The New Mexico Spaceport Authority says the Spaceport America project could break ground next April.
It is expected to be the first-ever purpose-built commercial spaceport, the Las Cruces (N.M.) Sun-News said Wednesday.
Officials say discussions are continuing with anchor tenant Virgin Galactic, a British firm planning to send paying customers into space.
Mike Holston, the spaceport's project coordinator, said the $198 million facility could open in southern Sierra County in late 2009 or early 2010, the newspaper said.
A final draft of an Environmental Impact Statement will be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration in June or July, Holston said.
Copyright 2007 by United Press International
Related stories:
Successful re-entry marks bright future for ATV
Europe’s first Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) Jules Verne successfully completed its six-month ISS logistics mission today with its controlled destructive re-entry over a completely uninhabited area of the South Pacific.
Ariane 5 - Fifth launch of 2008
Yesterday evening, an Ariane 5 ECA launcher lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport at Kourou, in French Guiana, on its mission to place two telecommunications satellites into geostationary transfer orbits.
Ariane 5 - second launch of 2008
Yesterday evening, an Ariane 5 ECA launcher lifted off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on its mission to place two telecommunications satellites into geostationary transfer orbits.
ATV Jules Verne automated ship docks to the ISS
ATV Jules Verne, the European Space Agency’s first resupply and reboost vehicle, has successfully performed a fully automated docking with the International Space Station (ISS). This docking marks the beginning of Jules Verne’s main servicing mission to deliver cargo, propellant, water, oxygen and propulsion capacity to the Station, as well as ESA’s entry into the restricted club of the partners able to access the orbital facility by their own means.
Follow live Jules Verne ATV's first attempt to dock with the International Space Station
After several days spent in a parking orbit 2000 km ahead of the ISS, Jules Verne ATV is now ready to join up with the International Space Station. This first docking attempt can be followed live on 3 April 2008 from 15:30 CEST onwards from one of the European participating centres.
Artemis provides communications for Jules Verne ATV
ESA's Artemis data relay satellite, controlled from Fucino (Italy) and with its mission control centre and Earth terminal located at Redu (Belgium), is providing communications between the Jules Verne ATV and the ATV Control Centre in Toulouse (France).
Successful review for Jules Verne ATV launcher
The Launch Readiness Review (RAL), organised by Arianespace at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, last night gave the go-ahead for today’s transfer of Ariane 5 out to the launch pad.
Jules Verne ATV atop launcher
Jules Verne, the first Automated Transfer Vehicle, has been encapsulated in its huge fairing on top of the Ariane 5 launcher. With a total mass of about 19 360 kg, Jules Verne is the largest payload ever launched by Ariane 5. This historical mission with the first European space supplier for the ISS is scheduled for a night time launch on 8 March at 04.23 UT.