The Advertiser, a newspaper in Adelaide, Australia, reports in Saturday’s issue that Virgin Galactic will establish its second spaceport in Australia, most likely at Woomera, which will also be the home of Rocketplane Kistler’s K-1 orbital vehicle. Most of the details in the article aren’t that new, but what is interesting is the illustration that goes with the article. Captioned “An artist’s impression of the Woomera spaceport,” the image instead looks very much like the images Virgin Galactic and the state of
New Mexico released last year of what has come to be known as Spaceport America—right down to the Zia symbols on the sides of the odd domes that sprout like mushrooms from the desert floor. Somehow I don’t think facilities at a spaceport in South Australia are going to be emblazoned with the state symbol of New Mexico. Perhaps a revised photo and/or caption is in order?