Courtesy of Spaceport America
The New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) Board of Directors approved the award of two new contracts Monday, Sept. 24, moving the spaceport closer to its grand opening in December 2013. The board approved the award of the runway modification contract to A.S. Horner, an Albuquerque-based company that has been doing business for more than 80 years. The NMSA board also approved a contract award to Ashbaugh Construction for its proposed site of the Sierra County welcome center.
The existing runway is 10,000 feet, and the new contract will extend the runway to 12,000 feet by July 2013. “It will provide additional safety for landing Virgin Galactic flights as well as make the Spaceport more attractive to other aerospace customers,” said Christine Anderson, executive director of NMSA. The $8.4 million expansion is expected to begin shortly with design work already being completed.
The 6-acre welcome center site will be purchased at a cost of a little more than $1 million. Construction will begin in January following completion of the architectural drawings. The welcome center will be located next to the Truth or Consequences exit from Interstate 25. “The welcome center will serve as the departure point for the 200,000 spaceport visitors expected each year. It is a great location with exposure to passing motorists on the interstate,” Anderson said.
While at the welcome center, visitors will learn more about New Mexico and the spaceport, and then board the Spaceport Express Bus to the spaceport itself. While on board, spaceport guests will learn more about the scenic area out their windows, and may even get a glimpse of herds of pure-bred bison, once abundant in America. Guests will disembark at the on-site visitor center where they will be able to participate in many space related activities and learn more about the rapidly emerging commercial space industry. Visitors may also get to witness firsthand a Virgin Galactic launch or landing, or one of the many vertical launches at the spaceport from the observation deck.
Spaceport America is rapidly nearing completion. The Spaceport Operations Center (SOC) has earned a certificate of occupancy from the State of New Mexico. The interior design is underway. The SOC will house support contractors and staff.
Spaceport America is the first purpose-built commercial spaceport in the world. The launch complex has been providing commercial vertical launch services since 2006.
