FridaySeptember 12, 2025

Space race: QC airport might be in running to be a spaceport

By: Dave Thompson|October 9, 2023
|4 min read
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    • U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Moline, left, and Ben Leischner, executive director of the Quad Cities International Airport, discuss the possibility of the airport being home to a spaceport in the future. Mr. Sorensen went on a tour of the airport on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON

    The Quad Cities International Airport could one day be home to a spaceport that is used to launch and receive jet-like spacecraft from runways, deliver cargo to orbit and even help with a mission to Mars. 

    That’s the vision of airport and congressional leaders who want the local airport to be on the cutting edge of technology and part…

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