Monday, April 2, 2012

Spaceport America Gets Runway Extension For Virgin Galactic

Landing requirements for the space vehicles being developed by Mojave-based Virgin Galactic, the space tourism startup being built by Virgin Group's Richard Branson, are necessitating a $7M, runway extension at Spaceport America. According to reports, the further work at Virgin's launch and landing site in New Mexico will cost $7M, funded by local taxpayers, and are being made to address safety concerns of Virgin Galactic. Virgin Galactic apparently determined, through test flights and simulations, that it needed more room for landings at the site. Virgin Galactic is currently in the midst of test flights and development at its headquarters in Mojave; the firm is expected to start commercial operations sometime in 2013 at the new commercial space flight center near Albuquerque.

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