- Credit: Virgin Galactic
Spaceport America in New Mexico continues to take shape, the future site of commercial space tourism flights.
Hundreds of construction workers are busily churning up dirt, completing a huge runway and terminal at the site.
Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is to operate its commercial spaceliner from the desert locale, near Truth and Consequences, New Mexico. Virgin Galactic will make use of the now-in-development WhiteKnightTwo/SpaceShipTwo space launch system. The suborbital rocket plane – SpaceShipTwo – is designed to carry six passengers and two pilots.
The latest development: The New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) has selected a contractor to provide construction services for the fences and gates at Spaceport America – Apache Construction Company, doing business as Valley Fence Company of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
NMSA Chairman Rick Homans noted the new contract valued at $937,000, observing that another family-owned New Mexico company has now joined Spaceport America construction efforts.
Much work remains on Spaceport America and the NMSA will continue to issue Request for Proposals and Invitations to Bid for services and construction at the spaceport and award contracts to the best-qualified and lowest-priced contractors, explained a NMSA press statement.
Construction on Spaceport America began in August 2009, with NMSA officials working closely with leading aerospace firms such as Virgin Galactic, Lockheed Martin, Moog-FTS, and UP Aerospace to develop commercial spaceflight at the new facility.
By Leonard David