The world’s first commercial passenger spaceship moved a step closer to takeoff, as Richard Branson unveiled a new runway at a remote New Mexico spaceport.

Branson and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson on Friday hosted a ceremony marking the completion of the main runway at Spaceport America, near the town of Las Cruces where the Virgin Galactic project is based.

“This is the beginning of the second space age and we are proud to have been supporters of this part of the story.

“From here we will see, perhaps daily flights into space, but also scientists, explorers of new opportunities beyond our planet,” he told reporters.

The world’s first commercial spaceship made its first manned free flight over California Sunday and successfully landed at Mojave Air and Space Port.

Virgin Galactic, the US company developing the world’s first commercial manned space flight system and tourism business, announced the successful completion of the first piloted free flight of SpaceShipTwo, named the VSS Enterprise.

The spaceship was released from its mothership, the four-engined aircraft dubbed Eve, at an altitude of 45,000 ft (13,700 metres), the company said.

In California yesterday, space tourism company Virgin Galactic unveiled a craft designed to carry passengers on short flights into space.

800 press, future astronauts and VIP guests gathered in the desert for a press conference and to view the roll out of the world’s first commercial spaceline.

The design of SpaceShipTwo will be refined during an extensive test flying programme to commence shortly.

Who says the word ‘dream’ only belongs to the dictionary of fools?

Sir Richard Branson visualized a far-fetched dream of space tourism years back, which now with dynamic support of designer Burt Rutan and financier Paul Allen is on the verge of become a reality.

A space-marvel, SpaceShipTwo, will not only open new dimensions for tourism industry but also set new standards for space research and aeronautical engineering.