COLUMBUS, Ind. -- Indiana is currently far from the forefront of space research, but that could change if a legislator gets his way.

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would designate airports in Columbus and Anderson as spaceports, 6News' Kara Kenney reported.

The airports would become ground zero for rocket launches, requiring the Department of Transportation to develop policies that will allow for orbit of Indiana-launched craft.

The bill includes income and sales tax breaks for companies that do space research in Indiana.

Spaceport Indiana, a research company based in Columbus, does small rocket launches, sending equipment into low space and to the moon.

"We think, over time, it's going to be about a billion-dollar market for the state. Space travel is going to become something that you and I can do very easily," said Brian Tanner, director of Spaceport Indiana. "I think it's a great bill. I think our legislators are visionary … to be able to look at the space industry and say … 'This is a market we can capitalize on.'"

Corey Carr, director of the economic development board in Columbus, said the bill gives businesses solid incentives to move to Indiana.

"Unemployment's around 8.7 percent. We need to continue to increase jobs," Carr said.

Tanner believes that it's a near certainty that Indiana will become a hub for space research. Several aeronautical businesses have already expressed interest in relocating to Indiana, including some that sell rocket fuel and make transportation equipment.

The bill is currently assigned to the Economic Development Committee. A hearing has not yet been scheduled.