Virgin Galactic reveals futuristic outpost for space tourism

UPHAM, New Mexico (AP):

Spaceport America is no longer just a shiny shell of hope that space tourism would one day launch from this remote spot in the New Mexico desert.

The once-empty hangar that anchors the taxpayer-financed launch and landing facility has been transformed into a custom-tailored headquarters where Virgin Galactic will run its commercial flight operations.

Two levels within the spaceport include mission control, a preparation area for pilots, and a lounge for paying customers and their friends and families, with each element of the fit and finish paying homage to either the desert landscape that surrounds the futuristic outpost or the promise of travelling to the edge of space.

From hotel rooms to aircraft cabins, the Virgin brand touts its designs for their focus on the customer experience. Spaceport is no different.

Earthen tones help ground visitors on the first floor. The social hub includes an interactive digital walkway and a coffee bar made of Italian marble. On the upper deck, shades of white and grey speak to Virgin Galactic’s more lofty mission.

Company officials, offering the first glimpse of the facility yesterday, say the space is meant to create “an unparalleled experience” as customers prepare for what Virgin Galactic describes as the journey of a lifetime.

Just how soon customers will file into Virgin Galactic’s newly outfitted digs for the first commercial flights has yet to be determined. A small number of test flights are still needed.

Billionaire Richard Branson, who is behind Virgin Galactic, and former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, a Democrat, first pitched the plan for the spaceport nearly 15 years ago.

Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides said that once the test flights are complete, commercial operations can begin.

Chief Pilot Dave Mackay said that the crew, in the coming days, will fly simulated launch missions to ensure that in-flight communications and airspace coordination work as planned. The pilots will also be familiarising themselves with New Mexico’s airspace and landmarks.

“New Mexico is on track to become one of the very few places on this beautiful planet which regularly launches humans to space,” Mackay said.

Branson will be among them. About 600 people have reserved a seat, according to the company, at a cost of US$250,000 a ticket.

That buys them a ride on the winged rocket ship, which is dropped in flight from the carrier airplane. Once free, it fires its rocket motor to hurtle toward the boundary of space before gliding back down.

The latest test flight reached an altitude of 56 miles (90 kilometres) while travelling at three times the speed of sound.