Miss. ups ante with Space Initiative

HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. – Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant announced a new economic development Space Initiative, and the formation of the Mississippi National Guard Space Directorate. The initiatives are to be used to target and attract space companies to the state, and assist in defense and disaster response using space technology. Bryant made the announcement June 30 here at the INFINITY Science Center. The purpose of establishing the Space Initiative is to create a specific entity to target space companies and attract them to Mississippi. Patrick Scheuermann, former head of Stennis Space Center and Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, will be leading the initiative. The MNG Guard Space Directorate will be commanded by Col. Billy Murphy of the Mississippi Air National Guard’s Meridian-based 186th Air Operations Group. He will integrate with current Space Commands, NASA, higher education institutions and aerospace industry partners. Murphy will also develop a Space Task Force responsible for conducting space operations. This Space Force will help ensure Mississippi’s and America’s success in the domain of space, and aligns with President Trump’s Space Force initiative, according to a media release from the governor. It will also be used to create and utilize space technology to develop defense and disaster response strategies. The MNG is “extremely confident that we can grow the space mission here in Mississippi to meet the needs of our nation and state,” said Maj. Gen. Boyles, Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard. (Source: Local Memphis 07/01/19)