Spaceport America hosts seventh Virgin Galactic flight, boosts university opportunities
Spaceport America will host the launching of Virgin Galactic’s seventh commercial spaceflight Saturday. Spaceport America, near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, will host the launching of Virgin Galactic's seventh commercial spaceflight, "Galactic '07". The event, which attracts people from across the country and increases opportunities for universities in the area, is set to take place at Spaceport America 45 miles north of Las Cruces. The launch will be the seventh commercial flight by Virgin Galactic and its 12th overall. Scott McLaughlin, Executive Director of Spacep America, said that the launch allows college students and grads in the region to design, manufacture, and go to space. Despite not receiving any federal funds, McLaughlin noted that the federal government is now considering inland spaceports as possible launch sites for orbital launch.
Opublikowany : 11 miesięcy temu za pomocą https://www.facebook.com/kfoxtv, Margo Lepe w Science
Spaceport America will host the launching of Virgin Galactic’s seventh commercial spaceflight Saturday, giving its passengers an out-of-this-world experience Saturday.
The Executive Director of Spaceport America said launches like these attract people from all over the country and present greater opportunities for universities in our area like The University of Texas at El Paso.
Virgin Galactic is scheduled to launch its seventh commercial spaceflight Saturday from Spaceport America which is near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico and sits on 18,000 acres of land 45 miles north of Las Cruces.
Scott McLaughlin with Spaceport America said after President Biden formed something called the Build Back Better grant early in his administration, Spaceport America was able to create a coalition in New Mexico called Space Valley, which allowed opportunities between them and UTEP.
He said Spaceport America allows college students and grads in this region to partake in the ability to design, manufacture and most importantly, go to space.
McLaughlin said “We have an agreement with them and if they finally get it to work, they would have easier access to the Spaceport. That's good for everybody. It's good for UTEP. It's good for New Mexico State and UNM and Tech and it really helps build the region again as Space Valley.”
“Galactic ’07” marks the seventh commercial spaceflight launched by Virgin Galactic and its 12th overall to date.
A total of four passengers will be onboard including three private astronauts and one Axiom Space-affiliated researcher astronaut, who will conduct experiments during the flight. All four will be aboard the spaceplane or “VSS Unity.”
Mclaughlin said, “Spaceport America is completely funded by the state of New Mexico and the taxpayers in Dona Ana and Sierra County. Unfortunately, we never have gotten any federal funds, even though the federal government now is starting to look at inland spaceports as possible launch sites for orbital launch.”
The exact time of Saturday’s launch is not publicly disclosed, but McLaughlin said there is a public viewing area for attendees.
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Tematy: Academia, Space