NEW MEXICO’S SPACEPORT WAS PRETTY BUSY THIS YEAR … THE BUSIEST SINCE 2006 WHEN CONSTRUCTION STARTED ON THE FACILITY IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO. THERE WERE 14 VERTICAL ROCKET LAUNCHES HOSTED BY VARIOUS SPACEPORT TENANTS IN FISCAL 2017. THERE WERE ALSO TWO BOEING COMPANY BALLOON FLIGHTS AND HORIZONTAL FLIGHT TESTS FOR VIRGIN GALACTIC. RICHARD BRANSON’S COMPANY TESTED ITS WHITE KNIGHT-2, THE MOTHERSHIP THAT’LL TAKE PASSENGER ROCKETS PART WAY INTO SPACE IN THE FUTURE.
OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDED A COLLEGIATE ROCKET COMPETITION FOR ABOUT 11-HUNDRED STUDENTS. ALL TOTALED, THERE WERE 101 LAUNCHES SO FAR OUT OF THE SPACEPORT THIS YEAR.
