Photo: Virgin Galactic
New Mexico's Spaceport America, "the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport" to be used for horizontal launches of reusable spacecraft, will start operations this summer, after Virgin Galactic moves in an settles for what it hopes will be a long, commercially-successful stay.
Richard Branson, Virgin’s founder and the driving force behind the company’s aspirations, said at a press conference at the New Mexico State Capitol on Friday that Virgin’s testing of its spacecraft is now advanced enough to allow for its operations to be moved to the dedicated site.
“Our Virgin Galactic adventure has been intertwined with New Mexico and Spaceport America right from the start and our stories have unfolded together. New Mexico delivered on its promise to build a world-first and world-class spaceport,” the billionaire said.
“Today, I could not be more excited to announce, that in return, we are now ready to bring New Mexico a world-first, world-class spaceline.”
Virgin will take its VMS Eve carrier aircraft, the spaceship VSS Unity and more than 100 people and relocated them from the Mojave site in California to the one in New Mexico.
It’s not clear when operations from the new location will begin, as the site itself still needs some work before being able to fully support Virgin’s operations. Until the summer move, Virgin will still operate from Mojave, from where it will conduct its final test flights.
Once operational, the New Mexico Spaceport will allow Virgin to haul both tourists and cargo into space, using horizontal take-off reusable spacecraft.
Called VSS Unity, the company's spacecraft launches from underneath the belly of a carrier aircraft at an altitude of 50,000 feet (15 km). The ship can carry six passengers and two crew.
In February 2019, Virgin announced VSS Unity is getting ready for its first cargo mission, carrying NASA Flight Opportunity program research payloads to orbit. The date of the mission was not yet announced.
“Our Virgin Galactic adventure has been intertwined with New Mexico and Spaceport America right from the start and our stories have unfolded together. New Mexico delivered on its promise to build a world-first and world-class spaceport,” the billionaire said.
“Today, I could not be more excited to announce, that in return, we are now ready to bring New Mexico a world-first, world-class spaceline.”
Virgin will take its VMS Eve carrier aircraft, the spaceship VSS Unity and more than 100 people and relocated them from the Mojave site in California to the one in New Mexico.
It’s not clear when operations from the new location will begin, as the site itself still needs some work before being able to fully support Virgin’s operations. Until the summer move, Virgin will still operate from Mojave, from where it will conduct its final test flights.
Once operational, the New Mexico Spaceport will allow Virgin to haul both tourists and cargo into space, using horizontal take-off reusable spacecraft.
Called VSS Unity, the company's spacecraft launches from underneath the belly of a carrier aircraft at an altitude of 50,000 feet (15 km). The ship can carry six passengers and two crew.
In February 2019, Virgin announced VSS Unity is getting ready for its first cargo mission, carrying NASA Flight Opportunity program research payloads to orbit. The date of the mission was not yet announced.
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