NM spaceport sets stage for commercial space race

UPHAM, N.M. (AP) — British tycoon Richard Branson has dreamed of going to space since he was a teenager. He expects to get his wish when Virgin Galactic begins taking tourists into suborbital space from a specially designed spaceport in the New Mexico desert.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson wants to try it too. But he’s not willing to be one of the first space tourists.

With Spaceport America’s runway complete and the terminal and hanger facility nearly done, the two men see their partnership as a major milestone for the world’s burgeoning commercial space tourism industry.

Richardson says New Mexico is positioned to be a leader in space tourism.

But New Mexico won’t be the only hot spot. Several companies, including ones backed by PayPal founder Elon Musk and Amazon.com’s Jeff Bezos, are developing their own launch systems.