Nothing quite captures the imagination like space, and when you throw Branson into the mix too it'll be hard to dampen the enthusiasm once flights start.
Is the once-bullish Branson having second thoughts on his $1 million annual rent obligation as the launch of space tourism drifts farther into the future?
Neither company will likely make their goal of launching in 2014, but rather than spend millions on a spaceport, Branson would be wiser to look into acquiring the rocket scientists running XCOR.
As the only company considering space tourism seriously enough to sign a 20-year lease with a monthly rent of $84,000, Virgin holds all the cards in negotiations with the New Mexican terminal.