UPHAM, NM – The first batch of concrete was poured Thursday, February 11, marking the start of the final concrete finish phase of the runway construction at Spaceport America, the world’s first purposebuilt commercial spaceport.
The runway project, which began in August 2009, is expected to be completed this summer, according to the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA). The multi-layered runway is made up of 24 inches of prepared subgrade with the top six inches being a soil-cement mix foundation, followed by four inches of asphalt, and finally a 14-inch finish layer of concrete. Measuring 10,000 feet long by 200 feet wide, the runway is designed to support nearly every aircraft in the world, as well as the day-to-day space tourism and payload launch operations like those for Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo. The large concrete runway will accommodate returning launch vehicles, fly-back rocket boosters and other space launch and training vehicles. Steve Landeene, Spaceport America’s Executive Director commented, “The beginning of the concrete application to the runway marks a significant milestone in the realization of Spaceport America and commercial space in New Mexico.
The airfield lies strategically within the White Sands Missile Range restricted airspace call-up area, which provides a unique opportunity for customers to fly in either the national airspace system or full restricted zone, depending on the mission requirements.” David Montoya Construction, Inc., of Alameda, NM, is building the airfield at Spaceport America. With 25 years of construction experience in New Mexico, David Montoya Construction, Inc., has provided similar services for Albuquerque International Airport and Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo. Along with the runway project, work is proceeding on the 110,000-square foot Terminal Hangar Facility (THF) at Spaceport America.
The current construction project employs over 467 workers and is expected to reach 600-800 by this spring. The NMSA has been working closely with leading aerospace firms such as Virgin Galactic, Lockheed Martin, Moog-FTS, and UP Aerospace to develop commercial spaceflight at the new facility.
