Upham, New Mexico:
The dream of tourists in space has edged closer to reality as the world's first commercial spaceport opened a runway in the U.S.'s New Mexico desert.
Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic company, which will operate the flights, is now working on more rocket testing on SpaceShipTwo. The British billionaire said he expects flights for space tourists to begin in nine to 18 months, and he will be among the first passengers.
Spaceport America is the world's first facility designed specifically to launch commercial spacecraft.
Until now, space travel has been limited to astronauts and a handful of wealthy people who have shelled out millions to ride Russian rockets to the international space station.