Houston Spaceport takes another small step forward

Phase One of the Houston Spaceport is to create a cluster of aerospace companies that can invent, develop and manufacture space technologies. These are the Houston Spaceport renderings for Phase One. Phase One of the Houston Spaceport is to create a cluster of aerospace companies that can invent, develop and manufacture space technologies. These are the Houston Spaceport renderings for Phase One. Photo: Houston Spaceport's Website Photo: Houston Spaceport's Website Image 1 of / 80 Caption Close Houston Spaceport takes another small step forward 1 / 80 Back to Gallery

The Houston Spaceport has started searching for a design-build firm to develop the roads and utilities needed to attract a cluster of aerospace businesses to Ellington Airport.

Before launching spacecraft into zero gravity, officials want to create a community of companies that can invent, develop and manufacture space technologies. This design-build firm will lay the necessary groundwork -- roads, water lines, communication cables, etc. -- to attract those companies.

"We are moving forward with the actual construction of the infrastructure that we've been planning for," said Arturo Machuca, general manager of Ellington and the Houston Spaceport.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Ellington on the cusp of a new frontier

The project is expected to cost about $18.5 million. That money will come from Houston Airport System revenues and a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration.

If the timeline goes as planned, the Houston Airport System will ask the City Council to approve its selection of a design-build firm Dec. 6. Once construction begins, the project should take about 12 months.