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By JON W. GLASS, The Virginian-Pilot
© April 25, 2007 | Last updated 9:11 PM Apr. 24

An Air Force Minotaur I rocket roared into space early Tuesday from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, carrying aloft a satellite designed to help the Pentagon develop a missile-defense system.

Now, after two launches, the Eastern Shore spaceport's concrete launch pad is starting to show a few scorch marks.

The effect was felt later in the day 3,000 miles away in Los Angeles, where spaceport director Billie Reed was attending Responsive Space 5, a conference of aerospace industry, government and academic officials involved in efforts to develop low-cost, quick access to space.

NASA Wallops handles launch-range command-and-control duties for the spaceport from its range command center.