Virgin Galactic to build first spaceport in New Mexico

[Sledgstone 8,672]

http://blog.scifi.com/tech/archives/2007/09/06/virgin_galactic.html

Virgin Galactic has been working on consumer space travel for some time — that we know. But once they get that all figured out, where will their spaceships take off from? Certainly not a regular airport. That's for airplanes. Nope, they need to build themselves a spaceport, which is just what they're doing.

The 100,000-square-foot facility will be built in New Mexico, and the design sure lives up to what we think a spaceport should look like. Costing $31 million to build, it'll be big enough to accommodate two White Knight Two carrier aircraft and five SpaceShipTwo spaceliners. Virgin hopes to have it open by next year. Yes, next year. With a ticket to space still costing in the millions of dollars, you'd better start saving your pennies. Click through to see more pictures of the spaceport design.

— Adam Frucci

Click the link for more design pics. I can't believe they're planning on making it in under a year. they must have some series sponsors funding them.

I thought that building in the middle was a space ship at first. X'D

[Mathias 426]

Guess what I want for my birthday two years from now Sledgstone? Better start saving up for it. X'D

[Myk JL 1,731]

Damn, every time I see a White Knight, I just want to paint one green & scream "SEIG ZEON!"

[DeathscytheX 9,732]

I heard their first attempt at space travel ended in an explosion and people dead. Now their building a port? 0-o

[Ladywriter 7,783]

okay then I wont sell one of the kids for a ticket

[Myk JL 1,731]

I heard their first attempt at space travel ended in an explosion and people dead. Now their building a port? 0-o

I don't know where you heard that, but that's an out right lie. Their first flight was a success if you ever seen it on TV. I've seen it more than once on the science channel.

[Sledgstone 8,672]

I think some of their original flights did end in deaths, but yes they did win that million something dollar prize for their spaceship1 space flight.. but just in the past month or so multiple people died while working on the new spaceship2 spacecraft. Some chemical explosion accident. Its probably on CNN somewhere.

[DeathscytheX 9,732]

I don't know where you heard that, but that's an out right lie. Their first flight was a success if you ever seen it on TV. I've seen it more than once on the science channel.

It was in popular science magazine. In one of their early tests, the craft exploded and killed 3 people. Popular Science Magazine doesn't lie.