Spaceport America awards contracts

LAS CRUCES, NM - The New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) Board of Directors approved the award of two new contracts yesterday, moving the spaceport closer to its grand opening in December 2013. The board approved the award of the runway modification contract to A.S Horner, an Albuquerque-based company that has been doing business for over 80 years. The NMSA board also approved a contract award to Ashbaugh Construction for its proposed site of the Sierra County Welcome Center.
The existing runway is 10,000 feet, and the new contract will extend the runway to 12,000 feet by July 2013. “It will provide additional safety for landing Virgin Galactic flights as well as make the Spaceport more attractive to other aerospace customers,” said Christine Anderson, Executive Director of the NMSA. The $8.4 million expansion is expected to begin shortly with design work already being completed. The Board also approved a contract award to Ashbaugh Construction for its proposed site for the Sierra County Welcome Center.

Spaceport America awards contracts