How Midland, Texas Became Unofficial Hub For Astronaut Training

When people tend to think of Midland, Texas, spaceflight isn't high on the list of things that people think about.  It is usually aspects of the region and its affiliation with the gas and oil industry that most people tend to think about.

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Midland Airport History

The airport started off as a smaller airfield called Sloan Airfield. It was later sold in 1939 to the city of Midland for $14,500.  During WWII, Midland Airfield was home to the Army Air Forces Bombardier School, one of a dozen throughout the country.  It was considered an ideal location for pilot training.  The flat terrain, climate, and location of the airport made it almost perfect for training pilots for war and later the space program.  This campaign stretched several decades.  In June 1941, the US military announced that Midland would become a training base.  Eventually, many of the pilots trained in Midland later entered the space program.  The late 70s oil boom only fueled more demand for access to the area, and the airport continued to grow much like the city of Midland.

FAA Designation

In 2014, Midland made a significant investment in the Midland International Air and Space Port.  The FAA acknowledged this as the first U.S. commercial airport to be licensed by the FAA as a spaceport.  Companies like XCOR Aerospace and others opted to conduct satellite technology testing and suborbital flights.  At the time, this was a big deal, and it was looking like Midland was being positioned to go all-in regarding space travel and training, even trying to entice 3rd party aerospace companies to invest in the region.

Fun Facts About The Midland Air and Space Port