Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport

{{Short description|Airport in the United States}} {{Coord|35|20|23|N|099|12|02|W|type:airport_region:US|display=title}} {{Infobox airport | name = Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport | image = Csafb-17feb1995.jpg | image2 = CSM_-_FAA_airport_diagram.png | image2-width = 220 | caption2 = Airfield diagram from Federal Aviation Administration | IATA = CSM | ICAO = KCSM | FAA = CSM | type = Public | owner = Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority | operator = | city-served = Clinton, Oklahoma | location = Burns Flat, Oklahoma | elevation-f = 1,922 | elevation-m = 586 | website = | r1-number = 17R/35L | r1-length-f = 13,503 | r1-length-m = 4,116 | r1-surface = Concrete | r2-number = 17L/35R | r2-length-f = 5,193 | r2-length-m = 1,583 | r2-surface = Concrete | stat-year = 2006 | stat1-header = Aircraft operations | stat1-data = 49,500 | footnotes = Source: Federal Aviation Administration<ref name=FAA>{{FAA-airport|ID=CSM|use=PU|own=PU|site=18877.*A}}, effective 2007-10-25</ref> }} : ''For the military use of the facility before 1969 see Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base'' The '''Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport''', previously known as the '''Clinton-Sherman Industrial Airpark''' or the '''Oklahoma Air & Space Port''' is an airport and spaceport in Washita County, Oklahoma, near the town of Burns Flat.<ref name="AP_FAA">{{cite news | url=http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/14818115.htm | title=FAA issues Oklahoma spaceport license | publisher=The Mercury News | author=Murphy, Sean | date=14 June 2006 | accessdate=2006-06-26}}</ref> The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted a license to the site in June 2006 to the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA) to "oversee the takeoff and landing of suborbital, reusable launch vehicles."<ref name="AP_FAA"/> It also boasts the first space flight corridor, "The Infinity One"—which is about 152 miles long and averages about 50 miles wide—that is not in restricted airspace and does not interfere with Military Operations Areas (MOAs). The facility is an FAA licensed launch site, one of only 12 in the U.S. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.faa.gov/news/fact_sheets/news_story.cfm?newsId=19074 |title=Fact Sheet-Commercial Space Transportation Activities|publisher=Eva Ngai, Federal Aviation Administration, June 19, 2020|accessdate =June 26, 2020}}</ref> Individual operators must also secure a separate license in order to make space flights from the facility.

==Facilities== The airpark is at the site of a public airfield known as Clinton-Sherman Airport {{Airport codes|CSM|KCSM}}. The airport covers an area of {{convert|1,690|acre|ha}} which contains two concrete paved runways: 17R/35L measuring 13,503 x {{convert|300|ft|m|abbr=on}} with 1,000-foot overruns at each end for a total of 15,503 (4725.3 meters) and 17L/35R measuring 5,193 x 75 ft. (1,583 x 23 m). The larger of these, at 13,503 x 300 ft (4,116 x 91.4 m) is a major benefit for use as a spaceport.

For the 12-month period ending June 30, 2020, the airport is on track for 30,000 aircraft operations, an average of 82 per day: 90% military and 10% general aviation.<ref name=FAA />

The location is a 2,700 acre (10.8 km2) facility located near transportation corridors such as Interstate 35 and Interstate 40. There are 96 acres (384,000 m2) of parking space able to support large commercial aircraft. There are six commercial aircraft hangars and a 50,000 square-foot (4,500 m2) manufacturing facility with loading docks adjacent to a railway spur.<ref name="OSISA-home">{{cite web | url=http://www.okspaceport.state.ok.us/index.html | title=Wide, Open Space Dedicated to the Aerospace Industries of the Future! | work=Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority | accessdate=2006-06-26 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060705165603/http://www.okspaceport.state.ok.us/index.html | archive-date=2006-07-05 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History== The facility operated for a number years as part of the United States Navy and United States Air Force. Closed under the name Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base, the facility has been redeveloped over the years to its present form.

The location of the former naval air station World War II runways to the north and west of the main runway are still visible on aerial photographs of the airport; however they are not usable.

On April 14, 2026, the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority announced that the name of the facility was changed to be the "Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport", to reflect that the spaceport was the first inland spaceport to receive a license by the FAA. <ref>{{cite web |title=Clinton-Sherman Industrial Airpark Rebranded, Renamed ‘Infinity One Oklahoma Spaceport’ |url=https://oklahoma.gov/aerospace/outreach-advocacy/newsroom/clinton-sherman-industrial-airpark-rebranded--renamed--infinity-.html |website=oklahoma.gov |publisher=Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics}}</ref>

==Operations== On June 12, 2025, the OSIDA announced Dawn Aerospace had selected this airfield as its Aurora spaceplane home base.<ref name=Dawn>{{cite web|url= https://tulsaworld.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_21b58c8a-5c10-45e0-bb4f-804470e8459b.html |title=Oklahoma space port announced as launch site for suborbital flights|publisher=Tulsa World, June 14, 2025|accessdate=June 15, 2025}}</ref><ref name=KTUL>{{cite web|url= https://ktul.com/news/local/dawn-aerospace-to-base-aurora-mark-2-spaceplane-at-oklahoma-air-space-port-by-2027# |title= Dawn Aerospace to base Aurora Mark 2 spaceplane at Oklahoma Air & Space Port by 2027|publisher=KTUL, June 23, 2025|accessdate=June 23, 2025}}</ref> Operations of the rocket-powered, remotely piloted aircraft are expected as early as 2027.<ref name=Dawn/><ref name=KTUL/>

Large aerospace companies are attracted to the site not only because of the length and size of the runway, but also the fact that there are no obstructions around either end.<ref name="Boeing">{{cite web|url= https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/boeing-still-coming-to-state-but-unknown-when/article_d80bfc9e-8f81-5cfa-a306-9f62049bf6cb.html | title= Boeing still coming to state | date= 26 February 2020 | publisher= Dale Denwalt, The Oklahoman, February 27, 2020 | accessdate=February 27, 2020}}</ref> Boeing in 2013 used the facility for testing an autonomous landing system for the 737, and in 2015 for proficiency training and flight testing with the Boeing 747-8.<ref name="Boeing"/> In March 2025, a Boeing 777X arrived for certification testing on its braking system.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://aviationa2z.com/index.php/2025/03/31/boeing-begins-777x-brake-testing/ |title=Boeing Begins 777X Brake testing as Part of FAA Certifications Flights|publisher=AviationA2Z, March 31, 2025|accessdate=April 23, 2025}}</ref> Cessna and Honda Aircraft have also been customers.<ref name=OASDI/>

Branches of the Department of Defense—primarily the U.S. Air Force and the Navy—use the airport for the flight training of their aircrews.<ref name=OASDI>{{cite web|url=https://airspaceportok.com |title=Gateway to Space -Control Tower and Airport Ops|publisher=OASDI|accessdate=December 3, 2020}}</ref>

Armadillo Aerospace conducted flight test activities at the Oklahoma Spaceport in 2004 through 2009, including tests of a VTVL Lander and a Rocket Racer for the now-defunct Rocket Racing League.

One company, Rocketplane Kistler, formerly based in Oklahoma, had plans to build and operate a suborbital spacecraft, the Rocketplane XP, but filed for bankruptcy in 2010 without having successfully launched a flight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parabolicarc.com/2010/11/29/rocketplane-oklahoma-space-authority/|title=With Rocketplane Gone, Does Oklahoma Still Need a Space Authority? – Parabolic Arc|date=29 November 2010 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-31}}</ref>

Premium Aerospace said in October 2022 that it would be investing $120 million over the next several years to move to the airpark.<ref name=Premium>{{cite web|url= https://tulsaworld.com/business/local/mexico-based-aerospace-company-plans-to-move-headquarters-to-western-oklahoma/article_e425e23e-5955-11ed-9f58-2b319ae7b7de.html |title=Mexico-based aerospace company plans to move headquarters to western Oklahoma|date=31 October 2022 |publisher=Tulsa World, October 31, 2022|accessdate=November 2, 2022}}</ref> The project includes renovating and expanding two existing hangars, and constructing a third.<ref name=Premium/> As of mid-2025, Premium Aerospace Center Oklahoma LLC (“PAC”) is scheduled to open Hangar 234 in July 2025, and Hangar 235 in 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://premiumaerospacecenter.com/ |title=Premium Aerospace Center Oklahoma LLC|publisher=Premium Aerospace|accessdate=June 19, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://premiumaerospacecenter.com/about/ |title=About|publisher=Premium Aerospace|accessdate=June 19, 2025}}</ref> The company does MRO work (maintenance, repair and operations/overhaul) on 737 and larger aircraft.<ref name=Premium/>

The former northeast 'alert pads' and ready facility of the former Strategic Air Command base currently houses the Law Enforcement Driver Training Center of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. Currently referred to as 'Building 120', the former bunker facility houses OHP Academy staff and cadets during the driving training portion of 'Patrol Schools'. The annual 'Cadet Lawman Academy' (sponsored by the OSTA, Elks Lodge, and C.U.D.D.), is also located at the same facility during the summer, which provides a 1-week program for high school students. The surrounding facility and tarmac incorporates over 12 miles of various roadways and courses, used for precision driving and emergency vehicle operation training. This facility is recognized as one of the top ranked law enforcement driver training centers in the country, according to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

== See also == * List of airports in Oklahoma

==References==  {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons}} * [https://airspaceportok.com/ Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority] *{{FAA-diagram|00778}} {{US-airport-ga|CSM}}

Category:Economy of Oklahoma Category:Spaceports in the United States Category:Buildings and structures in Washita County, Oklahoma Category:2006 establishments in Oklahoma