Port Heinlein
I previously blogged about the good citizens of New Mexico, led by those of Dona Ana county, who had moved to topple the oligarchic pronouncements of the International Astrophysical Union and restore Pluto (SOL IX) to full planethood.[Link] Now, I see that the same folks have plans to build the Earth’s (Tellus, Terra, SOL III) first spaceport.[Link]
Los Cruces, the seat of Dona Ana county, is an effectively unique place. It sits sandwiched between Mesilla, one of the oldest legacy towns on the continent and White Sands Missile Range where the bulk of things that go “whoosh-boom” and “zap!” are tested for the ostensible benefit of the nation and the derivative benefit of aerospace corporations. It is also home of New Mexico State U, notable as the largest and most effective of the nation’s minority colleges. Needless to say, the place has a somewhat unusual demographic on the nerd and artistic axes.
I could not find a name for the proposed port so we may only hope that it is named after Bob Heinlein rather than Ephraim Cochran. Given that this has the aroma of “Sweet Ole” Bob De Kinder, there is every confidence the project will be successful and effective.
