© 2024 KRWG
News that Matters.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Investment Executive: Spaceport Area Needs More Luxury Amenities

Spaceport America

One of the high-fliers planning to take a Virgin Galactic flight from Spaceport America says they'll expect luxury amenities when they visit southern New Mexico.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that Michael Blum plans to take one of the flights from the facility near Truth or Consequences. He's founder and president of an investment research and media firm and a former PayPal executive.

Blum spoke Tuesday at a space travel symposium in Las Cruces.

He said the region needs top-notch hotels, restaurants and other upscale amenities to serve the wealthy ticket-holders who will take suborbital spaceflights.

Blum said he will bring 30 people to celebrate the flight and that others may bring 100.

The flights are expected to begin in 2014. Virgin Galactic currently advertises suborbital spaceflights at $250,000.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.