By Kevin Robinson-Avila | Albuquerque Journal
Galactic is moving its spaceships and employees to Spaceport America this summer to prepare for launch of the world’s first space tourism operation.
Virgin Founder Sir Richard Branson was set to announce the move this morning in a news conference with New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in Santa Fe. But the company and the governor’s office reported the planned move in news releases before the conference started.
Branson said the space company’s development and testing program has advanced sufficiently to move the space line staff and space vehicles to their commercial operations headquarters at the spaceport in southern New Mexico, about 50 miles north of Las Cruces near Upham. The move involves more than 100 staff, and will commence immediately and continue through the summer.
“New Mexico delivered on its promise to build a world-first and world-class spaceport,” Branson said in a prepared statement. “Today I could not be more excited to announce that in return, we are now ready to bring New Mexico a world-first, world-class spaceline. Virgin Galactic is coming home to New Mexico, where together we will open space to change the world for good.”
