The completed 10,000ft runway.

Image courtesy of KRQE - Bob Martin.

How the THF will look when completed.

Concept image courtesy of URS/Foster + Partners.

How the THF looked at the end of July 2010.

Image courtesy of Spaceport America.

In February 2010 Space Bulletin introduced you to Spaceport America, future home of Virgin Galactic's spaceflight operations. At that time work was commencing on the staggering 10,000ft runway and some foundations were being laid for the Terminal Hangar Facility or THF.

In just 6 months the runway and apron areas have now been completed and the roofing is now going on the THF. This stunning multi-functional, 110,152 square feet building is being built to LEED Gold energy efficiency standard. The 3-level structure will serve as the administrative facilities for Virgin Galactic as well as the home of the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo fleet of space vehicles. It is here that Future Astronauts will undergo their 3-day training program and where public viewing facilities will be located.

Construction workers have made outstanding progress and completion of the exterior of the THF is on track for later this year before Virgin Galactic commences work in 2011 on fitting out the interior.  Located 45 miles northeast of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Spaceport America is the world�s first purpose built commercial spaceport. Whilst Virgin Galactic will be the first anchor tenant the Spaceport is being built to accommodate other companies and will offer both vertical and horizontal launch facilities.

Designed to blend into the beautiful desert landscape when being viewed from the ground yet look striking from the air, Spaceport America promises to be a truly stunning example of how futuristic architecture can be achieved with minimal aesthetic and environmental impact.

More information can be found at www.spaceportamerica.com or contact your Accredited Space Agent.

Contact your Virgin Galactic Accredited Space Agent for more information about Spaceport America and Virgin Galactic...

Barbara King
(913) 338-2244 or barbara@greatgetaways.travel
www.greatgetaways.travel

THIS IS A SAFE RACE, NOT A SPACE RACE.

After its dramatic unveiling in December 2009, SpaceShipTwo embarked on its test flight program in March with the inaugural 'captive carry flight', meaning it was coupled to its revolutionary carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo.  Subsequent testing is ongoing and in this Space Bulletin is all about SpaceShipTwo and what you can expect to see from its test flight program over the next few years...

Watch the inaugural 'captive carry' flight here.

Burt Rutan & Sir Richard Branson with SpaceShipTwo.

A conceptual image of the SpaceShipTwo cabin.

A rocket motor test firing in March 2009.

SpaceShipTwo is the world’s first spacecraft purposely developed for commercial sub-orbital spaceflight.

The space testing program now under way is designed to ensure that the system and passenger experience are safe and ready to take you on the ride of your life!

SpaceShipTwo is flown by two pilots and will seat six passengers.  Everybody will have a window seat and the multiple porthole size windows are around twice the size of normal aircraft windows. Prepare to enjoy the breathtaking vistas of space and Earth no matter which way up you are floating! 

Spaceflight participants can expect a cabin around the same size as a medium corporate jet except that there is no dividing floor like ordinary aircraft. Instead the entire tubular shape of the fuselage is open so as to make the most room possible.

The test flight in March was just the beginning of an extensive program that will not cease until the system is as safe as it can possibly be.  With no actual competitors and only a handful of other companies even talking about offering sub-orbital tourist spaceflights, Virgin Galactic are fully expected to be the first to operate commercial flights. However that is not the priority, safety is our guiding star.  

The new rocket motor to be used in SpaceShipTwo, RocketMotorTwo, is also being tested extensively. 4 full-scale firings have been completed to date.

Over the next few years the world will see Virgin and Scaled Composites pass many testing milestones. Once the captive carry testing is complete there will be ‘drop & glide’ tests and then incremental test flights marrying the rocket to the spaceship which will eventually lead up to flights into space!

Virgin Galactic Accredited Space Agents are the best way to learn more and to become a part of this historic project. They are shepherding a steadily growing number of Future Astronauts, who are personally engaged at every step of the way.

For more information about Virgin Galactic please contact your Accredited Space Agent….

Barbara King 
(913) 338-2244 or barbara@greatgetaways.travel
www.greatgetaways.travel

STATUS UPDATE: SPACEPORT AMERICA

Watch the Spaceport America Groundbreaking

Steve Landeene, Executive Director of Spaceport America.

The Virgin Galactic terminal design by URS/Foster+Partners.

Click on the image above for a tour of Spaceport America.

On June 19th of 2009 ground was broken on a project of historic proportions. Construction has been progressing on a 10,000-foot long, 200-foot wide runway designed to handle any flying vehicle on the planet or returning from space! As of this week, 50% of the asphalt has been laid. That is the third layer of a four-layer process. Next and last will be a 14-inch thick layer of concrete, which is projected to finish off the runway by mid summer. Appropriately enough, the project has been sped along with the precision assistance of satellites! Rapid construction of the terminal will begin soon. In fact, if you were to drive up to Spaceport America in December 2010, you would see the finished airfield, taxiway and apron, and a fuel storage area  - all in the vicinity of a nearly completed Virgin Galactic terminal. Yet another real-life example that the New Era of Space Tourism is here!

BEHIND THE SCENES

A little-known fact is that Spaceport America is being constructed with particular care given to historical sensitivities. The site happens to be adjacent to the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro - the historic 1,500 mile trade route from Mexico City to Santa Fe which dates to 1598. Archaeologists are on hand full time scrutinizing every piece of overturned dirt. If a discovery is made, everything stops to allow for analysis and cataloguing the artifacts in question. Hundreds of historically significant artifacts have been located, catalogued and stored for future exhibitions.

For more information and updates see Spaceport America Twitter and Facebook.

Special thanks goes out to Aaron Prescott, Chief of Staff with the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, the state agency responsible for building and operating Spaceport America.

For more information on Spaceport America, the Virgin Galactic project or to reserve your place in space contact me today...

Barbara King 
(913) 338-2244 
barbara@greatgetaways.travel
www.greatgetaways.travel