New Mexico's Spaceport Will Be Environmentally Friendly

(Image: An artist's drawing of Spaceport America's terminal building, with White Knight Two and SpaceShipTwo vehicles. Credit: Virgin Galactic / Foster + Partners)

While finding new ways to reach the heavens (and beyond) is important for the human race, taking care of our homeworld is a much higher priority. When it comes to space, the same principles apply, as it would be foolish for humanity to reach the stars by trashing our birth planet.

While spaceports seem to be sprouting all across the globe, it looks as if one is taking our planet to heart, by designing their spaceport to be environmentally friendly.

(MSNBC) The design chosen is a low-lying, striking bit of construction that uses natural earth as a berm, and relies on passive energy for heating and cooling, with photovoltaic panels for electricity and water recycling capabilities. A rolling concrete shell acts as a roof with massive windows opening to a view of the runway and spacecraft. [...]

The founder of Foster + Partners, Lord Norman Foster, said in an earlier press comment that the world's first space terminal would be a technically complex building. The facility not only will provide a dramatic experience for the astronauts and visitors, "but will set an ecologically sound model for future spaceport facilities," he added.

Spaceport America, located 30 miles east of Truth and Consequences in New Mexico will hopefully set the standard for future spaceports not only in the US, but around the world as well.

Note: Wouldn't it be great if spaceport designs led to more environmentally friendly buildings across our planet?



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