[SatNews] Spaceflight activity in New Mexico has edged up another notch.

Virgin Galactic’s first commercial customer has signed on and New Mexico's Governer has named Christine Anderson, a retired Air Force official, to head up the state’s Spaceport Authority and Spaceport America. Anderson spent 30 years as a civilian with the Air Force and has wide experience in leading space programs for the service. Among her assignments, she led the Space Vehicles Directorate at the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Space Technology Directorate, both at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque. Separately, Virgin Galactic said that the Southwest Research Institute has contracted to fly two scientists into space from Spaceport America and intends to contract for an additional six passengers engaged in research projects.