NMSA newsletter update to NMSA partners, supporters and stakeholders
February 28, 2008

UP Aerospace Launch

Up Aerospace performed a successful launch of a test flight vehicle from Spaceport America on December 19. The brief test flight was a non-public, unpublished event at the request of the UP Aerospace client, who is testing proprietary advanced launch technologies. Mission details including video is expected to be released by KROE Channel 13 on March 1

Infrastructure Design update
Work continues on design and development for Spaceport America. Site layout and design is 90 % complete, water and power distribution and internal road design is approximately 85 percent complete, runway and related airfield design is 65 percent complete. All design related activity for the on-site infrastructure is anticipated to be complete by May. Bid packages are expected to be prepared by May 2008. Construction will begin after the EIS/ROD process, with operations scheduled to begin in late 2010. Costs are in-line with the budget.
The design for the Terminal and Hangar facility is underway. The design team consortium, lead by the Albuquerque office of URS, received a Notice to Proceed with the work in the fall of 2007, and has been working with the State and the major tenant, Virgin Galactic, to develop the program design documents. The programming document is nearing approval. Concept design has been initiated in parallel to ensure schedule adherence.

Negotiations continue with Virgin Galactic on Development Agreement and Facilities lease.
NMSA’s present schedule calls for the Development Agreement to be signed in March 2008 with the Facilities Lease to be signed by December 2008. A confidentiality agreement has been executed with Virgin Galactic.

EIS
The draft EIS is anticipated to be released in March. This starts the official review, comment and update cycle. The process includes stakeholder agency review followed by a public comment period prior to the Final EIS being produced. The anticipated date for the Final EIS and Record of Decision is the end of December 2008 assuming the process goes smoothly.

License
The current draft of the Launch Site Operator License application has incorporated responses to all questions and comments from FAA/AST, and is ready for submittal in accordance with the current EIS schedule. The site license is anticipated shortly after issuance of the final EIS Record of Decision.

Community outreach activities continue.
Community outreach activities continued with regard to keeping the public informed on Spaceport progress and construction activity. To that end, meetings have been held with business and community leaders in Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Hatch and T or C. The Spaceport Tax vote will be held April 22, 2008 for Sierra County. Otero County commissioners provided a letter of support to Spaceport America and agreed to put the GRT to a vote in the general election on November 8th, 2008 contingent on the passage of the GRT in Sierra County.
The NMSA Executive spoke to the Sierra County Commission in Truth or Consequences. He highlighted potential economic benefits if a quarter-percent gross receipts sales tax is approved April 22nd
The NMSA Executive Director will be attending Space Week activities in Washington DC beginning March 4. Members of the Aerospace Community will gather to discuss space related issues and interface with Legislatures.
Thank you for your continued support of Spaceport America. The next newsletter update will be in March 2008. In the meantime, please contact me with any questions.

Lou Gomez
Program Manager
Spaceport America
New Mexico Spaceport Authority
505-521-3407