Spaceport America, New Mexico, USA

Mirroring the contours of the desert landscape, this sleek, unobtrusive structure – specifically designed to be 'invisible' at eye-level - will house the world's first suborbital spaceport. Looking like something out of a Star Trek film, these cutting-edge designs represent the latest step in the race to deliver commercial spaceflights at an affordable price.

Situated in the nondescript New Mexican desert, Spaceport America will be home to Virgin Galactic, among other space companies, with its fleet of five spaceships, and tickets available for $200,000 as early as 2009.

Unveiled in the summer of 2007, the designs from Foster & Partners are the result of a process begun in the early 90s, when the Southwest Space Task Force located 27 square miles of state-owned land, 45 miles north of Las Cruces in New Mexico with the aim of constructing an inland spaceport. Cabinet Secretary Rick Homans then petitioned Governor Bill Richardson with the idea, resulting in legislation to finance the project and a design competition involving 11 tenders.

Foster & Partners, in partnership with engineering design firm URS Corp, have designed the 100,000ft² (9,290m²) hangar and terminal facility to be appreciated from the air, with a low-lying structure with a rolling, concrete roof resembling a manta ray.

The $31m facility will house Virgin Galactic's offices and hangar space, about 84,000ft² (7,803m²), on a 20-year lease, and will also provide the headquarters of the NMSA. The Rocket Racing League, Starchaser Industries, UP Aerospace and the X Prize Cup are also likely residents.

VIRGIN GALACTIC

The enterprise so far consists of two transport airplanes and five spaceships, designed by Burt Rutan, the award-winning designer of SpaceShipOne. A transport plane, known as a White Knight 2, carries a spaceship to an altitude of 49,000ft.

The vehicle, SpaceShipTwo, then launches into suborbital space, reaching 84 miles above the Earth before returning two and a half hours later. The spaceships are under construction at Scaled Composites in Mojave, California and commercial flights may be available from 2009.

As well as hanger space for the planes and spaceships, the building will house pre- and post-flight training facilities, mission control, viewing galleries and passenger lounges. Also on site will be customer services, medical facilities, sleeping quarters for astronauts, a staff clubhouse and offices for up to 200 personnel.

Entrance to the building is via a deep channel, hidden from view in the landscape, with high surrounding walls on which historic information about the region, and space exploration will be exhibited.

Visitors then proceed to a superhanger where the spacecraft and simulation room are located, and the terminal building. The terminal hall has a glazed façade, 50ft ceilings and massive windows overlooking the main runway on the spaceport's eastern side, where visitors can watch the spacecraft take off.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

The spaceport has been designed to meet sustainable and environmental criteria laid out by the client – the State of New Mexico, through the NMSA (New Mexico Spaceport Authority). The NMSA is keen to use local materials and construction techniques, and is providing $100m funding.

The state also required the facility to be sensitive to the nearby El Camino Rael de Tierra Adentro Trail, and the two ranches located on the same leasehold, and conform to the 'green building guidelines' as defined by PCD (Property Control Division).

According to RFP (Request for Proposals) 70-350-441999-02 published in April 2007, the structure should 'integrate building materials and methods that promote environmental quality, economic vitality, and social benefit', achieving the minimum of a gold LEED rating.

The structure harmonises with the undulating curves of the landscape, and takes advantage of the earth's thermal mass, which protects it from heat and climatic conditions, as well as using the winds for ventilation. Heating, cooling and lighting are generated via the earth's passive energy, while electricity is generated via photovoltaic panels.

There are skylights to admit light during the day and water is recycled from the roof. The spaceport is designed to have minimal embodied carbon requirements, and qualifies for a coveted LEED platinum accreditation.

SPACEPORT AMERICA CONTRACTORS

URS and Foster & Partners are negotiating the details of the contract with NMSA, before finalising the designs. SMPC Architects, PHA Consult, Balis and Company and Exploration-Synthesis Partners have been involved so far, considering issues such as security and privacy.

DMJM:AECOM are already working on architectural and engineering aspects of the site, such as roadways, runway, security, water, power and communication systems, and the construction of their designs will be put out to bids later this year. Design consultants Dekker Perich Sabatini and Molzen-Corbin & Associates are also collaborating on the project.

Construction will begin in 2008 once the FAA issues the operator's license to the NMSA.