N.M Senate panel passes on proposal that would put Spaceport up for sale

Senator George Munoz from Gallup introduced a bill that would put the spaceport up for sale. A Senate panelcommittee voted “No Recommendation” on putting up the spaceport for sale,Thursday. It now heads to two other panels before it heads to the floor.

Senator Munoz was quoted last week saying, “a bill of goods that never was going to happen in the first place.”

Abc-7 spoke with Spaceport America’s Executive Director Christine Anderson by phone Thursday afternoon. She says she’s disappointed.

The Senate Corporation and Transportation Committee passed it unanimously Thursday.
This would require the spaceport to develop a marketing plan by October to sell it.
The money would be used to repay development bonds.

Taxes from both Sierra and Dona Ana counties would be rescinded.

Virgin Galactic’s plan to launch humans into space from the spaceport has been delayed several times.

Last year, Virgin’s SpaceshipTwo crashed, causing yet another delay and a $1.7 million dollar shortfall.

Spaceport has struggled to attract other tenants.

Pat Hynes, with the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium says she says she understands the frustration, but she doesn’t think this proposal has any teeth.

“You gotta have a buyer. And then you would have to facilitate the purchase…I don’t think Senator Munoz has provided a plan. I think he’s provided an opinion,” Hynes said.

Anderson tells Abc-7 this sends the message to potential customers that New Mexico does not want the spaceport. She adds the commercial space industry has to get it right, because they’re flying passengers.