posted 06-15-2005 06:49 AM               

"It takes more than liquid propellants to reach beyond the boundaries of space. Today’s rocket fuel is funding," said Homans. "It’s tax credits, business incentives and an environment that encourages growth and innovation. This is what we offer in New Mexico"

"We are here at the world’s largest air show to advance the next generation of aviators, space travelers, and "astropreneurs," said Erik Lindbergh. "My grandfather, Charles Lindbergh, came often to New Mexico in the 1920’s - and the state became the birthplace of space activities in North America."

At a press conference today in the US Pavilion, Homans and Lindbergh were joined by Diane Murphy, Executive President of the X PRIZE Foundation, to detail events scheduled for the Countdown to the X PRIZE CUP this October 6-9.

"This year’s Countdown to X PRIZE CUP is the important first step in creating an event that will not only assist in opening the space frontier to all private citizens, but will bring new companies, provide new jobs, increase tourism statewide, and help brand New Mexico as the place to be to experience the future," continued Homans.

"Nine years ago, five visionaries initiated a revolution in spaceflight that has now opened that elusive frontier for all of us who want to go – not just the rich or governments," said Diane Murphy. "Each October, the X PRIZE CUP will showcase the spaceships that will take us there and provide the venue for them to compete for new heights. Competition will lead to evolution in our industry."

The Countdown to the X PRIZE CUP, scheduled for 6-9 October 2005 in Southern New Mexico will include demonstrations and presentations by X PRIZE CUP teams, an exhibition of space- and aircraft, the largest-ever space education day, and space-related community events statewide.

• Demonstration Flights by Armadillo Aerospace (Mesquite, TX)
• Demonstration Flights by XCOR of the EZ-Rocket Plane (Mojave, CA)
• Drop test and Engine Firing of the WildFire mkVI by the Golden Palace.com Space, a Program Powered by The da Vinci Project (Toronto, Canada)
• Interactive Capsule Display and Demonstration by Starchaser Industries (Cheshire, UK and Las Cruces, New Mexico)
• Full-scale Replica of SpaceShipOne (Mojave, CA)
• Model Rocket Competitions
• Launch of Sounding Rockets
• Education Day at the Alamogordo Space History Museum for New Mexico’s next generation of engineers, pilots, astronauts, and space entrepreneurs with more than 2000 students participating

posted 06-15-2005 05:56 PM               

Last year, the state allocated $9 million to develop the infrastructure, launch and landing facilities necessary to host and market the competition and prepare the Southwest Regional Spaceport in Upham, near Las Cruces, to become the country’s first licensed inland spaceport. This year, the legislature created the New Mexico Spaceport Authority to build and operate the Southwest Regional Spaceport and Governor Richardson committed $1 million dollars in capital outlay funds to support it.