Today we took the tour of Spaceport America the private spaceport being used by Virgin Galactic to send people into space. The tour was interesting and an opportunity to visit a place which may have a significant impact on the development of space.
Google Earth view of the main terminal.
This view is from 32,000 feet showing the 12,000 foot runway. An interesting google footnote is these pictures were taken on December 14, 2013. There are newer pictures of Truth or Consequences, NM which is only a few miles west of here from April 1, 2015. I’d have to say Branson has some influence on where Google takes pictures.
This is where we walked into the hanger and into the visitor’s center. The visitor’s center had some new high-tech displays and information about space and the spaceport.
This globe shows the major satellite orbits around earth. Besides the 6 passenger spacecraft which will take people into space for 4 minutes, only $250,000 in advance, Virgin Galactic is working on a reusable craft to take satellites into space.
This is one of the displays they use for a plus G’s experience.
This is looking through a window down into the hanger and a mockup of the passenger space craft.
This is the admin and runway tower building, also the fire department of spaceport and surrounding area.
This is the hanger doors side of the building.
Here you can see the track for the four hanger bay doors on this side, there are four more on the other side of the building.
Our picture of the walk in entrance of the hanger.
Hanger and admin buildings.
This is a really long runway, 12,000 feet.
Cool sculpture at the entrance to the spaceport.
The stars on the inside of the curve.
I’m glad we went.