SPACEPORT AMERICA, New Mexico, Oct 23, (AFP) -The world's first commercial passenger spaceship moved a step closer to takeoff, as tycoon Richard Branson unveiled a new runway at a remote New Mexico spaceport.
Branson and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson on Friday hosted a ceremony marking the completion of the main runway at Spaceport America, near the town of Las Cruces where the Virgin Galactic project is based.
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| Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnight Two and SpaceShip Two flies over head at the airfield at Spaceport America in Upham, New Mexico as New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (L) and Sir Richard Branson pose at the runway dedication October 22, 2010 in this publicity photograph released by The New Mexico Spaceport Authority. REUTERS |
“This is the beginning of the second space age and we are proud to have been supporters of this part of the story. “From here we will see, perhaps daily flights into space, but also scientists, explorers of new opportunities beyond our planet,” he told reporters.
Buzz Aldrin, the second man to set foot on the moon, told AFP: “I am very happy that civilians will be able to reach space. I'd like to be one of the passengers on these flights, of course.”SpaceShipTwo, a six-seat craft which is scheduled to carry paying customers into suborbital space by early 2012, made its maiden flight above the Californian desert in March.
On Friday the aircraft -- re-named the VSS Enterprise -- flew high above the new two-mile (3.2-kilometer) long, 200-foot (60-meter) wide runway in tandem with its mothership, WhiteKightTwo or Eve.
The space ship is 60 feet (18 meters) long and its cabin is similar in size to a Falcon 900 executive jet, “allowing maximum room for the astronauts to float in zero gravity,” according to the company.
Guests for Friday's ceremony included people who have already paid deposits and are just waiting for the day they go into space. |
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