Spaceport’s new plans draw ire from Hatch

Spaceport America

KRWG - Spaceport of America’s new policy for acquiring land for its visitor’s centers has caused friction with Hatch, N.M.’s city government. Hatch, New Mexico had annexed 600 acres of land near the Interstate 25 exit, one that leads to their community. While Hatch officials had meant to offer the land to Spaceport America for it to create a visitor’s center, the Spaceport’s Administration has opted instead to accept offers from individual land owners in the region. Were Spaceport America to locate the visitor’s center at that location, it would have to spend an estimated $2.5 million to extend utilities across the interstate and the Rio Grande river. “We have no idea where it’s going to go now,” said Hatch mayor Judd Nordyke. “We went to the trouble of annexing the area we thought they were going to put it. Now, we’ve got 600 acres of desert scrubland that’s basically within the city limits, but what the future holds? We have no idea. Spaceport America’s change of plans come after the budgets for the visitor’s centers meant to be near Hatch and Truth or Consequences were curtailed, and re-allocated to the runway extension project. Virgin Galactic, one of Spaceport America’s principle clients, had requested the extension after flight tests with the White Knight 2 and Spaceship 2 aerospace craft indicated that an extended runway would be needed for optimum performance and safety. The visitor centers’ budget totalled near $15 million, but the re-allocations reduced it to $10.5 million. While the budget has been reduced, spaceport authority director Christine Anderson says that the centers will still be built. “We will still get the welcome centers we wanted to have, but we won’t own them,” she said. “We’ll lease them from the developer.” Spaceport officials estimate that 200,000 visitors are expected to tour the spaceport annually. Read More News New Mexico

Spaceport’s new plans draw ire from Hatch