Share:

Facebook
X
Pinterest
LinkedIn
SpaceShipTwo
White Knight Two flyover of Spaceport America Terminal carrying SpaceShipTwo
Image Credit: Barbara David
The two mile runway at Spaceport America in New Mexico was dedicated Friday, 22 October 2010. One of the highlights of the celebration was the flyover and landing of Virgin Galactic‘s White Knight Two carrying the rocket plane Space Ship Two, named Enterprise by Virgin Galactic.

Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, for whom the runway (spaceway) was officially named during the ceremony, commented that:

“We are celebrating the world’s first spaceway at the world’s first purpose-built, commercial spaceport. New Mexico is not only helping to launch the commercial spaceflight industry, but we are launching new jobs and opportunities for the people of southern New Mexico. Today marks a significant milestone on our historic and exciting journey.”

Sir Richard Branson and approximately 30 of more than 380 Virgin Galactic future astronauts attended the event. Two of the future passengers in attendance were Sonja Rohde from Germany and Perveen Crawford of Hong Kong. Both have already paid the full $200,000 price for their flight into space. “It’s like Christmas, you want to go, you can’t wait. It was always a childhood dream to go to space,” Rohde said. Crawford noted that “It’s a bargain compared to the Russians,” referring to the roughly $35 million past space tourists have paid to ride aboard the Soyuz to the International Space Station.

Approach to Spaceport America
White Knight Two carrying Space Ship Two on Approach to Spaceport America
Image Credit: Virgin Galactic

Share:

Facebook
X
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Picture of By National Space Society

By National Space Society

Leave a Comment

Search
Categories
future 1

Don't Miss a Beat!

Be the first to know when new articles are posted!

Follow Us On Social Media

JOIN THE
GREATEST ADVENTURE

Give The Gift Of Space: Membership For Friends and Family

Book Review

Archives


Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, McLean, Virginia
June 4 - 7, 2026

Recent Blog Posts

By Burt Dicht NSS Managing Director of Membership Image: Crew-12 emerges from the Operations & Checkout Building at KSC, as they prepare for the drive

The National Space Society invites you to two Space Forums Scroll down for the second Forum with Astronaut Greg Chamitoff Separate registrations for each Forum

By Burt Dicht NSS Managing Director of Membership Early in my career as an aerospace engineer at Northrop, I had the rare opportunity to be

Opinion By Burt Dicht NSS Managing Director of Membership Image: Artemis II and Full Moonrise, Feb. 1, 2026; photo by Burt Dicht Last week, I

Join the In-Space Physical AI Workshop on February 11–12, 2026, at The Ion in Houston. Organized by Rice Nexus with partners including NASA, Purdue, and

By Burton Dicht NSS Managing Director of Membership On the morning of January 28, 1986, I had just left a design review. At the time,

Nye Passes the Torch to Jennifer Vaughan After 15 Years Leading the Organization Photo of Bill Nye courtesy The Planetary Society After 15 years of

“We’re looking for amazing business plans that address some part of the human expansion into space.” — Isaac Arthur, NSS President The National Space Society’s

Your Doorway to New Worlds