If the FAA approves we'll have Virgin Galactic spaceships launching from New Mexico. The only thing sort of nearby is Whitesands, but I'm assuming they've got this figured out with the Air Force already.
Bill Richardson made a big deal about building a spaceport here (he was big on film kick-backs too) and while I'm skeptical of the economic wisdom involved I'm extra excited that maybe, just maybe, the facilities of Spaceport America aren't going to resemble one of those photo documentaries of abandoned Soviet architecture.
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| Spaceport America - from above it looks slightly like a bed pan. |
This is a video from a few years ago of a Spaceship Two test flight. I believe that "feathering" is a re-entry maneuver.
6 comments:
But where are they going to go to?
Personally, I figure it would be more useful to continue developing Boeing X-51s. Although their altitudes don't reach what's typical for spaceflight, crossing the country in 1 hour would a be real boon for which I could see some demand. Perhaps their speeds could be even greater if they went higher into space.
Anyway, cool post.
The blue-lit twilight photo here (under "Vision") looks cooler.
Used to be an ideal spaceport location had ocean in two directions, so as to launch to the east (favored) or south (polar). Hawaii was pitching for a space launch facility at South Point, which has 1000's of miles of ocean in three directions, unique in the US.
New Mexico has beach in every direction, but no ocean.
All of our oceans are on the top of mountains.
Great ad for NM. Among other GREAT points:
Enjoy the value of the ‘middle of nowhere’.
Minimize public exposure and industrial espionage thanks to the total isolation of our remote locale.
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