Virgin Galactic Signs 20-year Lease with Spaceport America
Anchor Tenant for First Commercial Space Port Makes it Official
On December 31, Governor Bill Richardson announced that Virgin Galactic has signed a 20-year lease with Spaceport America. The agreement places Virgin Galactic's worldwide headquarters at Spaceport America in Sierra County, New Mexico.
"I want to thank Virgin Galactic for partnering with us to create a whole new industry that is going to transform the economy of Southern New Mexico-creating thousands of jobs, generating money for education, boosting tourism and attracting other companies and economic opportunities to the area."
Spaceport America Press Release
This signing was an important step Spaceport America's evolution. The site plans are complete, an architectural firm has been contracted for the building and the FAA issued launch license for both vertical and horizontal launches to space.
Other companies planning activities at Spaceport America include The Rocket Racing League which, in partnership with Armadillo Aerospace, will begin exhibition races in 2009 and competions in 2010. Armadillo Aerospace won stage 1 of the Nasa Lunar Lander prize and continues work on stage 2. Their lander proved itself capable of lifting of, moving downrange and landing safely. Payload Specialties provide launch services for research, commercial applications and funerals. Lockheed Martin is a long-time leader in aerospace and communications satellites. Lockheed Martin rockets have been tested at Spaceport America in 2008.
Virgin Galactic is the brainchild of Sir Richard Branson. Virgin Galactic will be offering sub-orbital flights to the public - those that can afford it. The ride will cost $200,000 per person. This includes three days of training, a physical and the ride itself. Riders will meet the FAA's requirements to be named an astronaut. This will be the first truly commercial space tourism available and the pricetag is much lower than recent one-off payments to government space agencies.
As a deal sweetener for local communities, who have voted local tax increases to build the spaceport, Virgin Galactic has promised one area resident will get a free ride to space each year.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has been nominated by President-elect Obama to be the next US Commerce Secretary. He was appointed US Ambassador to the UN by President Bill Clinton and served in that office until 1998. President Clinton then appointed him Secretary of Energy where he served until 2001, when George W. Bush replaced him. He was elected governor of New Mexico in November of 2002. He was a primary candidate for the democratic nomination for president in 2008.
Sir Richard Branson was knighted in 1999 by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to entrepreneurship. He has founded more than 300 Virgin label companies including Virgin Records and Virgin Galactic. He is a businessman, daredevil and the sponsor of Virgin Earth Challenge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Earth_Challenge a 25 million dollar prize for the invention of a viable greenhouse gas scrubber.
Spaceport America is in Southern New Mexico not far from White Sands Missile Range which claims "Birthplace of America's Missile and Space Activity." http://www.wsmr.army.mil/wsmr.asp Area counties and the State of New Mexico are funding this first commercial spaceport. The ashes of James Doohan and others were launched from Spaceport America in 1997. http://www.memorialspaceflights.com/memorial/legacy/default.asp
Resources and further information:
http://www.spaceportamerica.com/
http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-spaceport/ci_11241540
Published by Lisa Manguso
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2 Comments
Post a Comment...and now they're blaming global warming on Spaceport America! How creative!
Great article keep up the wonderful work!