Meanwhile New Mexico Legislators Are Quibbling: The New Mexico State Senate declined to support Gov. Bill Richardson’s proposal to invest $225 million for spaceport development. According to the Silver City Sun-News, some lawmakers have concerns about specifics, such as location—wanting to consider Cannon Air Force Base and the old Roswell Field as well as the site next to White Sands Missile Range—while others question the viability of the project since Virgin Galactic is asking the state to provide the startup capital.
An Air Force F-16 pilot designed a collapsible ladder that weighs just six pounds and folds into the unused cockpit map case.