New Mexico Spaceport Announced

On the heels of last year's Wirefly X Prize Cup, the area around Las Cruces in New Mexico continues to expand its role as one of the earth's first centers of space-commerce. Late last week, state officials announced the details of a deal with Virgin Galactic intended to help continue construction on a full-scale commercial spaceport.

The $27.5 million lease represents one step towards financing the spaceport endeavor; another major milestone is expected to come later this month, when New Mexico voters face a spaceport tax referendum. Lawmakers are prepared to kick in $100 million towards the project, but only if an "anchor tenant" was established. And that is the role Virgin Galactic now appears set to fill.

The rapid growth of space-related commerce in New Mexico is an exciting development for the entire industry, and could generate significant income for the state. It also bodes well for future incarnations of the Wirefly X Prize Cup, an event positioned right at the center of this expanding field.