Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin

Photo courtesy of Fred Shepherd

Photo courtesy of Fred Shepherd

In one of the first events at the Las Cruces Convention Center, 60 area businesses had booths at the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce Industry Day event Wednesday, Dec. 1, to possibly get attention from 10 contractors interested in bidding on Spaceport America operational contracts.

Participating businesses offering services for sub-contracting ranged from hi-tech companies with sophisticated communications and computer capabilities to more basic needs like security screenings and CPR training.

The event also included presentations on the spaceport’s two main customers – Virgin Galactic and UP Aerospace.

Construction of Spaceport America is expected to be completed by early next year. Virgin Galactic is currently testing its new spaceliner and could possibly begin taking six passengers per flight into suborbital space above southern New Mexico.