Only hours ago the Foster + Partners designed Spaceport for Virgin Galactic's commercial space travel division was dedicated at a gala event in the New Mexico Desert. Named the "Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space", Branson opened his $209-million  glass and metal futuristic-looking terminal which occupies just one part of the NASA shared Spaceport America facility. As competition winners with SMPC Architects and URS, the UK's Foster + Partners proposed to:
capture the drama and mystery of space flight itself, articulating the thrill of space travel for the first space tourists.
In doing so the intention was to make as little impact on the environment in which the Spaceport would take shape.  Employing photovoltaics and concrete sheeting as well as harnessing natural air currents to both ventilate and heat where required, Foster + Partners have added another striking project to their broad portfolio... this spaceport undeniably a first!

Images courtesy of Mark Greenberg, Virgin Galactic and Foster + Partners.