New Mexico Spaceport Authority executive director Christine Anderson says test flights of the spaceship being developed by anchor tenant Virgin Galactic are expected to resume later this year.
Anderson provided an update to Dona Ana County commissioners during their meeting Tuesday in Las Cruces.
She says work on the spaceship is about 80 percent done and that Virgin Galactic has also started construction on another spaceship.
A visitors' gallery at the spaceport is also expected to open next month.
Taxes imposed in Dona Ana and Sierra counties have helped pay for the nearly quarter-billion-dollar spaceport. Some state lawmakers say they're tired of taxpayers footing the bill.
Commission Chairman Billy Garrett says Dona Ana County is making a large investment but the project will eventually benefit the entire state.
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