By Mary Alice Murphy

Jason Lazich, with the Virgin Galactic Team at Spaceport America, visited Silver City on May 2, 2019 to talk to Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce members about the spaceport.

He said the owner of Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson, owns more than 100 Virgin-branded companies around the world. "Virgin Galactic at the spaceport is his No. 1 priority," Lazich said. "We already have 600 future astronauts signed up. That's just the beginning."

Virgin Galactic's motto is "Let's do it."

Lazich played a short video of when on December 13, 2018, Virgin Galactic put its first humans into space. "We have had a lot of huge milestones over the past few months, including the December launch that went 274,000 feet into space and the rocket burned for 60 seconds, which made it the first commercial flight. Another launch took pace in February, which also put people into space." Branson explained in the video that it was a "letter to my grandchildren." He said his grandfather was an extraordinary man that always reminded them that life is an incredible gift and they should live it to its fullest.

An audience member asked if the rocket was reusable, and Lazich confirmed that it is, and the plans are for it to be used over and over. As it returns to the atmosphere it is basically a glider.

The Virgin Galactic Spaceship Unity is the first spaceship built for humans. The video showed its December launch and its landing.

Virgin Galactic was set up in 2004 to be the first commercial spaceline, similar to an airline. It encompasses three business areas—Virgin Galactic – the suborbital spaceship portion, specifically for people and research; Virgin Orbit – the orbital business that uses a 747 to launch research projects into space; and the Spaceship Company, which constructs the spaceships in the Mojave Desert.

Lazich said Virgin is a brand. He said Virgin Galactic is part of the brand.

The last two flights took research payloads into space. The two test flights have been completed and another is planned soon.

He showed photos of the spaceship and the rocket. It takes about 40-50 minutes to get to about 50,000 feet where the rocket drops off. After that comes the Zero-G experience for the humans on board. It lasts from about 3-5 minutes. "The longer the better and that's where the opportunity occurs for the astronauts to get out of their seats and take selfies of the themselves in the weightlessness. The future astronauts will be upside down at the time."

Lazich said the 600 future astronauts are from all over the world, from 50 countries, with most from the U.S., U.K, and Europe, and a sizable number from the Middle East. He showed a chart of how many people have been to space—570.

"For the quarter of a million dollars a flight costs, it will come down to a four-day experience, with the last day going into space" Lazich said. "People aged 18 to 85 have signed up. The future astronauts and their family and friends who accompany them, which range right now from 2 to 175 people coming with each to Las Cruces, stay in the area for the training. The first day is the welcome day to go out to Spaceport and get a feel for it. There will be a partial day of training and a partial day of whatever they want to do in the area, coming to Silver City for a hike, going to Albuquerque, whatever they want to do. It continues with training and opportunities for the future astronauts and those accompanying them to see New Mexico. On the fourth day, the culminating day, is flight day. The whole trip to space will last approximately two hours. For us, it's about the experience, including the hospitality. When the astronauts return from their trip, it will change their lives."

He said the company is working with the future astronauts to share their experience with their communities after the flight.

Lazich noted that SpaceX goes up and comes down somewhere else. "Virgin Galactic goes up from point A and comes back to point A. The seats can be swapped out for payload. The flights are for humans and/or research projects. "

He said Virgin Galactic is doing the final phases of testing the rocket motor at the Mojave facility. "Once the rockets are approved, they will all come to Spaceport America."

The economic impact of the program includes 40 permanent jobs based in Las Cruces, others from Mojave. "We will move at least 85 employees to the Spaceport from Mojave and will locally hire workers and rent warehouse space and office space in Las Cruces." He said some of the money spent to date includes the 20-year lease, which started in 2013. "Virgin Galactic has already paid more the $14 million in rent to Spaceport and $30 million in New Mexico. We are committed to using New Mexico suppliers."

"We put safety first," Lazich said. "A few years ago, we had an incident, which put into perspective that it's a risk to go into space, but safety is first."

The two new spaceships being built are name after Branson's grandchildren. Another is named Eve after his mother.

He commended the audience, from whom he said he had heard more positive comments about space and more knowledge than he hears in a Las Cruces presentation. "We are sensitive to making a positive impact on the local areas. It's about outreach. We are the anchor tenant at Spaceport American, but there is a lot of opportunity there. Virgin Galactic has a grant program that future astronauts put money into and we match. We have the Spaceport America Cup, where college teams from all over the world come to compete. Together we open space for good."

Bob Carson said the flights are suborbital, "so you don't go out of the atmosphere?"

Lazich said that was the case. "And we do have feathering on the spaceships to slow them down and dissipate the heat on the exterior on the return trip."

Carson noted that the youth space camps on Florida and Alabama are outdated now.

Lazich said Spaceport America also supports tours.

Pam Weber asked how long it took to refit a rocket and spaceship for the next trip. Lazich said 14 days. "The data review is the most important part."

John Sterle asked if Virgin Galactic plans to work with the newly announced military Space Force. And are there plans to have any operations for it in New Mexico.

"We have a team in D.C.," Lazich said. "The manager of Spaceport America is lobbying to have some in New Mexico."

Members made announcements. Western New Mexico University Museum Director and Silver City Mayor Pro Tem Cynthia Bettison asked everyone to save the date for the Black-on-White Gala, which will celebrate the 45th anniversary of the museum. It will take place on July 13, 2019, as a lead off to the Clay Festival. The price will be $135 per ticket. "We encourage black or white attire. We will have upscale hors d'oeuvres throughout the museum, so people circulate." She also said that at the end of June all rooms in the museum will be open to the public.

Carson said the Gila Regional Medical Center Golf Classic will take place on June 1.

Tracy Weber asked what the names of the spaceships are that are named after Branson's grandchildren. Lazich said Etta and Artie.

The next luncheon will take place on June 6, 2019, with the guest speaker Paul Gessing of the Rio Grande Foundation.