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Richard Branson's flight sparks new optimism in New Mexico

Written by  Tuesday, 13 July 2021 06:00
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Richard Branson's flight sparks new optimism in New Mexico
Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson waves to school children while heading to board the rocket plane that will fly him to space from Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Sunday, July 11, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Andres Leighton

With Virgin Galactic making its highest profile test flight to date with boss Richard Branson aboard, it's only a matter of time before paying customers get their chance and New Mexico realizes a dream that has been decades in the making.

Former Gov. Bill Richardson is among those who have been watching the progress of the space tourism company, ever since he and his team recruited the British billionaire to New Mexico.

The two shook hands on a promise—Branson would build the world's first commercial spaceline for tourists, and New Mexico would build the spaceport.

To naysayers who thought it was a boondoggle and a waste of taxpayer money, Richardson said: "You were dead wrong. You have to have a vision for the future, and it's going to happen, and it's going to be great."

The two-term governor was among those who were elated to see Branson and his crewmates rocket to the edge of space on Sunday. About 500 guests—including celebrities, Virgin Galactic customers, politicians and a group of students—watched from just outside the terminal at Spaceport America, while others across New Mexico held watch parties and people around the world tuned in to a livestream.

Rick Homans, the state economic development secretary who led early negotiations with Virgin Galactic, was among those in attendance. He acknowledged it has been a long and difficult road that started with many unknowns for both the state and the space tourism company.

Richard Branson's flight sparks new optimism in New Mexico
Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson, left, sprays champagne to his crew members while celebrating their flight to space from Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, N.M., Sunday, July 11, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Andres Leighton

Was it worth it? Undoubtedly, he said.

"Look around here," he said Sunday. "The attention of the entire globe is on Spaceport America now and on the industry that could grow here. And I think where we are right now is at the very beginning of something so much bigger, and so that investment is going to pay off in the decades to come."

Residents of Truth or Consequences, an eclectic desert community about 30 miles (48 kilometers) away, are excited to be on the map again. The city first gained notary in 1950 when it agreed to change its name from Hot Springs to Truth or Consequences as part of a publicity stunt put on by a radio show of the same name.

Still, many residents are tempering their optimism as the space tourism venture has taken nearly two decades to get off the ground and it's unclear how often Virgin Galactic will be flying paying customers to the edge of space and whether any spending related to those brief up-and-down trips will trickle down to shopkeepers and other businesses in town.

Richard Branson's flight sparks new optimism in New Mexico
Richard Branson answers students' questions during a news conference at Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, N.M., on Sunday, July 11, 2021. Branson and five crewmates from his Virgin Galactic space tourism company reached an altitude of about 53 miles (88 kilometers) over the New Mexico desert before safely gliding back home to a runway landing at Spaceport America. Credit: AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan

They also questioned how many space fans and other spectators would be drawn to the area since security is high at the spaceport and guided tours are considered pricy by some.

Others have mixed feelings about having paid extra taxes to help bankroll the spaceport, saying their community is still in dire need of infrastructure improvements, namely a better drinking water system. There's also a lack of housing for residents, much less adequate accommodations for tourists.

"Our tax dollars are paying for the roads to go out there and everything so it would be nice if we could actually benefit from that," said Patty Lane, who helps run a gift shop in the town of roughly 5,900 people. "We're a small community. We need that."

Lane said it's clear that developing a viable commercial spaceline has become a competition, and she's hopeful that will drive more innovation and more aerospace companies to consider moving to the state. Only then, with more private investment, can the industry really take off in New Mexico, she said.

Richard Branson's flight sparks new optimism in New Mexico
Guests watch as the Virgin Galactic rocket plane, with founder Richard Branson on board, takes off from Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Sunday, July 11, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/Andres Leighton

Top state officials are looking for the same thing. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Economic Development Secretary Alicia J. Keyes said the next step will be a push to get Virgin Galactic to relocate its manufacturing operations to New Mexico as more rocket planes will be needed for the future.

While Sunday's flight helped to promote Virgin Galactic, state officials said it also gave millions of people around the world a look at New Mexico.

Lujan Grisham claimed there are potentially billions of dollars at stake as the space industry grows—from science and technology investments to tourism spending.

"We absolutely want more companies identifying New Mexico as their corporate headquarters," she said, adding that the space industry could help to stabilize the state's economy.

That's a battle many governors have faced in states where the oil and gas industry is a key economic driver and makes up a significant source of revenue for education and other government programs. Richardson said one of his objectives during his term was to create another industry, and that's why he went after Branson and Virgin Galactic.

  • Richard Branson's flight sparks new optimism in New Mexico
    This July 11, 2021, image shows Rick Homans, former New Mexico Economic Development secretary, greeting reporters during Virgin Galactic's flight from Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Homans led negotiations to recruit the space tourism company to New Mexico nearly two decades ago. Credit: AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan
  • Richard Branson's flight sparks new optimism in New Mexico
    This July 11, 2021 image shows one of Virgin Galactic's customers watching as the space tourism company's rocket plane taxis down the runway after a key test flight at Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Residents are hopeful there will be economic benefits for the desert community once commercial flights begin. Credit: AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan
  • Richard Branson's flight sparks new optimism in New Mexico
    Members of Richard Branson's family and friends watch as the Virgin Galactic mothership and rocket plane gain speed as it moves down the runway of Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, on July 11, 2021. Branson and five crewmates reached an altitude of about 53 miles (88 kilometers) over the New Mexico desert—enough to experience three to four minutes of weightlessness and see the curvature of the Earth. Credit: AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan
  • Richard Branson's flight sparks new optimism in New Mexico
    A toy rocket is on display at the visitor center in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, on Monday, July 12, 2021. Residents of the eclectic desert community are hopeful that more economic benefits will begin to trickle down to local businesses following Richard Branson's flight with his Virgin Galactic crew mates from nearby Spaceport America. Credit: AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan
  • Richard Branson's flight sparks new optimism in New Mexico
    This July 12, 2021 image shows the entrance to the visitor center in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Residents of the eclectic desert community are hopeful that more economic benefits will begin to trickle down to local businesses following Richard Branson's flight with his Virgin Galactic crew mates from nearby Spaceport America. Credit: AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan
  • Richard Branson's flight sparks new optimism in New Mexico
    Shopkeeper Patty Lane, right, helps customers at gift shop along the main street in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, on Monday, July 12, 2021. Lane is among the residents who are hopeful that more economic benefits will begin to trickle down to local businesses following Richard Branson's flight with his Virgin Galactic crewmates from nearby Spaceport America. Credit: AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan
  • Richard Branson's flight sparks new optimism in New Mexico
    Jeffre Dukatt holds up one of the spaceport-related T-shirts his business sells in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, on Monday, July 12, 2021. Dukatt is among those who have been waiting years for Virgin Galactic to get closer to launching paying customers to the edge of space. Credit: AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan

LaRene Miller was busy Monday getting visitors to sign the guest book at the T or C visitor center, where a wing of the building is dedicated to Spaceport America. About half of the 15 visitors over the last day included those who were passing through town to see the spaceport or catch a glimpse of Branson's flight.

One group bought souvenirs. Another woman asked about the drive to the site.

They all had either watched the launch via the livestream or stepped outside to see the contrails.

Jeffre Dukatt, who runs a T-shirt shop in Truth or Consequences, is among the many residents who have been waiting years for the promise of the spaceport.

"I got to see it in real life," he said, describing his view from town of the ascending rocket plane. "It was like the moon walk to me."

With two test flights remaining, Dukatt and others are hopeful they won't have to wait as long for the next step.



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Citation: Richard Branson's flight sparks new optimism in New Mexico (2021, July 13) retrieved 13 July 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2021-07-richard-branson-flight-optimism-mexico.html
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