New Mexico's forgotten stretch of cattle ranches and mountain ranges will become a gateway to space soon, with the start of construction of the world's first commercial spaceport tomorrow.


Spaceport America, a US$200 million project, will host commercial operations by private space travel companies, like Virgin Galactic.


Some 250 people are already lining up to pay around US$200,000 each to take a trip into space in as early as next year, and they will take off from this magnificently designed spaceport.

Spaceport America will feature a 10,000-foot runway where spacecrafts will take flight, attached to an airplane, then break free and rocket 62 miles into space. The expensive flights will last for around 2 hours, all of which would include 5 minutes of weightlessness.


The spaceport's runway will be complete by the middle of 2010, while its terminal and hangar should be ready by December 2010.

Articles: Yahoo! News, Gizmodo
Websites: Spaceport America, Virgin Galactic