The small, quiet town of Truth or Consequences, NM - best known for its thriving arts community and its access to hot springs and the state’s largest lake - has been thrust into the center of a debate over our future in space.
On Tuesday, voters in this community of 7,000 will help decide the fate of Spaceport America, New Mexico’s ambitious effort to build a gateway to the heavens. Residents in T or C and throughout Sierra County will vote on a .25 cent increase in the gross receipts tax to help fund the $198 million facility in the southern part of the county. A “yes” vote is crucial to forming a tax district with neighboring Doña Ana and Otera counties.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that the vote could go either way. A pro-spaceport tax group, People for Aerospace, has been campaigning heavily throughout Sierra County, promoting the project’s economic benefits. However, other residents have opposed the tax increase, placing anti-tax signs on T or C streets and staging a rally over the weekend.
Continue reading ‘Quiet NM Town Divided on Eve of Crucial Spaceport Vote’
The flurry of activity surrounding Spaceport America continued this week as an Albuquerque company agreed to continue using New Mexico’s rocket base.
Microgravity Enterprises Incorporated signed a memorandum of understanding with the spaceport. The company produces energy drinks and other products from ingredients flown on suborbital rockets.
Earlier in the week, the company’s rocket provider, UP Aerospace of Colorado, agreed to continue using the facility for another 10 years. In recent weeks, the New Mexico Space Authority gave its executive director authority to begin negotiations with space tourism provider Virgin Galactic. Governor Bill Richardson also traveled to Washington, DC, where he sought support from the federal government.
All this activity comes on the eve of a crucial April 22 vote by residents of Sierra County over whether to raise the county sales tax by .25 cents to help pay for construction of an upgraded spaceport capable of handling tourism flights. The vote is expected to be close.
The AP is reporting that UP Aerospace has agreed to launch rockets from Spaceport America in New Mexico for the next 10 years. The Colorado-based company has previously launched two rockets from the desert facility.
The memorandum of understanding, described as a handshake deal, represents the first long-term agreement for the nascent spaceport. New Mexico is planning to develop the facility near Truth or Consequences to accommodate suborbital tourism flights. State officials are negotiating a 20-year agreement with London-based Virgin Galactic.
The New Mexico Spaceport Authority has granted Executive Director Steve Landeene the authority to sign a legally binding development agreement with Virgin Galactic, according to the Las Cruces Sun-News.
“The agreement commits Virgin Galactic to a 20-year lease to host its space tourism operations at the spaceport but is not an actual lease. Rather, it is a precursor to a lease, Landeene said Sunday,” the paper reports.
News of the agreement could help Spaceport America, which faces a crucial funding vote in just over two weeks. Residents of Sierra County will be going to the polls on April 22 to vote on a .25-cent increase in the sales tax to help fund the spaceport’s construction.
The vote - like a similar measure that was approved by residents in Doña Ana County - is expected to be close. Opponents have questioned why they should be subsiding a spaceport where the anchor tenant will be Virgin Galactic - a company that plans to fly wealthy tourists on suborbital flights for $200,000 apiece. Sierra County contains a fair number of retirees living on fixed incomes.
In a separate editorial, the Sun-News editors urged Sierra County residents to support the tax increase.
“We believe Spaceport America in particular, and space commercialization in general, can be an important piece of New Mexico’s future economy. And most of the economic benefit will land in our backyard,” the editors wrote.
New Mexico officials were in Washington last week, seeking federal support for the establishment of a new commercial spaceport in their state.
Governor Bill Richardson and Spaceport America executive director Steve Landeene made the rounds, meeting with Congressional leaders and NASA Administrator Mike Griffin. Although federal officials offered no funding, they did express support for New Mexico’s efforts, which could payoff over time.
The Space Fellowship has a comprehensive story about various spaceports that are under development around the world in Virginia, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, California, Dubai, Singapore and other locations. Some are already in the works, while others are awaiting full funding.
ROCKET RACING LEAGUE PRESS RELEASE
Las Cruces, NM - The Rocket Racing League® (RRL), in collaboration with the City of Las Cruces, the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Office and the New Mexico Economic Development Department, recently broke ground on the first phase of the RRL Aerospace Business Park, construction of two of the first hangars to be built at the east end of Las Cruces International Airport.
The hangers, scheduled for completion by May, are included in the 20-year lease agreement between the RRL and the City of Las Cruces for six 100,000 square-foot parcels at the airport. These and future hangars will house the aircraft and teams competing in the League in addition to RRL aircraft related operations.
Continue reading ‘Rocket Racing League Breaks Ground on Aerospace Business Park’
British-based Starchaser Industries says it is reconsidering whether to launch its rocket from New Mexico in favor of sites in Europe and Florida, according to the Las Cruces Sun-News.
CEO Steve Bennett told the paper that after conducting a study on launch options, “it became clear that New Mexico may not be the optimum location from which to conduct Starchaser operations.” Bennett didn’t elaborate, but the company’s closed its facility near Las Cruces in November.
Spaceport America officials said that Starchaser’s decision would not affect plans for the facility, which is set to open in 2010.
New Mexico is looking for taxpayer support to build a facility designed where Virgin Galactic will send wealthy space tourists on suborbital flights.
New Mexico Spaceport Director Steve Landeene recently made a pitch to the Sierra County Commission for a quarter-cent gross receipts sales tax, the Las Cruces Sun-News reports.
“This tax really holds the key to unleashing world history right here in Sierra County,” said Landeene, who estimated that the spaceport would generate $1 billion in economic development and 2,250 jobs during its first five years.
Sierra County residents will vote on the new tax on April 22.
Leonard David has a short update on plans for the New Mexico Spaceport on LiveScience.com. He reports that that 90 percent of the site layout and design is now complete and that the first bid package will be ready within months. Officials expect to complete construction in 2010. The base will serve as a launch center for Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo, which will carry tourists on suborbital flights.