Branson to announce Spaceport

[James Lowe1]

In New Mexico:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?id=4122

[Super George]

2008? Yet we've not even seen SpaceShipTwo on paper, nevermind five being built?

[Avron]

Super George - 8/12/2005  7:09 PM

2008? Yet we've not even seen SpaceShipTwo on paper, nevermind five being built?

Its commercial, IMHO you will not see anything until its a good time i.r.t. good press and the marketing plan..

[UK Shuttle Clan]

Branson will always be Branson. Any opportunity to get his big teeth on the telly.

So long as he doesn't get bored with this idea, then we'll be ok.

[Chris Bergin]

Branson really is serious about this project, that's for sure.

[Rocket Nut]

Unfortunately, the bureaucracy here at Cape Canaveral loses another one.  There are so few rockets to watch here any more.  There is so much history here and we are losing the future...such a pity.  

Besides being a rocket enthusiast, I also have a degree in history.  

Cheers...

[British NASA]

I don't know if he even tried to launch from KSC. He was notorious in his comment that SS1 was much safer than the NASA Space Shuttle. While forgetting to omit that his ship doesn't orbit, doesn't carry a big payload, doesn't have entry interface at 17,000mph etc.etc.

I don't think he seems interested in anything that would associate with NASA.

[Dobbins]

That isn't too bright. Cape Canaveral and Baikonur have a mystique  that no other site can match. Given their rich historic associations I think space enthusiasts would pay a premium to be launched from there or opt for a service that did launch from one of these sites over one that launched from anywhere else in the world.
 

[Avron]

Dobbins - 9/12/2005  11:51 AM

That isn't too bright. Cape Canaveral and Baikonur have a mystique  that no other site can match. Given their rich historic associations I think space enthusiasts would pay a premium to be launched from there or opt for a service that did launch from one of these sites over one that launched from anywhere else in the world.
 

I hear the sadness in loss of launches from existing gov. facilities... but I see a very positive angle, that we are moving on to commercial options, and normally that mean progress, and progress at a high pace... no more waiting 3 years for foam issues... etc... Yes, I think we will all be in for a more regular launch "fix".. ( how I miss my airforce days, and the Friday chopper flight fix... a fix to last the weekend.. )  bring on the fixes...

[CuddlyRocket]

I suspect it's simply a question of weather. Canaveral is on the coast, and the New Mexico spaceport will be in a desert. You will obviously get less interruptions to your flight schedule in New Mexico. This is a commercial operation where frequency of flying is highly important.

[realtime]

I suspect the reasons are many, and some have already been mentioned.  

Here's my Top Ten:

10. Scaled is in New Mexico and the regulatory process has been eased there already.  
9. They want to build a commercial infrastructure separate from NASA.
8. There is no advantage to launching in Florida.  Latitude is unimportant for suborbital flights.
7. Salt air is bad for materials
6. It should be possible to build this business anywhere, not just Florida.
5. A lot of the commercial launch guys are already in NM.  Hoping for synergy?
4. Cachet of rugged individualism.  Canaveral is government.  NM is steely-eyed rocket men.
3. NM is closer to California.  Lots of possible customers there.
2. Burt told NASA to whizz up a rope.

And the number one reason Virgin Galactic's not flying out of the Cape:

1. Burt can't stand salt-water fishing.

[Dana]

Actually if I was gonna be dropped in a rocket plane, the ideal setting for me would be Rogers Dry Lake (formerly Muroc). But the Air Force AND NASA might have issues with that:)

[Colby]

realtime - 10/12/2005 8:07 PM I suspect the reasons are many, and some have already been mentioned. Here's my Top Ten: 10. Scaled is in New Mexico and the regulatory process has been eased there already. 9. They want to build a commercial infrastructure separate from NASA. 8. There is no advantage to launching in Florida. Latitude is unimportant for suborbital flights. 7. Salt air is bad for materials 6. It should be possible to build this business anywhere, not just Florida. 5. A lot of the commercial launch guys are already in NM. Hoping for synergy? 4. Cachet of rugged individualism. Canaveral is government. NM is steely-eyed rocket men. 3. NM is closer to California. Lots of possible customers there. 2. Burt told NASA to whizz up a rope. And the number one reason Virgin Galactic's not flying out of the Cape: 1. Burt can't stand salt-water fishing.

I thought Scaled was in Mojave, California?

[realtime]

I thought Scaled was in Mojave, California?

Yep.  My bad.  New Mexico has a spaceport planned for construction in Upham.

http://ww1.edd.state.nm.us/index.php?/about/category/Space%20Commercialization/

[UK Shuttle Clan]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/12/13/space.tourism.ap/index.html

$225m cost to build!

[Avron]

UK Shuttle Clan - 13/12/2005  1:18 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/12/13/space.tourism.ap/index.html

$225m cost to build!

Wow, has Branson go that much free cash..?

[realtime]

Avron - 13/12/2005  11:43 PM

UK Shuttle Clan - 13/12/2005  1:18 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/12/13/space.tourism.ap/index.html

$225m cost to build!

Wow, has Branson go that much free cash..?

He does, but it's not his up-front money they're using to build the spaceport.  The state's financing the construction and Virgin's leasing it over 20 years "with annual payments of $1 million for the first five years and rising to cover the cost of the project by the end of the lease."

I thought the logo fashioned after Branson's eye was hilarious.

[Avron]

realtime - 15/12/2005  12:06 AM

Avron - 13/12/2005  11:43 PM

UK Shuttle Clan - 13/12/2005  1:18 PM

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/12/13/space.tourism.ap/index.html

$225m cost to build!

Wow, has Branson go that much free cash..?

He does, but it's not his up-front money they're using to build the spaceport.  The state's financing the construction and Virgin's leasing it over 20 years "with annual payments of $1 million for the first five years and rising to cover the cost of the project by the end of the lease."

I thought the logo fashioned after Branson's eye was hilarious.

LOL.. tax dollars hard at work...

[realtime]

Yikes!  How to pay for it?  Let the games begin!

http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_state/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19863_4317351,00.html

[realtime]

Bumping this.  NM Senate approved a bill to punt some of the expense to the cities and counties, 36-2.  $135M from state funds, $90 from the locals or feds.

http://www.spacetoday.net/getarticle.php3?id=75605