Florida To Boldly Go Where No State Has Gone Before

Monday, the state of Florida began a new venture - hoping to reach where no state has gone before.

By creating the Space Florida Board and funding it with $42 million, Gov. Jeb Bush envisions a new state that will attract more high-paying jobs and create the best aerospace business climate in the world.

BUSH: We have three different entities that are going to be merged into one. We have lots of new funding from the legislature, and today is the day that we're going to take advantage of the vision that we laid out in front of the legislature, that they approved and actually enhanced.

Bush chairs the 12-member Space Board that includes University of South Florida professor Robin Murphy.

Florida's space industry reportedly contributes an estimated $4.5 billion to the state's economy.