WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- The New Mexico
Spaceport Authority unveiled the design Tuesday for the state's commercial
spaceport.
Construction on the 100,000 square-foot hangar and
terminal facility of Spaceport America is scheduled to begin in 2008, and
completion is expected in late 2009 or early 2010, the authority announced at a
new conference. It will be the nation's first purpose-built commercial
spaceport.
The design is from a U.S.-British team, consisting of
URS Corporation and Foster + Partners. They created a low-lying, striking design
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 stunning view of the runway and spacecraft. The low-lying
form is dug into the landscape to exploit the thermal mass, which buffers the
building from the extremes of the New Mexico climate as well as catching the
westerly winds for ventilation.
The design makes a minimal impact on the environment.
The low-lying, organic shape resembles a rise in the landscape, and will use
local materials and regional construction techniques.
Natural light enters via skylights, with a glazed
facade reserved for the terminal building, establishing a platform for
spectacular views onto the runway.
"The design is outstanding in the way it blends in
with the environment, creating a shape that is both distinctive and functional
while complementing the landscape," said Kelly O' Donnell, head of the spaceport
authority.
The terminal and hangar facility are projected to
cost about 31million U.S. dollars. Britain's Virgin Galactic Corporation is the
spaceport's anchor tenant.
