Posted on 07/17/2006 9:51:55 AM PDT by CedarDave
Sporting little more than a small concrete launch pad and a cluster of portable buildings, New Mexico's spaceport is a far cry from NASA's Kennedy Space Center— a 144,000-acre city of buildings, launch pads and runways with its own ZIP code.
But spaceport backers are thinking big ... really big. State officials today, while attending a major European aerospace show, plan to announce a sweeping new name that seeks to capitalize on New Mexico's status as home to the country's first hub for commercial space flight and tourism.
Introducing: Spaceport America.
"This is an international project, it puts New Mexico in a leadership role in this new industry, and we need to be very strong about saying that," Economic Development Secretary Rick Homans told the Journal in an interview. "We wanted to be expansive and visionary with the name."
Spaceport America replaces the former moniker [Southwest Regional Spaceport] for the 27-acre facility south of Truth or Consequences: Southwest Regional Spaceport. "We didn't want to be parochial or limiting in the name," Homans said.
The planned $200 million spaceport, on the western edge of the White Sands Missile Range, will play front and center in the state's booth at the annual Farnborough International Airshow, which begins today and runs through Sunday in Hampshire, England. Several New Mexico aerospace-related companies are set to join the Economic Development Department, the state's Office of International Trade, Albuquerque Economic Development and recruiter the New Mexico Economic Development Partnership at the biennial event, one of the world's largest aircraft and space vehicle trade fairs.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
No ego at work there.
I favored Los Isley.
Why not call it the Intergalactic Space Haven? After all, if you're going to play the role of pompus ass, you just as well go all the way.
How 'bout LV-426?
I'm surprised Richardson didn't call it Billbylon 5.
"There's Gov. Bill Richardson's new spaceport. You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious."
I still think we should call it Mos Cruises.
Gov Martinez (R) of FL created a spaceport authority too once upon a time.
Awesome!
Los Isley.
Cantina Scene included.
"THIS is Seti Alpha Five!"
< /spasticeyetwitch >
I KNEW some jagoff was gonna weigh in wit' dat! Just KNEW it!
(btw, ever notice how picky 'Burghers are about their ice cream? PGH is one TOUGH ice cream town)
wsa hard to find a pic!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.