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“Spaceport America”
Spaceport America Issues Economic Impact Report
Spaceport America Issues Economic Impact Report

A new economic impact study has found that Spaceport America, a commercial spaceport located in New Mexico, contributed $138 million in economic output, $45.8 million in labor income, and $60.4 million in value-added production to the state’s economy in 2022.

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  • Parabolic Arc
  • August 31, 2023
Biz Briefs – Vast Announces Commercial Space Station, Consortium Wins Euro Satellite Servicing Mission
Biz Briefs – Vast Announces Commercial Space Station, Consortium Wins Euro Satellite Servicing Mission

Welcome to Biz Briefs. In this edition, a consortium of European companies wins a contract for a satellite servicing mission, Vast announces plans to launch a private space station, UK regulators approve the Viasat-Inmarsat merger, bankrupt Virgin Orbit pushes back its bid deadline, Intuitive Machines delays its lunar mission, Virgin Galactic says it is going to continue powered flight tests later this month, and Spaceport America commissions a study for a new master plan.

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  • Parabolic Arc
  • May 15, 2023
Space SPAC Index: Intuitive Machines Looks to Join Club, Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo Returns to the Runway
Space SPAC Index: Intuitive Machines Looks to Join Club, Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo Returns to the Runway

Welcome to this week’s S-SPACi.

Lunar lander builder Intuitive Machines looks to join the Space SPAC index this week. Shareholders are set to vote on its reverse merger with Inflection Point Acquisition Corp. on Wednesday morning. If the deal goes through, the Houston-based company will begin trading on Nasdaq under the symbol LUNR.

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  • Parabolic Arc
  • February 7, 2023
Virgin Galactic Announces New Spaceship Manufacturing Facility in Mesa, Arizona
Credit: Virgin Galactic

MESA, Ariz., July 14, 2022 (Virgin Galactic PR) – Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (the “Company” or “Virgin Galactic”), an aerospace and space travel company, today announced it has signed a long-term lease for a new final assembly manufacturing facility for its next-generation Delta class spaceships. Located in Mesa, Greater Phoenix area, adjacent to the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, the facility will be capable of producing up to six spaceships per year and will bring hundreds of highly skilled aerospace engineering and manufacturing jobs to the area.

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  • Parabolic Arc
  • July 14, 2022
Sierra Space and Spaceport America Sign Agreement on Landing Site for Dream Chaser® Spaceplane

Memorandum of Understanding Adds New Mexico Spaceport to Growing Portfolio of Global Landing Locations for Dream Chaser

Expands Working Relationship Following Sierra Space’s 2022 Corporate Sponsorship of Spaceport America Cup

Dream Chaser, set to launch in 2023, is the only commercial spacecraft capable of low-g earth return to compatible commercial runways worldwide, allowing immediate access to high value payloads. (Credit: Sierra Space)

LOUISVILLE, Colo. (Sierra Space PR)Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company at the forefront of creating and building the future of space transportation and infrastructure for low-Earth orbit (LEO) commercialization, and Spaceport America announced today the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The agreement adds the world-class New Mexico spaceport to Sierra Space’s portfolio of potential global landing sites for its Dream Chaser®, the world’s first and only winged commercial spaceplane.

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  • Parabolic Arc
  • June 21, 2022
Former Top Federal Regulator to Fly on Unregulated Spaceship
Jeff Bezos pins Blue Origin astronaut wings on actor William Shatner. (Credit: Blue Origin webcast)

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

The first three passenger flights of Blue Origin’s New Shepard have been long on symbolism. On the first one, Jeff Bezos invited Wally Funk, who in 1960 was one of 13 women who underwent the same medical checks as the Original Seven Mercury astronauts. NASA wasn’t accepting female pilots at the time, so Funk had to wait 51 years to reach space.

New Shepard’s second flight included starship Capt. James T. Kirk, or more precisely, the actor who played the “Star Trek” captain, William Shatner. The third flight had Laura Shepard Churchley, the daughter of America’s first astronaut to fly to space, who launched aboard a vehicle named after her father, Alan.

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  • Parabolic Arc
  • March 30, 2022
New Mexico Seeks to Attract Virgin Galactic’s Manufacturing Facility to Spaceport America
A majority of Virgin Galactic’s future Astronauts gather with Sir Richard Branson (center) for a group photo at Virgin Galactic FAITH hangar in Mojave, CA September 25, 2013. Behind the group is the WhiteKnightTwo mated with SpaceShipTwo. (Credit: Virgin Galactic)

Updated on March 5 at 8:34 a.m. PST with additional information about space companies located in the Los Angeles area and the benefits of industry clusters to employers and employees.

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

The state of New Mexico has proposed that Virgin Galactic establish a production facility at Spaceport America, which is where the company plans to begin flying tourists on suborbital space rides later this year. KRQE TV reports:

The New Mexico Economic Development Department says they have a proposal to bring Virgin Galactic’s manufacturing to the Spaceport. Right now, the manufacturing location is in the Mojave desert. Spaceport America has five permanent tenants that are conducting a variety of experiments; including one company that uses laser technology to help land on the moon.

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  • Parabolic Arc
  • March 5, 2022