Virgin Galactic to build $225M spaceport; new logo = Branson's eye

Sir Richard Branson and co. have announced plans for a $225 million dollar spaceport in New Mexico for the Virgin Galactic fleet.

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.

Link to AP report, and here's more at Space.com. Snip:

At a Virgin Galactic press conference today, the commercial spaceline firm unveiled a new logo design that will feature the iris of Branson. The logo concept comes from Philippe Starck, in conjunction with a design agency, GBH Design Ltd.

Starck is a founder astronaut for one of the first hundred commercial seats onboard Virgin Galactic’s suborbital spaceliner.

In displaying the logo concept, Branson said: “I believe it represents all those who will watch and be a part of the growth of this amazing new commercial aviation sector. Whether they are six or sixty, all will see and believe that a new chapter in the story of space flight has begun.”

Reader comment: Ben Hiller says,

I just saw the Virgin Galactic logo, and imho, it looks really similar the the cover of George Orwell's 1984: Link.