Rick Homans Back at Spaceport America

The New Mexico Spaceport Authority has a new executive director, and far from being a stranger to the job, the appointee knows the spaceport job from start-up to perhaps the first launch.

The spaceport board met Tuesday in Truth or Consequences and voted unanimously to hire Rick Homans. He will take over as permanent director on July 1, 2010 after stepping down as head of the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department.

Homans served as the first chairman of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority from 2005 to 2007 and was briefly its executive director in 2007 [video]. Gov. Bill Richardson said Homans' appointment provides the continuity needed to ensure Spaceport America's success and completion by 2011.

“Spaceport America will soon be moving from a major construction project to an operational spaceport, launching humans into sub-orbit, and Rick has the project background, knowledge of the issues, and relationships with the many government and business partners,” Governor Richardson said. “This appointment assures we have the continuity we need to ensure the success of Spaceport America.”

The first commercial suborbital spaceflights from Spaceport America in New Mexico are expected to begin next year as the construction phase continues to draw workers and space pioneers to southern New Mexico communities.