Space Technology Company to Build Satellite Launch Site on Adak Island
The space technology company SpinLaunch has signed a 100-year land lease with the Aleut Corp., the Native corporation that owns the land on Adak Island. The company plans to build a launchpad to send satellites into low Earth orbit using its innovative centrifugal launch technology.
The agreement was finalized in October 2024 and announced in a statement from the Aleut Corp. SpinLaunch’s centrifugal launch technology uses a vacuum chamber to spin payloads at high speeds, launching them into orbit without traditional fuel-powered rockets. Aleut Corp. Vice President of Regional Affairs Julie Toomey described it as “like a high-tech slingshot,” saying it’s “cleaner, simpler and significantly more cost-effective.”
SpinLaunch first gained attention in 2018 for proposing this method as a lower-cost alternative to conventional rocket launches. The company has completed about 10 test flights using a scaled-down version of the system at Spaceport America in New Mexico. After exploring various locations, including a visit to Unalaska in 2020, Adak was chosen for its unique combination of remoteness and existing infrastructure.
Adak, the westernmost municipality in the United States, was once home to a naval air base that closed in 1997. The island boasts a deepwater port, regular commercial air service, and existing military facilities from the naval base. SpinLaunch also highlighted Adak’s potential for renewable energy development, including wind and geothermal resources.
The island’s population declined sharply after the base closure, dropping from over 4,000 residents in the 1990s to fewer than 50 today. The city even closed its school last year due to low enrollment. However, Aleut Corp. spokesperson Kate Gilling believes the project will spur growth and attract families back to the island, necessitating more restaurants, hotels, housing, and infrastructure.
Aleut Corp. Board Chair Jenifer Nelson emphasized that the project will benefit the corporation’s more than 5,000 shareholders, as well as Adak’s community members. U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan has expressed support for Adak’s development and the project. Environmental planning is ongoing, with special attention to nesting bird habitats. A timeline for launch operations has not been announced.
