New Mexico's Spaceport America is ready, but the facility that was built to stand out as a world leader in space travel has yet to launch a commercial space flight. <\/p>\n
Action 7 News recently went down to the remote complex outside of Truth or Consequences, N.M. to find out if the taxpayers' $200 million investment is at risk.<\/p>\n
The spaceport was built as part of an agreement with Virgin Galactic to turn ordinary people into astronauts.<\/p>\n
Projected launch dates have come and gone at the facility. Spaceport America Director Christine Anderson said the wait may soon be over.<\/p>\n
\"Virgin Galactic will hopefully be flying by the end of this year,\" Anderson said. \"It's a matter of when, not if.\"<\/p>\n
Back in 2011, Virgin Galactic's owner Sir Richard Branson christened the hanger and introduced the world to a spaceship with huge hopes of being the first company offer rides to space.<\/p>\n
But delays in safety testing are creating doubts. In the worst case scenario, Virgin Galactic would have to pay between $2 million and $3 million if it scraps its plans to launch from New Mexico's spaceport. That's a drop in the bucket compared to the nearly quarter of a billion dollars the state invested in Spaceport America.<\/p>\n
\"And then we have a beautiful building, still, that somebody else may like to rent,\" Anderson said.<\/p>\n
Virgin Galactic has put up a construction fence at the spaceport. Officials said the company is doing a fit-out of the building.<\/p>\n
VIDEO: Officials optimistic about Spaceport despite delays <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
See the article here: <\/p>\n
Officials optimistic about Spaceport despite delays<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" New Mexico's Spaceport America is ready, but the facility that was built to stand out as a world leader in space travel has yet to launch a commercial space flight. Action 7 News recently went down to the remote complex outside of Truth or Consequences, N.M. Continue reading