Spaceport America receives launch licence from government

Nice. I actually don't know whether there was any doubt that it would receive the license to operate, but it's good to know nevertheless. Spaceref.com has the following:

LAS CRUCES, NM - The New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) received its launch license for vertical and horizontal launch from the Federal Aviation Administration's Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (FAA/AST). This is a critical step to moving forward with Spaceport America, the nation's first purpose-built commercial spaceport. The FAA/AST has issued Spaceport America a license for vertical and horizontal launches, after providing the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) Record of Decision (ROD) which was needed for construction to begin.|

"These two governmental approvals are the next steps along the road to a fully operational commercial spaceport," said NMSA Executive Director Steven Landeene. The New Mexico State Legislature set certain requirements for spaceport funding, which included the formation of a local tax district, the issuance of an FAA EIS record of decision and launch site license, and a signed lease agreement with an anchor tenant. "We are on track to begin construction in the first quarter of 2009, and have our facility completed as quickly as possible," he said. The NMSA is expected to have a signed lease agreement with Virgin Galactic later this month.

Also note that Spaceport America is going to be used for a lot more than Virgin Galactic launches:

Spaceport America has been working closely with leading aerospace firms such as Virgin Galactic, Lockheed Martin, Rocket Racing Inc./Armadillo Aerospace, UP Aerospace, Microgravity Enterprises and Payload Specialties. The NMSA currently projects vertical launch activity to increase in 2009 and construction to also begin in 2009 with the terminal and hangar facility for horizontal launches completed by late 2010.

Spaceport America's home page can be seen here.