For spaceships, we do need a spaceport not an airport. Virgin Galactic had already revealed its plans to build a Spaceport in New Mexico. And now, a winning design from URS Corporation has been selected from amongst an international field of eleven firms. The 100,000 square-foot (9,290 square meters) facility will be the world’s first, purpose-built, commercial spaceport.

The whole project is expected to cost $31 million. The American Spaceport will have enough space to accommodate two White Knight Two carrier aircraft and five SpaceShipTwo spaceliners. The spacious structure will serve as the primary base for Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic suborbital spaceliner.

Will Whitehorn, President of Virgin Galactic and his team thinks that the 2008 will be “The Year of the Spaceship.” And yes, don’t you forget that the year 2012 is going to be remembered forever in the history of space tourism industry.

via Space / Gizmodo