Hello,
Have you heard the news? The world's first spaceport was officially opened in the US state of New Mexico.
Interested? Read on.
(You can read the text online on: http://airport-world.com/news-articles/item/1095-virgin-opens-world%E2%80%99s-first-commercial-spaceport?dm_i=100O,L78R,4ZIBBZ,1PYFO,1 )
Sir Richard Branson has officially opened the first-ever commercial spaceport in America, which will soon offer space tourism to those who can afford it.
The event in the New Mexico desert on Monday (October 17), saw Branson along with the State governor Susana Martinez and US astronaut Buzz Aldrin, dedicate the ‘Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space.’
At the dedication ceremony the British billionaire abseiled down the side of the world's first built-from-scratch commercial spaceport terminal, which he has named the 'Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space’, swigging from a bottle of champagne, in his usual flamboyant style.
Meanwhile Virgin Galactic’s commercial space vehicles soared through the skies of southern New Mexico.
In 2009, the state of New Mexico revealed it would fund $140 million towards the construction of the complex known as Spaceport America.
The green light for the project was given after Sir Richard Branson signed a 20-year contract to base the world’s first spaceline, Virgin Galactic, at the 27sq mile spaceport when it was completed.
So far Virgin has already sold around 430 tickets for space travel, at a value of around $86.2 million (£54.6m).
However although the spaceport has now opened, final tests will not be complete until the end of 2012 with flights starting soon after.
The 2.5-hour flights will offer five minutes of weightlessness and cost $200,000 (£127,000) per ticket.
Sir Richard had hoped that Virgin Galactic's commercial flights could begin in 2007, but the project has since been hit by delays.
He last visited the $209m complex nearly a year ago to celebrate the completion of the runway.
Sir Richard said: “Today is another history-making day for Virgin Galactic.
“We are here with a group of incredible people who are helping us lead the way in creating one of the most important new industrial sectors of the 21st century.
“We’ve never wavered in our commitment to the monumental task of pioneering safe, affordable and clean access to space, or to demonstrate that we mean business at each step along the way.”
Branson and his children, Sam and Holly, will be some of the first commercial passengers on SpaceShipTwo.
The Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space, a combined terminal and hangar facility, will support up to two WhiteKnightTwo and five SpaceShipTwo vehicles.
In addition, The Gateway will house all of the company’s astronaut preparation and celebration facilities, a mission control center, and a friends and family area.
There is also space committed to public access via the planned New Mexico Spaceport Authority’s Visitor Experience.
The 120,000sqft building, which meets LEED Gold standards for environmental quality, was designed by UK-based Foster + Partners, along with URS Corporation and local New Mexico architectsSMPC.
New Mexico’s governor, Martinez, added: “New Mexico has a long tradition of pioneering innovation in aerospace and related technologies.
“Our partnership with Virgin Galactic is a perfect example of how government and private industry can work together to drive economic growth and science education.”
Present for the dedication ceremony were over 150 Virgin Galactic customers from 21 countries who have already made deposits to fly to space.
The event in the New Mexico desert on Monday (October 17), saw Branson along with the State governor Susana Martinez and US astronaut Buzz Aldrin, dedicate the ‘Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space.’
At the dedication ceremony the British billionaire abseiled down the side of the world's first built-from-scratch commercial spaceport terminal, which he has named the 'Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space’, swigging from a bottle of champagne, in his usual flamboyant style.
Meanwhile Virgin Galactic’s commercial space vehicles soared through the skies of southern New Mexico.
In 2009, the state of New Mexico revealed it would fund $140 million towards the construction of the complex known as Spaceport America.
The green light for the project was given after Sir Richard Branson signed a 20-year contract to base the world’s first spaceline, Virgin Galactic, at the 27sq mile spaceport when it was completed.
So far Virgin has already sold around 430 tickets for space travel, at a value of around $86.2 million (£54.6m).
However although the spaceport has now opened, final tests will not be complete until the end of 2012 with flights starting soon after.
The 2.5-hour flights will offer five minutes of weightlessness and cost $200,000 (£127,000) per ticket.
Sir Richard had hoped that Virgin Galactic's commercial flights could begin in 2007, but the project has since been hit by delays.
He last visited the $209m complex nearly a year ago to celebrate the completion of the runway.
Sir Richard said: “Today is another history-making day for Virgin Galactic.
“We are here with a group of incredible people who are helping us lead the way in creating one of the most important new industrial sectors of the 21st century.
“We’ve never wavered in our commitment to the monumental task of pioneering safe, affordable and clean access to space, or to demonstrate that we mean business at each step along the way.”
Branson and his children, Sam and Holly, will be some of the first commercial passengers on SpaceShipTwo.
The Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space, a combined terminal and hangar facility, will support up to two WhiteKnightTwo and five SpaceShipTwo vehicles.
In addition, The Gateway will house all of the company’s astronaut preparation and celebration facilities, a mission control center, and a friends and family area.
There is also space committed to public access via the planned New Mexico Spaceport Authority’s Visitor Experience.
The 120,000sqft building, which meets LEED Gold standards for environmental quality, was designed by UK-based Foster + Partners, along with URS Corporation and local New Mexico architectsSMPC.
New Mexico’s governor, Martinez, added: “New Mexico has a long tradition of pioneering innovation in aerospace and related technologies.
“Our partnership with Virgin Galactic is a perfect example of how government and private industry can work together to drive economic growth and science education.”
Present for the dedication ceremony were over 150 Virgin Galactic customers from 21 countries who have already made deposits to fly to space.
You can watch a short report from AL Jazeera channel here.
Anybody interested in booking a flight?
Regards,
RV
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