Facility Layout Showcases The Land... And The Stars

A team of US and British architects and designers, accompanied by officials from the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) and Virgin Galactic, unveiled design renderings of Spaceport America at a September 4 press conference in Las Cruces, NM. Construction on the 100,000 square-foot hangar and terminal facility near the community of Upham is scheduled to begin in 2008.

The design is from a US-British consortium of URS Corporation and Foster + Partners. They created a low-lying design that uses natural earth as a berm, and relies on passive energy for heating and cooling, with photovoltaic panels for electricity and water recycling capabilities.

A rolling concrete shell acts as a roof, with massive windows opening to views of the runway and spacecraft.

"We are absolutely thrilled to be part of the dynamic team chosen to design the world’s first space terminal," said Lord Foster, founder of United Kingdom architectural firm Foster + Partners. "This technically complex building will not only provide a dramatic experience for the astronauts and visitors, but will set an ecologically sound model for future Spaceport facilities."

Billed as the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport, officials say the facility is designed to convey the thrill of space travel while making a minimal impact on the environment. The low-lying, organic shape is meant to signify a rise in the landscape, and will use local materials and regional construction techniques.

Visitors and astronauts will enter the building through a deep channel cut in the landscape. The walls will form an exhibition area leading to a galleried level above the hangar that houses the spacecraft, and on through to the terminal building. Natural light enters via skylights, with a glazed façade reserved for the terminal building -- establishing a platform for spectacular views onto the runway.

Kelly O’Donnell, Chair of the NMSA, is pleased with the design of the hangar and terminal facility. "The design created by the URS/Foster team is outstanding in the way it blends in with the environment, creating a shape that is both distinctive and functional while complementing the landscape," O’Donnell said.

"The URS team is very pleased to have been selected for this breakthrough project," said Jens Deichmann, vice president of URS Corporation. "Our team of New Mexico, regional, and international talent is excited to help the State of New Mexico and Virgin Galactic advance their goals of commercial space travel and scientific and engineering education."

Designed to have minimal embodied carbon and few additional energy requirements, the spaceport has been planned to achieve the prestigious LEED Platinum accreditation. The low-lying form is dug into the landscape to exploit thermal mass, which buffers the building from the extremes of the New Mexico climate as well as catching the predominently westerly winds for ventilation.

The terminal and hangar facility are projected to cost about $31 million, and will provide a destination experience for visitors to Spaceport America. It will include Virgin Galactic’s pre-flight and post-flight training facilities and lounges, as well as the maintenance hangar for two White Knight 2 and five SpaceshipTwo aircraft. The building will also be home to the NMSA, and provide a destination experience for visitors.

"I am delighted that New Mexico has chosen this excellent team to design Spaceport America," said Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Galactic. "Their track record is exciting enough, but the vision for the world’s first purpose-built private spaceport is truly out of this world...  Next year will see the first test flights of SpaceshipTwo and it is fantastic that we will now have a permanent home to go to, which will be every bit as inspiring for the astronauts of the future as Burt Rutan’s groundbreaking technology."

NMSA is currently finalizing contract negotiations with URS and Foster + Partners. The team will then begin working with the NMSA and Virgin Galactic to finalize the design of the facility, and the NMSA expects to put the construction of the facility out for bids in the first half of 2008.

Construction of Spaceport America will begin in 2008, immediately after the FAA issues the site operator’s license to the NMSA. Completion is expected in late 2009 or early 2010.

FMI: www.spaceportamerica.com