The initial activities of the Croatian branch of Swiss Space Systems will be connected with Zero-G no gravity flights, which can be expected in the first half of 2016. The next phase of activity, including satellite launches and suborbital passenger flights, require the construction of a spaceport, the presentation at the Hotel Esplanade said.
"Initial commercial Zero-G flights could start to be organised at Zagreb's Pleso Airport, and if a spaceport is built at Udbina as planned, Croatia will become a base for the development and production of upper components of satellite launch systems," said Slobodan Danko Bosanac, head of the S3 Croatia project.
"The construction of a spaceport will not start before the project is fully prepared, a public consultation is conducted and a concession is granted. The Croatian Ministry of Defence has granted tentative approval for the concession, but approval from the government, parliament and others is also needed," Bosanac said.
Bosanac said that the project would be financed with EU funding and private capital.
The Swiss S3 company has a budget of 250 million euros and 75 employees in Switzerland, Spain and the United States. Its aim is to become a world leader in launching small satellite systems into Earth's orbit, and plans to open 200 jobs by 2017.