3 New Spaceports in 3 Days -- Blue Origin (Van Horn)

Note:  Click on thumbnail pictures for larger versions.

Leave it to bureaucrats to make a place sound unappealing.  In its environmental assessment (pdf; large file warning) of the Blue Origin West Texas Commercial Launch Site 20 miles North of Van Horn, the FAA describes the surrounding scenery as a "visual and aesthetic resource" of seemingly low value.  No need to translate for this Ohio boy who is used to living in various dark shades of green -- this desert is so boring and ugly that it would be painful to see it.  It was with this frame of mind that I set out from El Paso to visit the site on Sunday morning after after the end of the 2006 X Prize Cup.

Van Horn is a small desert town of 2,435 people about 120 miles East of El Paso.  The town is basically a large truck stop on Interstate 10.  But even if vanishingly small, the town seems to be one of the most significant in West Texas.  On I-10 East from El Paso, there are many freeway exits that end on dirt roads or no roads at all.  I have never been in an area so remote.  But even if remote, Van Horn is within easy driving distance of El Paso.  This is the kind of freeway where you can open up the throttle on your sports car.

The drive from El Paso to Van Horn is through the Sierra Blanca mountains, which are beautiful in the morning.  Overall, the desert brush is noticeably greener in this stretch than in El Paso, New Mexico, or Mojave, but I would hardly describe it as lush.

Beside I-10, there is a major freight railroad artery.  Even though it was a Sunday morning, there were double-stacked container trains moving along the route at a good clip.

I exited the freeway and entered town.

(Welcome to Van Horn, Texas; population 2,435.)

The town consists mostly of a single several mile long thoroughfare, along which motels, restaurants, shops and other businesses reside.  There are a lot of budget motels in town, but there are also some that are nicer.  No Ritz Carlton.  There are a few sit-down restaurants.

(Van Horn's main thoroughfare.)

I formed the distinct impression that eBay supports some of the local shops.

(An interesting small business on Van Horn's main thoroughfare.)

When I set out from El Paso, I had only a vague idea that the spaceport was somewhere near Van Horn.  Serendipity saved me when I first talked to a certain local (details withheld for the sake of all involved).  When I mentioned that I was trying to find Corn Ranch, he looked at me bewildered.  When I mentioned space, he said "oh, you're looking for Blue Origin?  I worked on the construction.  Take Route 54 North for 20 miles.  It's on your right.  There's not much to look at."

We had a gem of a short conversation.  He said that recently he talked with the construction foreman and that work was wrapping up around this week.  He also mentioned what he thought was a very strange property of the spaceport -- it never rains there.  The mountains are laid out such that it rains on all sides of the facility, but never on the facility.  A picture below confirms this phenomenon.

Having my directions in hand, I drove out of town on Texas Route 54 North.  At first, the signs were not encouraging.

(On the way out of Van Horn on Texas Route 54 North.)

Texas Route 54 is a paved two-lane road that is mostly straight and runs almost all the way to Carlsbad Caverns.  The road doesn't appear to have any bridges (rainwater runs over the road), and it looks like it could handle heavy loads.  There doesn't appear to be railroad access from Van Horn to the launch site, so Blue Origin will need to truck in all consumables for the last 20 miles.  But altogether, it looks like handy ready-to-use heavy infrastructure for a location that is so remote.

Beautiful mountains line the road on both sides.

(Picturesque mountains line Texas Route 54 on both sides.)

I had to watch my odometer, because the entrance to the Blue Origin facilities is nondescript and I could have missed it.  At first, I doubted that I had the right ranch entrance, but upon looking closely, this entrance set itself apart.  It sported a closed gate, a couple of lights, guard facilities, a security video camera, and fresh gravel on the road.

(Blue Origin's nondescript spaceport entrance.)

The sign at the entrance tries to scare people off, but I chuckled at the thought of the local prosecutor charging anybody with felony trespassing.  Blue Origin will need to see to its security more comprehensively.

(Scary signs seek to convince curious space geeks like myself to move along quickly.)

The facilities are roughly 6 to 8 miles from the road.  Distances are deceptive here -- objects are farther away than they appear.  The FAA's environmental assessment states that there is a small ridge in front of the facilities that blocks some of them from sight.  It's at times like these that I wish I had a digital SLR and zoom lens.  Apologies to those who read this post wanting a tour of the facilities, but my attention wasn't invited.

(The Blue Origin spaceport facilities in the distance as seen from Texas Route 54.)

As you can see from the pictures above and below, there is a patch of green desert brush and then an area of little brush at all.  This confirms the helpful local's curious observation that it never rains at the launch site.

(A wider pan of the spaceport facilities, about 6 to 8 miles from Texas Route 54.)

This area has huge ranches, and it appears that while people are friendly and helpful, they value the fact that nobody bothers them (rugged individualists). But 5 or 10 thousand showed up for SpaceShipOne's X Prize flight.  It seems likely that lots of out-of-towners will want to park along Route 54 in front of the ranch in order to watch the flights.  I wonder whether Van Horn is prepared for being so famous.

As stated above, Route 54 has mountains on both sides.  The Western mountains facing the Blue Origin facilities (and only about 2 miles from the road) are strikingly beautiful.  To be honest, I was skeptical when Bezos said that he bought the ranch in part to share the beauty of the desert with his kids.  But I am not a skeptic now.  This is amazing scenery.

(Amazing scenery facing the spaceport along Texas Route 54.)

I wonder how Blue Origin will deal with the noise of rocket launches. Noise travels far in this area, and it would seem that it would reverberate off the mountains lining Route 54.  By way of example, I could hear a car coming from a couple of miles away.  It's odd to think that even with such a huge footprint, Blue Origin may be bothering its neighbors.

After visiting, the Blue Origin West Texas Commercial Launch Site fascinates me.  The site is desert, but is beautiful.  It is situated in a very remote area, but is within driving distance to El Paso and has great infrastructure for launch operations.  Van Horn is a very small town, but has reasonably good motels and restaurants.  Weather is a non-factor at the launch site.  Launches can be watched from the road.  I left thinking that Jeff Bezos is a very shrewd rocketeer who has had these plans on his mind forever.

Comments

[hopeful]

Thank you for the trip report and the pictures. But maybe you picked the wrong day to visit, because there are some strong indications their test vehicle took to the air that week.

[Michael Mealling]

I took the info you had, plus the stuff from the EA and built a KMZ file with overlays:

http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php?Cat=0&Board=EarthTransportation&Number=674084&Searchpage=1&Main=674084&Words=+MichaelMealling&topic=&Search=true#Post674084

Just download the KMZ file and open it with Google Earth. Shows all sorts of details of the launch site, location, how to get there, etc.

[Michael Mealling]

hopeful,
Care to elaborate?

[your dear sister]

So this is what you've been up to these days;-)

[Jeanne Schmelzer]

It seems as if we're "On the Road with Charles Kuralt". Excellent.

[Daniel Schmelzer]

Thanks for posting the KMZ file, Michael. Excellent work.

Incidentally, did you meet Lrae, the Google Earth rep/Keyhole BBS mod at the X Prize Cup? Really good guy.

[daooteagn]

books involving teen molestation nudist girl on the beach free u.nderage xxx
http://zippic.info/?profile-CAMILLE
http://xaijo.com/?sexy-DIANE
http://adult-story.info/?profile-WHITNEY
how to make inverted nipples feel sexy debonair sex scandals fuck mother slutload how to wean baby from breast milk to formula cheap phone calls to india trish nude xxx passwords emily 18 girls masturbating free video sexy erotic teen asian schoolgirl abused free sample video horse cum hot women in nude wrestling videos enlarged liver swollen legs how to get rid of the fat on your pelvic bone hentai titjob legs of black street all star free porn videos of sons spying on moms a poem about a school subject al huda islamic school in mississauga

[daosteags]

free videos of college girls pooping mainla scandal sex video planeta sex br
http://zippic.info/?profile-LEIGH
http://xaijo.com/?sexy-LATISHA
http://adult-story.info/?profile-GRACIE
fun motor x games for boys teen ejjected in sturday morning pass a grille car crash medical voyeur free mother daughter songs quince mature bouncing boobs bolliwood fucking ver online dragon ball evolution diana reyes porn video swinger amateur black and white store sex mature clasik tori lane with strap-on full free beastilaty porn sex movie streaming george washington and bean boys xvideos free porno mature hindi sex kahaniyan indian guys chat chat de el latin starmedia asshole brown porn

[Pearlq Mckainz]

Very well written post. It will be supportive to anybody who utilizes it, as well as me. Keep doing what you are doing - i will definitely read more posts.

[carpal tunnel treatment Sharon Spgs]

Loose carpal tunnel discharge or anguish is that they are overused by you and hold slight fourth dimension to regain from that use. One of them is unbent posture whenever possible and to maintain the ovolo in transmission line with the index number finger, particularly when feeding or lifting a infant. The forces a trained boxer generates with a punch are importantly more free weight sleeves and an Olympic EZ bar has 2-inch free weight sleeves.

[jesusyw60]

sex videos gratis desene animate xxx reflexology and feet free video of people fucking caylian curtis fuck porno pictures of good vehicles in canada sexy alena seredova georgia highlands college academic programs
http://futanari.erolove.in/?CHRISTA
nudiste girl lara latex anal sex esfera africa metal 2.800 www kinky nl clip gay sex fuck paki.urdu sexy stories full lenght lara latex sexy ragazze
http://bdsmgalls.net/?post-NEVA
www.com sex whit animeaux playboys special edition sexy girls next door 2008 free asian bbw clips tube young teen porn gallery island fever xxx hddvd 720p own virginity first time sex free sex vedio of russia
http://xaijo.com/?post-JERRI
pree teen porn videos pictures of naked women spandex ass the dream pictures amalia sex
http://adultgalls.com/?post-KAYLA

[gailgj11]

jaime pressly pussy tsunade game xxx brianna frost hardcore sex
http://xaijo.com/browse?gallery-rhea
http://bdsmgalls.net/?sexy-casey
xtube shemale la video amateur darktube my shemale brother part 12 yub tube sex video sample animal sex theme psp blowjob two guys one hores ebony striper destiny xxx booty tube free lesbian movie porn watch
http://adultgalls.com/?random-bobby
full video of shay johnson fucking free porr webcam with no password free black video porno couples making love porn cerita pengalaman pertama sex phonerotica fully sex hindi xxx sexy mms sandra teen model naked "great body, great sex, great blow job" mom made me do it
http://animeshemale.net.erolove.in/?rae
shitting granny s free pictures of bob hair cut dara - phat latin butts - torrent group sex frenzy free sex door free porn crossdresser tube very little girls porn pictures street gangs xxx sex u tubes mirror mask gratis
http://adultgalls.com/?sexy-mark

[brianauk16]

teen like black pussy keira knightly nude gay japan vcd naken girls
http://shemale.erolove.in/?andrea
http://adultgalls.com/?girl-dennis
alabama exotic animals for adoption the last american virgin granny pics michelles nylons facial swelling headaches tinitus download toy story 2 pc game sex porno yangs asian cumshot compilation free mature milf video woman
http://adultgalls.com/?sexy-james

[hazelyh16]

eric ryan gay sex rated picture shooting pain in the ear to neck
http://xaijo.com/browse?gallery-clarence
http://bdsmgalls.net/?sexy-susan
jeff palmer xxx amaturer webcam sex porno tubo light my fire sex tube porno roberta naked college baseball jobs artis korea sex kim possible having sex scrubs: a xxx parody sexy vidoe
http://adultgalls.com/?random-elinor
free movies of mom caught masterbating female pumping porn sandoz fluoxetine pictures ypourno arab sports illustrated april 2 2007 lasbian sex story hindi fetish vanessa smoking nude twin men free adult clips brazzers arab turkish indian malay hijab sexy picture
http://asian.erolove.in/?fernando
hermaorfrodita sex videos flute notes for iron man xem phim sex viet fat radio april storms bikini model shemale video on iphone eliza dushku nude pictures pussy wallpaper best hot girls milf teacher tube
http://gaygalls.net/?gallery-leon

[fayewa55]

xochielt sanchez with a guy 3gp gangbang creampie geographic landmarks of japan sexy skinny blond hard anal fucked
http://gayarab.erolove.in/?concepcion
http://bdsmgalls.net/?sexy-fern
anna kournikova fuck nu blue pepper amsterdam chubby sex pizza pockets pictures drake relay high school records with the right woman scarface quote emily 18 vagina megga tit big cunt nylon
http://adultgalls.com/?profile-edith

[erickamh1]

bc sports hall of fame -video masturbation en solarium archive babestation porn girls coachella valley high school history
http://pornstars.erolove.in/?tracy
http://adultgalls.com/?girl-shari
who are vicki and ricki twins nude photos current time in korea united states russian beautiful teen studentsexparties tchat webcam adulte gratuit jlos ass xxx find amature forced sex long vids frank black megaupload live snake porn
http://gaygalls.net/?gallery-mollie

[carmelaff55]

sexy little italian girl nude little girls little sexy eva video
http://xaijo.com/browse?gallery-lynette
http://bdsmgalls.net/?sexy-petra
streamtv video adult indian moccasins adult lesbian gifs hot dirty ass babes loverboysusa fucking 3gp lesbian greek download blubster xxl free from torrent pthc kids xxx grief pictures amateur swinger videos
http://adultgalls.com/?random-jaclyn
porn amateur turkд±sh xxx jenna s sex tube russian spanking nicole ballan porn movie windsor bone china xxx porno mp3 free download sex 3gp videos indian lesbien girls in college free sex woman videos de trixie teen
http://sexdating.erolove.in/?nicole
all about gemini men bbbw tits arabe 29 sandra teen model pics hentai zoophilie free porn hexe free xxx paswords forum adult card games free shauna o brien lesbian video clips tamil cinema sex movies alguien sabe algun sitio de ambiente gay descampado madrid
http://adultgalls.com/?sexy-kerri

[franciscave1]

sexy video dating teen reviews on black horse loans if bad credit moved kittens and mom won't come back mom and boysexs casting tube teen young cindy teen model latina porn vids indian bitches
http://latexsex.net.erolove.in/?raul
high school music class free i touch porn websites personalized baby blankets for boys free porn danni ashe free porn video pic ziddu sexs china tied vagina pics schoolgirl short dress porn

[catalinakt50]

Amateur porn blog :
http://tits.net.erolove.in/?dorothea
lisa ann porn itouch is a mask protection against swine flu hard water removal from glass bdsm movues nude body painting photos porn tube japanese bdsm hot teen rides dick video before and after pictures of men after takin g

[Hentai Matures]

I got this web site from my friend who told me
about this website and now this time I am visiting this web site
and reading very informative posts here.

[savitnes]

It allows visitors to step back in time and even enjoy the trees Sir Hans Heysen fought so hard to save. To person, binde et reb i deres talje til at holde formen og anden er jordforbundet. [url=http://www.astepbc.ca/clearance-canada-goose-manitoba-jacket-black-online.html]Clearance Canada Goose Manitoba Jacket Black online[/url] Shhmct [url=http://www.brigaud.fr/canada-goose-ontario-parka-c-22_31/doudoune-canada-goose-ontario-parka-noir-homme-en-ligne-p-87.html]Doudoune Canada Goose Ontario Parka Noir Homme En Ligne[/url]
[url=http://www.inruss.no/kjope-canada-goose-hybridge-lite-vest-dame-svart-butikker-norge-oslo.html]Billig Canada Goose Hybridge Lite Vest Dame Svart butikker norge salg[/url] Qmgwdu Even though the heavy back won't hit back, remember to keep the guard up. [url=http://www.terredemalt.fr/parajumpers-daniela-femme-c-3_4/parka-boutique-france-parajumpers-daniela-femme-pas-cher-p-22.html]Parka Boutique France, Parajumpers Daniela Femme pas cher[/url]
[url=http://www.comchance.fr/canada-goose-homme/chateau-parka-solde.html]Canada Goose Chateau Parka[/url] 4882514112 [url=http://www.thrillermania.fr/canada-goose-victoria-parka-c-39_43/blouson-en-ligne-canada-goose-victoria-parka-rouge-femme-bateau-libre-magasin-p-137.html]canada goose bleu pour femme[/url]