Momentum and the legitimacy
“If 2007 can build on the momentum from the end of 2006, the space tourism industry will be in great shape,” said William Pomerantz, director of space projects for the X Prize Foundation, of Santa Monica, Calif.

Pomerantz pointed to the Nov. 13 flight of Blue Origin’s unpiloted Goddard vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, the beginning of a project to develop passenger-carrying suborbital space ships. Blue Origin is backed by billionaire Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com. Goddard made this first test flight from Blue Origin’s privately owned West Texas space launch site. More test flights are scheduled to take place in 2007 as the company refines its designs for the New Shepard, a vehicle that will be designed to take commercial passengers on flights into suborbital space.

Another milestone is expected in October when the Wirefly X Prize Cup will be staged again in Las Cruces, N.M., showcasing the evolution of numerous private space rocket ventures, Pomerantz said. “All of this is adding to the momentum and the legitimacy of the space tourism industry.”

Meanwhile, phased work on New Mexico’s Spaceport America has started. The New Mexico spaceport is scheduled to be the world headquarters for Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic suborbital spaceline. Current plans are to locate it 18.6 kilometers east of Truth or Consequences, N.M., and 30 kilometers north of Las Cruces.

A major step toward its construction took place Dec. 21 when the New Mexico Spaceport Authority secured long-term access to 72.8 square kilometers. Legal agreements were signed with the State Land Office, Sierra County, and two private ranch operations.

The voters of Dona Ana County in southern New Mexico will go to the polls April 3 to vote for a gross receipts tax that will be used to fund infrastructure for Spaceport America and a math and science education program in the county school system.

“This is an important vote, because the credibility and viability of New Mexico’s spaceport, Virgin Galactic and the new space industry will be on the line,” said Rick Homans, chairman of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority and the state’s cabinet secretary of economic development.

Homans told Space News the tax will generate about $6.8 million each year, for 20 years. “Surrounding the election there will be a lot of questions asked and answered, and a positive vote will say a lot about the commitment in New Mexico to the bold and innovative goal to build the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport,” Homans said.

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