Those blastoffs should begin by 2009 or 2010, if all goes as planned with the testing of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo line of spacecraft.

George Whitesides, senior advisor to the private space-tourism company, said Virgin is eager to see the terminal, for which it signed a 20-year lease, built.

"For its green footprint and the aesthetic beauty, this building looks like the future," he said.

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