19/06/2009
Spaceport America Breaks Ground in New Mexico
UPHAM, NM – With New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Spaceport America officials and
supporters of commercial space development in attendance, the world's first purpose-built
commercial spaceport broke ground today in southern New Mexico. Today's event delivered on
the promise of an exciting new age for space exploration and development, as well as a bright
future for the people of New Mexico and their children.
The design for Spaceport America's terminal hangar facility was created by a team of
American and British architects that were selected after competing in an international design
competition. URS Corporation, one of the world's largest design and engineering firms,
teamed with lead designer Foster + Partners of the United Kingdom to submit the winning
design. Foster + Partners has extensive experience of designing airport buildings and other high profile
projects worldwide.
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson remarked on the importance of the groundbreaking for
the spaceport. “After all of the hard work to get this project off the ground, it is gratifying to see
Spaceport America finally become a reality,” New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson said. “New
Mexicans have stepped up to the plate by making this investment. This groundbreaking
ceremony is an important step toward our goal of being at the forefront of a vibrant new,
commercial space industry.”
Executive Director Steve Landeene of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA)
commented, "The groundbreaking for Spaceport America is the beginning of a historic new
chapter in New Mexico's long legacy of space and cutting-edge technology. From the
pioneering rocketry work of Robert J. Goddard in New Mexico in 1930, the beginnings of
America’s space program in the 1940’s and 50’s to the ongoing NASA programs at White
Sands Missile Range and now to Spaceport America, the Gateway to the Future."
Virgin Galactic President Will Whitehorn was excited to be at the groundbreaking for Spaceport
America. “The groundbreaking is an enormous milestone for Virgin Galactic which is investing
over $300 million in developing a new space launch system which will operate at
Spaceport America after it opens. Today's event clearly signals the birth of a new commercial
age in space and is a proud moment for the vision and foresight of both the people and
government of the state of New Mexico.”
Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group launched Virgin Galactic in 2004 with the objective of
developing commercial space vehicles that would transform the safety, cost and environmental
impact associated with manned space travel. As the spaceport's anchor tenant, Virgin Galactic
has been actively developing the technology to make low cost commercial space access a
reality in conjunction with Burt Rutan and Northrop Grumman’s Scaled Composites, the
company developing WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo for commercial spaceflight.
Today's groundbreaking initiates construction on a cutting-edge, 110,000-plus square footfacility
using cost-effective, energy-efficient green building practices. In accordance with New
Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's executive order 2006-001 for state buildings, Spaceport America's terminal hangar facility will be built to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating
system. Extensive use of sustainable and clean energy technology throughout the design will
ensure that the spaceport will set the standard for environmentally sound design for similar
structures in the future. From earth-tubes that will pre-condition the air to reduce HVAC costs by
50-70% to solar thermal panels on the roof for hot water to the embedded in-floor loop system,
Spaceport America is both unique and iconic in terms of visual and environmental design.
Spaceport America holds great promise for the people of New Mexico and their children. After
voters in Sierra County and Doña Ana County approved an increase in local gross receipts
taxes to fund the project, Governor Bill Richardson and the New Mexico State Legislature
provided funding to develop and build Spaceport America. The economic impact includes
growing the primary and secondary job markets to support the new commercial space industry.
Perhaps most importantly, Spaceport America allows the creation of high-tech jobs and
education programs for the students of New Mexico and the world.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR IMAGES OF SPACEPORT AMERICA, VISIT
WWW.SPACEPORTAMERICA.COM
Contact David Wilson at Wilson Binkley Advertising & Marketing.
Cell: 1-(575) 640-8228
Office: 1- (575) 524-8118
E-mail: david@wilson-binkley.com
or Katy Harris and Gayle Markovitz at
Foster + Partners,
T +44 (0)20 7738 0455
F +44 (0)20 7738 1107
E press@fosterandpartners.com
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