Spaceport America's opening ceremonies.

It’s been awhile since we’ve gotten any news concerning Richard Branson’s for-profit space exploration venture or the $209-million-dollar Spaceport America out in the middle of nowhere in Las Cruces, New Mexico, but just because there’s no big news, that doesn’t mean things aren’t happening.  Behind the scenes, Virgin Galactic has been hard at work preparing Spaceport America for its debut, but now that day has arrived.  Virgin Galactic has officially moved into Spaceport Earth.

“Today is another history-making day for Virgin Galactic,” said Virgin Galactic chief Richard Branson, after rapelling down the side of the Spaceport.  “We are here with a group of incredible people who are helping us lead the way in creating one of the most important new industrial sectors of the 21st century.”

So far, 455 people have booked a spot on Virgin Galactic’s first flight into orbit, each at a staggering $200,000 per person.  Branson and his children, Sam and Holly, are expected to be among the first three passengers to take the trip into space, with more lining up to join them every day.  Virgin Galactic calls its customers astronauts; one side of Spaceport America is hangars for its spacecraft, while the other side houses passenger training facilities, mission control, and a waiting area for friends and family.

The spacecraft climbs to 50,000 feet on the back of a White Knight transport ship, then is released into orbit some 60 miles over the surface of the earth.  There, passengers experience weightlessness and can see the curve of the earth.  Technically, that’s space.

Tags: Las Cruces, New Mexico, Virgin Galactic, Spaceport America, Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space, Gateway to Space, commercial space flight, Richard Branson, White Knight, commercial spaceport opens, commercial space travel, space plane, space travel, astronauts

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