Virgin Galactic Going into Sat Launching Business?

Virgin Galactic unveiled a new partnership Tuesday that pushes the throttle forward on its plans for commercial suborbital space travel and a new small satellite launch capacity.

The deal involves Abu Dhabi's Aabar Investments and Virgin Galactic, the commercial spaceliner group bankrolled by British billionaire Sir Richard Branson to fly "pay-per-view" customers to the edge of space.

Specifics of the partnership, which includes Aabar investing $280 million in Virgin Galactic in return for an equity stake, were outlined today at the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) AirVenture convention in Oshkosh, Wisc., which is now under way.

The article is muddled. Any better sources out there?

NM Seeks to Limit Liability From Spaceport America Flights

The New Mexico Legislature is hoping to limit lawsuits stemming from southern New Mexico's Spaceport America. Senate Bill 37, the "Space Flight Liability and Immunity Act" sponsored by Sen. Clinton Harden, R-Clovis, wants space flight participants to acknowledge that "commercial human space flight activities involve inherent risks that cannot be eliminated or controlled through the exercise of reasonable care, and that justify the exculpation of ordinary negligence, and that these inherent risks provide the challenge and excitement that entice space flight participants."

According to bill text, the purpose of the bill would be "to permit the use of waivers and releases of liability for space flight entities that will exculpate them from the inherent risks of space flight activities and their negligence." Thus, if passed, the space flight entity would therefore not be liable for a participant's injury because the participant has given informed consent to the risks, such as bodily injury, death, emotional injury, or property damage.

Bill is here. I really need to read it.

Firm Awarded Spaceport America Construction Contract

The New Mexico Spaceport Authority has selected Gerald Martin Construction Management of Albuquerque to oversee construction of the state's spaceport north of Las Cruces.

Spaceport officials said Thursday that Gerald Martin's team will include specialists familiar with aviation facilities, fire and emergency medical services facilities and aeronautics and rocket facilities.

Anyone dealt with them before?