SIERRA COUNTY, N.M. -- New Mexico breaks ground at the site of the Spaceport America in Sierra County. Partners in the ceremony showed those in attendance just how important safety is to their mission.

“We’ve got enough problems on the planet earth. Why (should we) worry about space? Well the fact is that we only know about most of the problems we have on planet earth because of being in space,” said Will Whitehorn, President of Virgin Galactic in response to people who ask about space travel.

It was on New Mexico soil that technology was developed to get the first images of the earth from space, and it’s the same land that explorers traveled more than a century ago that will soon be the home of space exploration for the future.

The groundbreaking included launching Sierra County soil into the air, and was to include a flyover from White Knight Two -- Virgin Galactics commercial vehicle.

“The pilot saw an actuator light go on and they have decided as a matter of pure precaution to land at phoenix to check the planes,” Whitehorn said.

“If this were for a publicity stunt they would have pushed forward maybe taken a risk and that goes to show for their testament that test flying is a learning experience it is not about publicity,” said Steve Landeene, Executive Director of Spaceport America.

Spaceport has a vision for thousands of jobs, research and education, and a lot of motivation for kids.

“Right now, this is open space that is being converted to discovery and jobs and to the future. I'm proud New Mexico is leading the way nationally with commercial space,” said Gov. Bill Richardson.

“I want the kids to be excited. When they are excited that means they are happy to learn. It is not learning, it's fun,” said Landeene.

Three-hundred people have already signed up for space flights, many paying $200,000. Virgin Galactic hopes Richardson will join them.

“I’ll take a space flight and I plan to go up , but I want a few to go ahead of me, just to be safe," Richardson said.

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested to build the spaceport, officials believe it could be ready in early 2011.