Spaceport America - the first spaceport in the history of mankind

Architectural Bureau Foster + Partners won an international tender for the construction of the world's first privately owned tourist spaceport The New Mexico Spaceport Authority Building or Spaceport America .
The architects managed to develop a rational plan for the cosmodrome that looks like a ramp, or the Millennium Falcon spaceship from Star Wars, if you wish. The spaceport will be divided into several zones, some of which will be reserved for tourists, and some - for astronaut pilots. The balance between accessibility and secrecy is maximally observed: passengers will have full access to all areas of the cosmodrome, however, some areas, such as the control room, can only be watched from the side - direct access to it will be limited.
The project will be financed by the state organization New Mexico Spaceport Authority, created specifically for the development of space tourism. The construction budget is $ 31 million. The construction is planned to begin in 2008, and to complete - at the end of 2009 - in the beginning of 2010.
Already in 2009 from Spaceport America should begin regular flights into space suborbital travel spaceplanes of Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo .

View of Spaceport America on approach

Spaceport building in section

The main entrance to the spaceport

Inside one of the Spaceport America terminals


Text and images courtesy of Building MG