Spaceport America 1st Step

Kelly O’Donnell (Economic Development State of New Mexico):
- Interest and studies in developing a NM spacport began back in the 1990s
- Became practical to do so with the personal spaceflight advances happening now.
- NM has limited resources;
- Historical and natural resources that must be protected
- Tax issues. $200M from stat = $140M from general state funds + $60M from the 3 local counties.
- No one county should have to carry the burden.
- Search for executive director for the Spaceport - currently interviewing candidates. Many very strong candidates. Hope to announce a selection later this year.
- Requesting a 4 fold increase in spaceport funding in the next budget to get the development rolling.

Wayne L. Savage (Spaceport America, DMJM Aviation)
- Spaceport America update
- 16k acres
- unrestricted airspace
- 40 miles north of Las Cruces
- Project team - DMJM is project lead under NM Spaceport Authority
- Programming Phase -
-- Site analysis /Data Collection
-- Needs assessment (what users require)
-- Analysis and recommendations
- Operational spaceport needs lots of infrastructure, e.g. fuel storage, water supplies, etc.
- Environmental Impact Statement process
- Design issues - e.g. remoteness, historical sensitivity, environmental issues, etc.
- World class iconic design for terminal/hangar facility. Competition led to selection of URS and Foster
- Procurement phase May-Aug 2008
-- EIS Approval - Sept 2008
-- Construction Oct. 2008

Alex Tai (Virgin Galactic)
- Review Virgin Group background
- Virgin Vibe - excitement and trademark coolness
- Bridge to mass market
-- Safety "our north star"
-- Out of this world experience
-- Entire experience from hotel to the flight should be great for the customer
-- Three day experience leading up to the flight.
- Preparations
-- Cabin design - 6 passengers, 2 pilots, freedom to float around in, lots of windows.
-- re-entry position reclined to reduce the G effect
-- Vehicle blueprint (prelim)
- Training
-- The flight will involve supersonic flight, Zero G, High G, view
-- Need to prepare to avoid sensory overload
-- G training at NASTAR - build up to the level of the re-entry.
-- Tests so far have been very encouraging. Some "Grannies" did extremely well
-- Passengers will also get ride on ZERO-G flight
-- Mission flight protocol, flight simulation, emergency training, suti training, team building.
- 4 G on launch
- $31M in deposits so far.

Patricia Grace Smith (FAA)
- Excited to see all the developments happening in personal spaceflight
- Interest by states in spaceports is growing.
- Recent test flights in Oklahoma.
- Taking time to develop the industry and infrastructure
- Lots of activity, though, happening in many places
- Airbus 380 is 2 years behind schedule, Boeing 787 6 months behind. Things take time
- More time to get things right.
- Very close to passenger flights.

Rebecca Armstrong (NM Spaceport Authority)
- ISPS Student Intern, physics major at Univ. of NM
- Participating in various design and organizational activities during the summer internship
- Intent on going to space someday
- Takes a lot of paperwork to get to space!
- Examined how other other states were developing their spaceports

Q&A:
- Project will be LEED rated - hope to achieve at least silver rating if no gold.