Between the Stealth base at Holloman, the UFOlogists, the artists and whoever else, southern NM could become a very interesting place to be.

I watched Fight Club again a couple of nights ago. If you've seen it, you'll recall Edward Norton narrating about how "when deep space exploration ramps up, it'll be the corporations that name everything: the IBM Stellar Sphere, the Microsoft Galaxy, Planet Starbucks."

Well, mes amis here we go with:

"Virgin Galactic, the British company created by entrepreneur Richard Branson to send tourists into space, and the government of New Mexico announced an agreement Tuesday for the state to build a $225 million spaceport.

"Virgin Galactic also revealed that up to 38,000 people from 126 countries have paid a deposit for a seat on one of its manned commercial flights, including a core group of 100 'founders' who have paid the initial $200,000 cost of a flight upfront. Virgin Galactic is planning to begin flights in late 2008 or early 2009.

"New Mexico Economic Development Secretary Rick Homans said construction of the spaceport, to be built largely underground in the south of the state near the White Sands Missile Range, could begin in early 2007, depending on approval from environmental and aviation authorities.

"Virgin Galactic said it had chosen New Mexico as the site for its headquarters because of its steady climate, free airspace, low population density and high altitude. All those factors can significantly reduce the cost of the space flight program.

"The spaceport, to be located some 25 miles south of the town of Truth or Consequences [!! wow, that's really going to change that town], will be constructed 90 percent underground, with just the runway and supporting structures above ground."