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NASA Wallops looks to bump up drone traffic

Link to original article: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/09/29/wallops-drone-flights/73029294/

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. -- Drone technology may seem like the hot new thing.

At NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility? That’s sooo 20th century.

The spaceport’s original name in 1945, after all, was the Pilotless Aircraft Research Station. These days, officials with NASA and the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority are hoping to continue that tradition well into the 21st century with the construction of a longer airstrip dedicated to drone flights.

Governor McAuliffe Announces Agreement to Continue Operation of The Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority

The Governor also announced a separate agreement to build a 3,000-foot runway for Unmanned Aircraft Systems

NORFOLK, Va. – Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today an agreement has been reached between the Commonwealth of Virginia and Orbital ATK regarding repair costs and insurance coverage following the October 2014 launch mishap that damaged portions of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS).  The agreement provides funding to complete remaining repairs to the pad as well as property insurance for future launches.