WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. –The Virginia Spaceport Authority (VSA), owner and operator of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, participated in the 2025 Hokkaido Space Summit in Obihiro Hokkaido, Japan, Oct. 9 - 10.  

VSA’s involvement provided the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing international dialogue on spaceport standards. Through its participation, VSA continues to play a leading role in shaping and promoting international spaceport standards.  

“VSA’s engagement at the Hokkaido Space Summit underscores our commitment to building strong international partnerships and advancing the conversation on the importance of global spaceport standards,” said VSA CEO and Executive Director Roosevelt Mercer Jr., Maj. Gen., USAF (ret.). “We are honored to engage in forward-thinking dialogue about the future of global space collaboration and the spaceport’s critical role in providing responsive, assured access to space.”  

The event brought together global leaders in aerospace, government, and industry to foster international cooperation and innovation in space. The summit also provided a platform for dialogue on spaceport infrastructure.  

During the event, Mercer engaged with key stakeholders across the Asia-Pacific region and participated in a panel discussion on the global movement toward spaceport standardization. Fellow panelists included Space Center Australia Co-Founder and CEO James Palmer, Fire Arrow Chief Operating Officer Lesley Still, Alaska Aerospace Corporation President and CEO John Oberst, and President and CEO, SPACE COTAN CO., Ltd. Yoshinori Odagiri, who also served as the panel moderator.  

The Virginia Spaceport Authority (officially known as the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority) is a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia. VSA owns and operates the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) located at Wallops Island, Va., USA. VSA provides assured access to space by operating, maintaining, and growing a premier spaceport, stimulating aerospace-related economic development in the Commonwealth, and promoting educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

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‍Media Contact:

Lillian Palmbach

Chief of External Relations

Lillian.Palmbach@vaspace.org  

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