Space is no longer the final frontier but a destination of commercial opportunity for the research and development firm Vicillion.
The space industry is set to reach an estimated $1 trillion in annual revenue by 2040, according to an extensive 2022 study published by Citigroup. But even in recent decades, access to the market has belonged almost exclusively to government-owned spaceports.
Removing Industry Barriers and Regulations
While commercial access to these spaceports is possible, the process is arduous and painstakingly slow—an average of 6-18 months to launch a commercial payload.
“Government-owned spaceports are known to be bound by regulations and slow processes that hinder the growing needs of the space sector market—especially in the United States, Russia, and Europe,” explains Wanjiku Kanjumba, Vicillion’s CEO and chairwoman.
Founded in 2021, Vicillion is on a mission to create a more accessible entry point into the space sector. The proposed solution? The Andro-Vicillion (AV) Spaceport, the world’s first equatorial commercially-operated spaceport facility.
“We see AV Spaceport as the perfect way to service the growing commercial space sector and help increase space exploration,” says Kanjumba. The proposed facility personifies the direct access that is necessary to usher in the next wave of growth for commercial space launches and travel.
Launching a New Industry Era with AV Spaceport
Vicillion’s approach to a commercial spaceport serves as an opportunity to help guide the sector into a modern era. According to Kanjumba, launch regulations in the facility’s carefully selected equatorial location are yet to be established, offering Vicillion a chance to help shape those guidelines in a way that makes the commercial sector competitive in the space travel industry.
The proposed facility will be fully equipped for geosynchronous and geostationary launches: Launching pads and mount structures, communication towers, a mission control center, and more. As Kanjumba explains, the first phase focuses on providing a launching platform for companies around the world.
“AV Spaceport will have avenues to conduct different research and development projects to increase safety, capacity, efficiency, and resiliency of different space operations,” she explains. “We can also create opportunities for private investors, real estate development, and leasing companies.”
Vicillion plans to establish infrastructure financing opportunities, including fuel supply, transportation, rail, and shipping lines, that will allow traditional investors to support the growing commercial space market.
Operations at the facility are slated to begin in the next three years, as Vicillion works to secure initial investments in the project. Kanjumba estimates that AV Spaceport could be fully functional by mid-2026 if the company reaches its funding goals. Expansions of the facility are expected to include accommodations for space tourism, android mining, and launches to the Moon and Mars—both manned and unmanned.
Redefining The Space Sector’s Final Frontier
Kanjumba founded Vicillion along with vice-chairman and COO, Ebenezer Ahama. Branded as a full-stack research and development firm, Vicillion is a fast-growing leader in all things aerospace technology and product development.
But more so, the company is a team of avid problem solvers and visionaries bringing new ideas to life within the aerospace and space sectors. Headquartered in the United States, Vicillion also works across other specialized industries, including defense, robotics, global infrastructure, and agriculture.
The firm was recognized as the United States’ Most Collaborative Aerospace R&D Partner in the 2023 Aviation and Aerospace Awards. Learn more about the AV Spaceport and Vicillion’s other projects at vicillion.com.
