FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS OF A SPACEPORT IN MOROCCO AS A PATHWAY TO MEETING THE GROWING INTERNATIONAL DEMAND FOR SPACE ACCESS

The rapid increase in forecasted small satellites to be orbited and the need for placement flexibility and launch responsiveness to maintain satellite constellations can create a launch offer crunch, stimulating the need for innovative launch services that are convenient, cost-effective, and flexible, thus more convenient launch site too. Launch capacity worldwide is saturated and therefore there will be the need for new spaceports to meet the demand in the next years. The potential socio-economic impact of a spaceport located in Morocco is relevant considering the role this country plays on the international level, and considering the relations within the African region, Europe, and the deep ties with the Arabic league. New policies and vision led the country over the last twenty years to invest massively in infrastructure, and the space sector, and more specifically the launcher industry, could be the next frontier. This paper addresses key factors such as technical feasibility, logistics, licensing, economic viability, and social impact, and plans to the foundations of what could be the next big thing in the international space scenario, allowing a more democratic and efficient access to space.