More than 800 guests attended a Virgin Galactic commercial space vehicle air show this week and were treated to a preview of the rocket powered aircraft as they soared through the skies of southern New Mexico. High flying art collectors of ArtKabinett social network must keep this transport in mind when traveling to the next far away art fair. The occasion was the dedication ceremonies of Virgin Galactic’s new home at Spaceport America. The iconic Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space was designed as the world's first commercial space terminal by the award winning British architect Sir Norman Foster. The 120,000 square-foot building, meets LEED Gold standards for environmental quality, was a joint UK project awarded to Foster + Partners, along with URS Corporation and local New Mexico architects SMPC. The trio won an international competition in 2007 to build the first private spaceport in the world. Built using local materials and regional construction techniques, the facility is sustainable with few additional energy requirements due to the use of a range of sustainable features including geothermal heating and cooling. The extravaganza saw a number of acrobats and dancers walk on the side of the Foster building in what looked to be choreographed by the well known Post Modernist artist and dancer Trisha Brown. Richard Branson (shown above left) even joined the fun with a death defying, champagne cork popping stint on the mirrored glass 100 feet from runway level. The flight of WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo was the highlight of a spectacular ceremony which featured the dedication of the Sir Norman Foster-designed building and announcements of new scientific and educational customers for the world’s first commercial space line. The iconic 120,000 square-foot building, which meets LEED Gold standards for environmental quality, was designed by world-renowned United Kingdom-based Foster + Partners, along with URS Corporation and local New Mexico architects SMPC. The trio won an international competition in 2007 to build the first private spaceport in the world. Built using local materials and regional construction techniques, the facility is sustainable with few additional energy requirements due to the use of a range of sustainable features including geothermal heating and cooling. New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez participated in the dedication ceremony with U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce, representing New Mexico’s 2nd District. “New Mexico has a long tradition of pioneering innovation in aerospace and related technologies,” said Governor Martinez. “We already possess an impressive array of facilities and expertise in advanced technologies. Spaceport America and the opening of the Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space significantly deepen those capabilities and strengthen our global position as a powerhouse supporter of the space industry. Our partnership with Virgin Galactic is a perfect example of how government and private industry can work together to drive economic growth and science education.” Virgin Galactic CEO and President George Whitesides said the company continues to make excellent and unequalled progress, under the motto ‘safety is our North Star.’ Whitesides remarked, “Flight testing by prime contractor Scaled Composites is progressing very well, with 30 SpaceShipTwo flights and 75 WhiteKnightTwo flights to date. We are also recruiting aggressively and assembling a highly talented and accomplished workforce focused on safe commercial operations led by Vice President of Operations Mike Moses, who will run our efforts at the spaceport.”
