3:40 AM
With each passing day we are getting closer to the time when everyone will be able to fly in the space. The first steps were made by Russia and USA during the Cold War by sending the legendary astronauts Yuri Gagarin to Earth orbit and Neil Armstrong to the moon. Nowadays, the US is one step ahead by building the world’s first commercial spaceport. Spaceport America was announced as brand at the Farnborough International Airshow on July 17, 2006.
The facility is spread over area of 18 000 acres and its first usage was on September 25th, 2006, when UP Aerospace launched SL-1 rocket, their first space vehicle.
The complex is able to support horizontal take-off, just like the conventional airport runways, at Spaceway 16-34. Launch Complex One has 45 inches long rail which is used for vertical launches. Most of buildings in the facility, such as water storage, fuel depot, operations center, the mentioned Spaceway and Launch Complex One, are already built and running. Only Spaceport Central is still in process of building and is expected to be finished in late 2013. This building will function as home base for guests, administrative and security unit and will offer a good place for dining too.
