$100B Cape Canaveral Sea Wall
An excerpt from a recent exchange with Tom Morotta, CEO of The Spaceport Company — borrowing from MWE's proposals to Space Force and NASA to build a seawall protecting Cape Canaveral from rising ocean waters.
We could build a seawall around Cape Canaveral. MilkyWayEconomy estimates it'll cost $22B to build a seawall around Cape Canaveral — if we start now in 2023. Add 12% for inflation for every year we delay starting it.
Meaning, if we wait until 2030 to start, it'll cost us another $22B because inflation actually compounds. Hence why a start date in 2030 means a $44B budget for a seawall. Which you then multiply by another 150%.
Between now and 2030 and when the project would initially be scheduled for completion (let's say 2045 if no EPA environmental impact required), there will be approximately 22 threats of government shutdown or actual government shutdowns that will add another $44B to the price tag.
Making a seawall to protect Cape Canaveral cost taxpayers a fraction of the F-35 Lemon Fighter Jets, at roughly $100B to complete.
Or — DoD, United States Space Force, and NASA could invest a measly $10B into The Spaceport Company and solve their rising sea-level launch issue for pennies and in less than 36 months.
Alas, common sense remains the most elusive of all space variables.
Samson Williams is a Senior Partner at MilkyWayEconomy LLC, where he advises on space economy policy, federal funding strategy, and infrastructure investment.