Who do I contact about locating my space-related business at Spaceport America?
Contact Clark Krause at the New Mexico Economic Development Partnership. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 888-715-5293

How can my company get a contract in building Spaceport America?
Spaceport America is a large-scale project, so a series of contracts will be awarded throughout the year. The first contract was issued in June 2006 to DMJM for architectural and engineering programming. Additional Requests for Proposals (RFPs) will follow. To keep up to date, visit our RFP page.

I’m an individual who works in building trades. How do I get a job with a company building Spaceport America?
Construction is slated to begin some time in mid-2009. Watch the Contractors and RFP page for new information as it becomes available. (link to RFP page) As contracts are awarded and posted, you’ll have a good general idea of who will be hiring.

How many people will be employed at Spaceport America?
Projections vary, but the results are either going to be good, really good, or huge! An independent study conducted by New Mexico State University projects that 2,300 people will be employed at Spaceport America by its fifth year of operation. A second study conducted by Futron Corporation projects that Spaceport America will employ 3,500 people by 2020. For more info, you can download the studies here: Economic Impact.

Will Virgin Galactic be the only company operating at Spaceport America?
No, but we expect it to be the major commercial interest and anchor tenant—just as American Airlines is the primary carrier at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Virgin Galactic will base their operations at Spaceport America. Currently, Rocket Racing League, UP Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Armadillo Aerospace/Rocket Racing, LTD., and the X Prize Cup are committed to operating from Spaceport America. We envision a future where many space travel businesses and commercial space payload providers will be located at Spaceport America.

Have there been any launches at Spaceport America?
UP Aerospace has launched rockets in September 2006, April and December 2007, and July 2008 from a temporary launch facility at Spaceport America using an amateur-class launch license.

What is the cost to go up in space on Virgin Galactic?
The initial ticket price is $200,000. Virgin Galactic expects the price to fall over time, as with any new technology, enabling more people to have this experience. According to Virgin Galactic, more than 45,000 people from 120 countries have registered as potential astronauts.

Will it always be so expensive?
If the airline industry is any indication, the price of suborbital space travel will decrease dramatically in our lifetimes. For example, in 1950, Pan American Airlines advertised a flight from New York to Rome for $786. A quick search on your preferred airline’s website will show that you can make the same flight for about the same cost now, but corrected for inflation, that 1950 Pan Am ticket would cost $6,371! Clearly, the cost of air travel has decreased over time, and it is likely suborbital space travel will, too.

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