Spaceport Authority Gets New Director

When the news of Sir Richard Branson building a spaceport in New Mexico surfaced a few years ago, most of the world just thought: another whim of an eccentric billionaire. They probably thought the same when the indeed eccentric billionaire presented the craft with which he hopes to transform space flight from a government-run business into a civilian day-by-day occupation.

The authorities from New Mexico, however, are taking things very seriously. After supporting the Spaceport America project, the governor of the state, Susana Martinez, announced today the appointment of a new director for the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, the body which will run the Spaceport America.

The new director is Christine Anderson, a 30 years veteran with the United States Air Force. Founder of the Space Vehicles Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory, at the Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, the new director comes to complete the filling of all positions within the Spaceport Authority.

“I am pleased that the Spaceport Authority Board of Directors has chosen an exceptionally qualified individual to oversee operations at the Spaceport. With proper management and the right approach, the Spaceport project has the potential to create jobs, spur economic development, and make New Mexico a leader in space travel,” said the Governor.

“My administration is committed to working closely with Ms. Anderson and the Board of Directors to attract private investment and see the project through to its full potential.”

Branson's Virgin Galactic is, for now, the company that is closest to achieving regular civilian space flight. With the retirement of the space shuttles soon after the completion of the STS 133 mission, NASA and the US government alike will likely (and have already said that) turn to supporting private entrepreneurs in developing space flight technologies.