The Maine Space Corporation is authorized under 5 MRSA Chapter 393 to leverage the State’s geographic, rocketry, manufacturing and higher education assets and capabilities to establish the State as a national and international industry destination and an authority in launching small launch vehicles and small satellites into polar orbit by developing and managing the growth of the Maine Space Complex. Additional authorities include (a) acquiring and managing properties within the geographic boundaries of the State to develop and operate the Maine Space Complex and its ancillary facilities; (b) facilitating the acquisition of permits for launch sites from the Federal Government in order to host launch providers; (c) facilitating the creation of a highly skilled workforce and attracting and retaining young workers in a new space economy; (d) providing facilities for research and development; small rocket and small satellite manufacturing, integration, testing and evaluation; and education and tourism; (e) enhancing science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and engagement in kindergarten to grade 12 and higher education curricula through partnerships with private industry to explore use cases for satellite data; (f) providing satellite-derived business intelligence for local industries to improve decision making; (g) facilitating new high-tech and data-driven businesses and jobs creation; (h) serving as a place to engage and inspire the public through programming; (i) attracting out-of-state businesses, business visitors and tourists to the State; and (j) creating new revenue and expanding the tax base of the primary impact communities as an international asset.
The Maine Space Grant Consortium is an Affiliate-based 501(c)(3) corporation and a member of the national network of 52 state-based consortia funded by the NASA National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. Our overarching goal is to support the expansion and diversification of Maine’s space exploration research and education capacity along the K-graduate continuum by increasing statewide involvement in space research, technology development, education, and training programs that align with NASA’s priorities and contribute to Maine’s competitive advantage in a new space economy. The Consortium also administer the Maine NASA EPSCoR Program, which provides competitive research funding to Maine researchers to develop research capabilities directed toward long-term, self-sustaining, nationally competitive research that aligns with NASA’s and Maine’s research interests. This capability will, in turn, contribute to Maine’s economic viability and expand the nation’s base for research and development. To learn more about the Consortium, please browse its website at www.msgc.org.
