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LAS CRUCES - Just nine days into the year and the tenure of a new state governor, Spaceport America has experienced a shake-up that has left some proponents questioning just where the $209 million project stands going forward.
Republican Gov. Susana Martinez hasn't expressed opposition to the state-financed project. But neither has she voiced the kind of head-over-heels support that's characteristic of die-hard spaceport fans.
Last week, spaceport director Rick Homans resigned, saying he'd been told to do so by the Martinez administration or face firing. And the status of six of the seven members of the spaceport governing board is up in the air, as they wait to find out whether Martinez will seek their resignations.
Eyes on the spaceport
At issue, Homans said, is the message being sent to the larger commercial aerospace community, which has followed the development of the world's first "purpose-built" spaceport with keen interest.
"There's a lot of people all over the world that are watching this transition from one governor to another, and I think what they want to hear, quite frankly, is that the new governor is unequivocally supportive of Spaceport America," said Homans, speaking Friday after his resignation was effective.
Continued Homans: "That does not strike me as a difficult statement to make if one believes 100 percent in the project. I think that's the message that needs to be delivered, and I'm still waiting to hear that."
A perception
Audit plans
Martinez has plans to audit spending on the project, as well as a state contract with the spaceport's anchor tenant company, Virgin Galactic. She's also mentioned a move toward privatization, though what that means is unclear. She has said that she recognizes that Do-a Ana County and Sierra County voters have OK'd sales taxes and plans to honor that investment.
The sales taxes account for about a quarter of the financing for construction, while the remainder originated from the state Legislature. The first and largest phase of construction is about 80 percent finished, officials have said, while a second phase is just beginning.
In all, about $130 million of the $209 million has been spent, officials said. The first Virgin Galactic suborbital flights are expected to begin later this year.
The spaceport was a major initiative of former Gov. Bill Richardson, though spaceport advocates are quick to point out that the idea for the project originated in the late '80s. Opponents have argued its a case of wasteful spending and are skeptical it will establish the industry proponents claim.
Going forward
Asked whether the spaceport's future could somehow be jeopardized, former spaceport board Chairman Ben Woods, also a vice president at New Mexico State University, said he has no reason to believe so. Rather, he said the recent changes in leadership, as well as Martinez' request for an audit, are a typical part of an administration transition. An audit gives a clear picture, both for the outgoing administrator and the incoming one, of the status of a project, he said.
"Whenever you take ownership, you want to know what it is you're responsible for," he said.
Woods attended a meeting at the spaceport on Friday morning with state economic development Secretary-nominee Jon Barela, who'll chair the spaceport board upon confirmation to his post. He said it was productive, "in terms of good questions and hard questions asked."
"This is just the beginning of providing information," he said. "It was the start of the process."
Barela couldn't be reached for comment, but his spokeswoman, Angela Heisel, said it was "a very quick meeting," because Barela had another commitment in Do-a Ana County. She said he plans another visit soon.
Homans, whose tenure as director ended at the close of business Friday, wasn't invited to the spaceport tour.
A search committee for a executive new director includes former NMSU business dean Garrey Carruthers and Las Crucen Tom Hutchinson, with input from former astronauts Sid Gutierrez and Harrison Schmitt, Heisel said. Schmitt is also Martinez's nominee to head the state's energy and minerals department.
State Rep. Andy Nu-ez, D-Hatch, said the state has spent too much money on the project to back out of the project now. Plus, he noted, the spaceport already has a binding contract in place with Virgin Galactic for use of the facility.
But Nu-ez said it's too soon to say what the ramifications of Martinez's actions will be.
"They just got rid of Homans, and we just need to see how it happens the next week or 10 days."
Homans said the unanswered question is how much backing Martinez will give to the project and whether her administration will "live up to the commitments of quality and safety and also leadership of this new commercial spaceflight industry."
"This is all about building a brand new industry, not only in New Mexico, but in the nation and the world," he said. "It's so much bigger than just Spaceport America."
Diana M. Alba can be reached at (575) 541-5443
Spaceport America at a glance
• Overall project cost is $209 million.
• Main components are a 10,000-foot runway and a 110,152 square-foot terminal-hangar facility.
• Virgin Galactic will launch suborbital spaceflights from the facility between mid-summer 2011 and spring of 2012, a company official has said.
• About 400 space tourists have made deposits with Virgin Galactic for seats aboard flights.
• The $29.4 million runway was dedicated in October, while construction on the $33 million terminal-hangar is ongoing.
• Virgin Galactic has committed to a 20-year lease for space in the terminal-hangar. The company would pay $1 million annually the first five years, then amortized monthly payments that amount to about 80 percent of the facility cost by the end of the contract.
• Virgin Galactic also must pay launch fees, estimated to total between $150 million and $200 million over 20 years, depending on the number of launches.
Source: Spaceport America and Virgin Galactic
Spaceport America clients
• Virgin Galactic
The British company, considered the spaceport's anchor tenant and, will launch commercial spaceflights from the facility and has committed to a 20-year contract.
• Armadillo Aerospace
The Texas-based company announced plans last year to conduct tests of its vertical takeoff and landing rocket technology at the spaceport.
• UP Aerospace
The Colorado-based UP Aerospace has conducted rocket launches at the spaceport and is expected to be an eventual tenant.
On the web
Spaceport America: www.spaceportamerica.com
