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| The Virgin Galactic suborbital vehicle SpaceShipTwo, called Enterprise, soars over New Mexico's Spaceport America terminal – still under construction – under the belly of its huge mothership WhiteKnightTwo during the spaceport’s runway dedication ceremony on Oct. 22, 2010. |
UPHAM, N.M. – A new private spaceship designed to carry tourists to space touched down for the first time Friday (Oct. 22) on the runway of Spaceport America, soon to become its home base. Spaceport America is touted as the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport, and will serve as the headquarters for Virgin Galactic's suborbital spacecraft once the spaceport is complete. A giant hangar and other facilities are still under construction. To mark the dedication of Spaceport America, officials announced the main runway will be named "The Governor Bill Richardson Spaceway" after the current governor of New Mexico.
While SpaceShipTwo is designed to make short joyrides to suborbital space, Virgin Galactic has set its sights on orbital travel, too.
"Obviously, we want to move on to orbital after we've got suborbital under our belts, and maybe even before that," Branson said.
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| "I can't wait for our first day of commercial operations here," said Virgin Galactic founder and British billionaire Sir Richard Branson. "Today is very personal as our dream becomes more real." |
Branson and his family are set to be the first passengers aboard SpaceShipTwo when it begins official operations in nine to 18 months, he said. After them, the line of people waiting for a ride is growing. More than 380 customers have already put down a total of over $50 million in deposits toward SpaceShipTwo flights.
[Video: SpaceShipTwo's First Solo Glide Test.]
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