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Virgin Galactic Signs Historic Lease Agreement

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the coming-to-america dept.

RobGoldsmith writes "Governor Bill Richardson today announced that Virgin Galactic has signed a 20-year lease agreement with the State of New Mexico. Virgin Galactic's world headquarters will be established in New Mexico and its operations will be located at New Mexico's Spaceport America, the nation's first purpose-built commercial spaceport. The signing of the lease agreement coincides with the beginning of the test flying program for Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnightTwo launch vehicle which got underway this month in Mojave, CA. The WhiteKnightTwo will serve as the mother ship for SpaceShipTwo, the vehicle that will carry commercial astronauts into sub-orbital space from Spaceport America."

5 of 49 comments (clear)

  1. This month? by tcdk · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wow, somebody had a busy morning...

    --
    TC - My Photos..
  2. He's a businessman ... by fantomas · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "So if you a serious about long-term commitment and you find a good spot for your own spaceport, a 99year lease would have made more sense."

    He's a businessman. 20 years seems like a long enough commitment, who knows what the economic world will look like in 2030? Might be better to move his operations out to somewhere else in the USA, off to India, China, etc. What's so special about the current site that somewhere else couldn't match in a few years time and give him a better price?

    Croydon Airport only lasted as the main international London airport for less than 30 years, would a space port stay in the lead for longer than that? (Croydon Airport started operations in 1920 but was overtaken in the 40s by a small military airport in the west of London built over a hamlet called Heath Row).

  3. Re:Reusable SSTO isn't going to develop by ChangelingJane · · Score: 5, Funny

    We prefer you say "orbitally challenged".

  4. Re:And this is "historic" how? by flaming+error · · Score: 4, Funny

    Obviously it qualifies as historic because it is "the nation's first purpose-built commercial spaceport".

    Other upcoming historic moments include "the first purpose-built commercial Twinkie served at a spaceport," "the first spilled soda on the tarmac of a purpose-built commercial New Mexico spaceport" and "the first Rabbi, Pastor, and Bishop with too few parachutes on a SpaceShip".

  5. Re:For the record... by ThrowAwaySociety · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Burt Rutan is mine.

    Branson is just the Bill Gates of a different industry.