Richard Branson set to open Virgin Spaceport today.

http://www.virgin.com/travel/news/virgin-galactic-spaceport-america-runway-dedication

by skbohra123 • 16 years ago

64 42 16 years ago

edkennedy• 16 years ago

Space exploration has always been a phallic endeavor. Now I see that Virgin has taken a very very...yonic style to it's spaceport architecture.

hugh38• 16 years ago

It doesn't look quite so bad in the second picture where it blends into the background.

Architecturally I think this style is called "How to spend as much money as possible on something that is still just a big shed in the desert".

Seriously though, was there any real need to build a "spaceport"? Wouldn't White Knight/Spaceship 2.0 equally capable of operating out of any decent-sized airport, if you make sure you arrange priority landing for the spaceship? (Does Spaceship Two land on a runway?)

locopati• 16 years ago

Ups the cachet considerably, no? If you're paying that kind of money for a flight, isn't it more fitting to fly out of a Spaceport then Albuquerque International Airport?

Plus, given time, we may see a vicious hive of scum and villainy grow in the surrounding area.

astine4• 16 years ago

This way they don't need to work around the schedule of a busy major airport, which I'm guessing would probably be unwilling to accommodate them. Pleasure flights and pilot lessons are usually out of small regional airports for similar reasons.

Avshalom2• 16 years ago

One of the very important reasons why it got built in New Mexico is that the White Sands test range has restricted airspace to infinity, which is unique out side of like the pentagon. As a result the air/space space right next to it is nicely uncluttered so they don't have to worry about space debris nearly as much.

zipdog• 16 years ago

The passengers don't exactly just turn up, check their bags, and fly. They need to go through a complex medical check-up to ensure that they are fit for spaceflight. If I recall, the tickets include a two-week stay at the spaceport (to ensure everyone is healthy and ready for the process), and given the cost of tickets, it probably needs to be a nice place to stay.

astine4• 16 years ago

I think that the 'phallic' aspect of rocketry has more to do with physics than anyone's actual obsession with penises. Personally, I think when you read phalli into it, I think that says more about you than rocketry.

I think that the same can be said about this hanger... I didn't see what you saw until you mentioned it... Now I can't stop seeing it through. Thank you very much.

Alex3917• 16 years ago

All rockets have to look like phallic because of physics. But you could argue that their phallic nature helps shape our attitudes about them.

Avshalom2• 16 years ago

Of course they did it's New Mexico, home of Vagina O'Keeffe.

pavel_lishin• 16 years ago

You've taught me a new adjective. Thank you.

vaksel• 16 years ago

I wonder if they'll manage to go to the moon within 20 years.

ck23• 16 years ago

You mean the "top of earth's atmosphere" or maybe "high flying planes" port.

SpaceShipOne/Two does NOT go into space!

It barely exits the mesosphere. Space starts 73-76 miles up.

Virgin doesn't have any craft that goes above 68 miles.

The USA set a far lower standard for political reasons at 50 miles to make-believe and call people "astronauts".

danieldon• 16 years ago

It goes above the Kármán line (100km/62 miles), which is the international standard for the boundary:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A1rm%C3%A1n_line

ck23• 16 years ago

Again, 62 miles is a made-up POLITICAL standard.

"Space" has been measured to start at 73 or 76 miles depending on which science experiment you want to accept.

So are people taking this flight because it's the wonder of science or for bragging rights? Because if it's for the wonder of science, well science says you aren't in space.

(and really, if there is even doubt that the height you are going to is actually "space" then what the hell is this nonsense about? Let me know when you can do at least one orbit of the planet and then I'll say you did something extra special for spending all that money)

robryan2• 16 years ago

Does it matter though if your going to 60 or 100 miles, the experience would probably be similar?

points3• 16 years ago

If you want the experience, you can already get it through other means.

I think this is all about dick waving. Rich people who want to boast they've been into space.

hugh38• 16 years ago

What's so special about 73-76 miles? What happens there? How is it a better definition than the Karman line?

ck23• 16 years ago

If you look at the experiments that define the 73/76 mile point, it's where atmosphere truly ends among other scientific measurements.

Fluxx• 16 years ago

Space or not, if I had the money, I'd be first in line to go 70 miles in to the sky on a plane built by Burt Rutan. Like...come on!

bretthellman• 16 years ago

I'd love to hear Richard Branson at next year's startup school. Vote up if you would too...

hugh38• 16 years ago

I'd love to hear Richard Branson at next year's startup school, but I so do not want to see comments with "vote up if you..."

jcfrei• 16 years ago

from the looks of it http://www.virgingalactic.com/assets/img/overview/spaceport/... you'll actually need a regular plane (or private jet for that matter) to get there in the first place.

taphangum• 16 years ago

Considering the fact that the asking price is $200,000 per person. Shouldn't be a problem for most of its customers.

jiganti• 16 years ago

Based on its target market, I'd say this certainly shouldn't be a problem.

Richard Branson set to open Virgin Spaceport today.

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