Truth or Consequences: The New Mexico town which is home to Spaceport America

WELCOME to Truth or Consequences. In this little town dreams will be made. In the middle of the desert there is a space-like object which will change history.

THERE’S a little town in New Mexico, USA, called Truth or Consequences.

The name is apt for what is about to take place in the isolated desert basin.

A sign shows the way to the site of New Mexico's spaceport.

Known locally as “T or C” and with a population of just 6411, the area has been selected by Virgin’s founder Richard Branson as the place where he will launch his first spaceship into the atmosphere. Here lies Spaceport America.

The technology playground is located deep in the dust, 48km east of town and is planet Earth’s first purpose-built commercial space tourism outpost.

Florita Munoz says she has little regard for Spaceport America, which is being built nearby and already cost her state, the 10th poorest in the US, $209 million in public money.

Spaceport America opened officially in 2011 but it made its name before then. It was known as the place where the ashes of James Doohan, who played Scotty in the original Star Trek, were shot into space.

Virgin Galactic’s first flight to Spaceport America in 2010.

Since then, hundreds of millions of dollars have been poured into the project, with Virgin Galactic expected to launch its first rocket with six human travellers on-board this year.

The spaceway is 3600 metres long.

“The sinuous shape of the building in the landscape and its interior spaces seek to capture the drama and mystery of space flight itself, articulating the thrill of space travel for the first space tourists,” a statement from Virgin said.

The whole port is 18,000 acres.

The spaceport is home to Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo. It also hosts SpaceX’s Falcon 9R and UP Aerospace.

The place in the New Mexico desert where history will be made.

The spaceway stretches over 3600 metres in length, while the total area of the port is 18,000 acres. For the 700 “astronauts” signed up to Branson’s grand space scheme, this will be the last sight they see before being propelled 100km into the atmosphere.

Will Smith and Jaden Smith used the spaceport to promote their film After Earth.

The brave passengers have coughed up $250,000 for a two-hour flight and to experience just moments of weightlessness.

“A unique business requires a very special home and Virgin Galactic will have just that at Spaceport America in New Mexico.” Picture: Virgin Galactic.

The project has been in the works for 10 years and cost $212 million.

“As always, safety will ultimately call the shots, but right now, I’m planning to go to space in 2014!” Branson wrote in an e-mail.

Stop. Spacecraft in area.