseless economics stymie all.
Chuck McKenna, a manager with the resource management unit of the provincial Environment Department, says detailed plans on how dangerous goods will be stored and handled weren’t provided.
The animation, set with local music, guides the user through the various proposed facilities including the integration of payload on the Ukrainian Cyclone 4M rocket.In August the province requested MLS conduct an additional focus report that would “examine potential impacts of the Project on: water resources, soil, air quality, noise flora and fauna, fish and fish habitat, protected areas and parks, dangerous good management, waste management, human health and contingency planning. The EA Administrator will provide you with written terms of reference for the preparation of the focus report within 25 days. Maritime Launch Services Ltd. will have up to one year to submit the required number of hard copies for distribution by the EA Branch, and an electronic copy of the focus report. The EA Branch will notify the public of the release of the focus report for review. There will be a 30-day public review period once the focus report has been released to the public.”MLS is hoping to have the focus report completed and approved in time for a spring ground breaking.
Engaging parliamentariansAs we outlined in an earlier article, Canadian organizations submitted more briefs to the Finance Committee’s 2019 pre-budget consultation this year than the last few years combined.The process though allows for organizations to pro-actively request to speak in person to the committee as it holds hearing every fall. It’s an opportunity that really shouldn’t be passed on if you really want to engage with parliamentarians in a public, on the record setting.Two organizations took advantage of that so far this fall, MLS and MDA.Below is the prepared statement by MLS along with the Q&A that followed during the meeting.From the Q&A we learned a few new facts about MLS’s plans.MLS has been in discussion with Telesat to launch some of their satellites.MLS has put in about $5M of its own money with some of the funding coming from unnamed Canadian companies.MLS is looking to close its Series A round for around $20M.MLS has interest from investors in the longer term debt of the approximate $210M it needs. Those investors are interested in taking on about 3/4 of that debt.MLS has around $500M in Letters of Intent (LOI) including one from Canada, as well as from Italy, Israel and the U.S. They also have another one pending from Canada. They also have pending LOI’s from the Netherlands and South Africa.Steve Matier, MLS CEO, is all in, having moved his family to Nova Scotia.
Maritime Launch Services (MLS), the Halifax based startup wanting to build a spaceport in Nova Scotia, plans on submitting its mandated Nova Scotia Environment Focus Report by the third week of March SpaceQ has learned.Last summer Nova Scotia Environment (NSE) in reviewing MLS’s environmental assessment report deemed it necessary to proceed with what it calls a Focus Report. That report would provide more information and answer additional questions the Province put forward. It is not an uncommon request, but did delay MLS’s plans. MLS did point out at the time that this was an outcome they were aware of, and prepared to deal with.MLS has one year to submit the Focus Report upon receiving the Terms of Reference.
The Minister can decide on one of three outcomes; approve the project with any additional terms, reject the project or require an environmental-assessment. The latter is unlikely to happen as that option has already been completed.Looking at the timeline would suggest that the public notice will be made in late March, perhaps extend to the first week of April. The public consultation period would happen in April and possibly extend into the first week of May. If NSE takes the full 25 days to review the Focus Report and public comments, then a decision by the Minister could extend to the end of June. If the Minister approves the project SpaceQ has learned MLS will look to proceed with ground breaking in July.