EVOLUTION OF A DREAM

Dec. 14, 2005: Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson and Gov. Bill Richardson announce a deal to locate the Virgin Galactic headquarters at the soon-to-be-developed spaceport in southern New Mexico. Richardson says the investment in a spaceport has potential to grow the economy of the southern half of the state.

June 19, 2009: Officials break ground on the $219 million Spaceport America, though actual construction does not begin until the end of the year.

Oct. 31, 2014: Virgin Galactic co-pilot Michael Alsbury is killed and pilot Peter Siebold injured after the first SpaceShipTwo rocket breaks apart during a test flight over the Mojave Desert in California.

Aug. 15, 2019:

Virgin Galactic opens its futuristic “Gateway to Space” operations center at Spaceport America, marking the occasion with the arrival of carrier mothership VMS Eve, which flies to New Mexico from California.

Feb. 14, 2020: Nestled under the wing of the carrier vessel Eve, the Unity flies from California to its new home at Spaceport America.

May 22, 2021: Redemption! The Unity is successfully launched into space, climbing to around 55 miles above Earth to reach suborbit, before turning around and gliding back to Spaceport America.

A temporary payload assembly trailer pictured in 2006 at the temporary launch facilities of what would one day be Spaceport America.

Dec. 31, 2008:

Virgin Galactic signs a 20-year lease with the state of New Mexico as the anchor tenant for Spaceport America. The lease signing is the final step needed to release funding from the state Legislature and begin construction on the spaceport.

Oct. 17, 2011: Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson dedicates Spaceport America.

Dec. 13, 2018:

Launching from the Mojave Desert in California, VSS Unity reaches what Virgin Galactic considers the boundary of space after climbing to an altitude of 51 miles.

Oct. 28, 2019: Virgin Galactic becomes the first publicly traded commercial space company after listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

Dec. 12. 2020:

Virgin Galactic’s first attempt to reach suborbit from Spaceport America fails after Unity’s rocket engine shuts down at launch.

July 1, 2021:

Buoyed by the successful flight, Virgin Galactic announces plans to carry a full crew, including company founder Sir Richard Branson, to space on July 11.