Our Community

The Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Chesapeake Bay on the west. The Eastern Shore is a quiet place of great natural beauty. A rich history graces the area with historic homes, churches, museums, and landmarks inviting visitors to explore the past. Festivals and events are held annually by local communities to celebrate the area’s heritage. MARS is surrounded by excellent fishing, crabbing, camping, hunting, boating, and swimming, including on the famous Chincoteague and Assateague islands. Just sixty miles south of MARS is the well-known Bay Creek Resort, ranked 12th nationally by Golf World Magazine. Virginia Beach, Virginia, and  Ocean City, Maryland are both within a 2-hour drive. Both ocean-side towns offer many attractions, including convention centers providing named entertainment, concerts, and cultural events.

The Virginia Spaceport Authority and the other organizations that operate in the Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) contribute $820 million each year to the Virginia and Maryland counties surrounding the WFF and around 6,000 direct and indirect jobs. The total economic impact of the activity in and around the WFF is about $1.37 billion.

The Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware congressional delegations value the Virginia Spaceport Authority and MARS’ national security, civil and commercial space development, and STEM engagement activities and view them as a smart investment in the shared region. We welcome federal and state legislators on tours of the facilities and update them on our activities.