Legislators push for loan to support space tourism

Posted on: May. 10th, 2006 || Source: dailynews.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

Legislators push for loan to support space tourism

MOJAVE - Antelope Valley legislators are trying to get into the state budget an $11 million loan to help Mojave Airport build a hangar complex and terminal for space tourism.

The 40,000-square-foot hangar and a 50,000-square-foot terminal with associated hangars for preflight training are expected to be used first by British tycoon Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, which is working with Mojave's Burt Rutan to build a fleet of suborbital spacecraft to carry passengers paying $200,000 each.

"We have to be competitive with other states to maintain this unique business opportunity in California," said state Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster. "In return, we get our money back and hopefully we can be attractive for this industry."

Runner and state Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, co-authored a letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asking him to include the loan for the East Kern Airport District, which operates the Mojave Airport. A similar letter was sent by Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster.

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