Experimental Spaceships: New Mexico Spaceport is the new Area 51

If you're looking for the latest in hush-hush experimental test flights, look no further than the new Spaceport America in Truth or Consequences, NM. Last week local radio station KRQE in Albuquerque reported that Lockheed Martin is running a shadowy operation out of the port, and even got a hold of some pictures of the new reusable, rocket-powered craft. There's no word yet on plans to test co-opted alien technologies.

Whether or not Spaceport America ever becomes the first Earthly landing strip for interstellar visitors is still up for grabs (some would argue that title goes to Roswell, NM, 200 miles to the east). For now the fledgling base is content to host "domestic" flights only, with space tourism runs planned to start as early as next year. Here's what the prototype looks like, and a snippet from the KRQE article discusses the possibility of military testing on the way:

More at
Experimental Spaceships: New Mexico Spaceport is the new Area 51