Legal Battle Continues Over Development Deal With Balloon Spaceflight Company

A judge in Pima County (AZ) Superior Court has allowed most of a lawsuit against the county to stand, but says there is still one major component of the suit to consider.

The Associated Press reports that Judge Catherine Woods denied a motion filed by the Goldwater Institute challenging a real estate deal for World View Enterprise, which intends to carry tourists to the fringe of space with a balloon before releasing the capsule with the passengers aboard for a return to Earth via parachute. It will also conduct scientific research.

The conservative think tank challenged the $15 million deal as an "unlawful gift of public funds" made in violation of the Arizona constitution.

The Goldwater Institute said that the lease, under which World View would rent the facilities from the county for 20 years, and then own the facility, puts taxpayers at risk if the company should fold before it has fully paid for the buildings. It also said that World View bypassed normal bidding practices in selecting contractors to design and build the facility.

While Judge Woods declined to dismiss the three claims in the suit, it was not reported which component is still under consideration.

(Image from file)

FMI: http://worldview.space, www.sc.pima.gov