Stratolaunch Systems announced Friday the ground breaking on a production facility and hangar at the Mojave Air and Space Port.

Stratolaunch Systems, founded by Paul G. Allen, is a private aerospace development company that will construct a one-of-a-kind composite aircraft for launching medium class payloads to space.

The construction of these facilities will be performed by the Bakersfield-based Wallace and Smith General Contractors. The fabrication facility, an 88,000 square foot building, will be used to manufacture the carrier aircraft wing assemblies and associated parts for the new aircraft.

The fabrication facility is projected to be completed in late 2012. The aircraft hangar, a 92,640 square foot building, will serve as the aircraft assembly and test facility and will encompass 20,250 square foot of office space.

The hangar facility has a projected completion of mid 2013.

Gary Wentz, CEO and President of Stratolaunch Systems was quoted: "Today marks the start of an exciting journey for us.

"Over the next year, we will have a visible presence in the Antelope Valley with two new facilities and a pair of 747-400 aircraft which will undergo salvage to supply parts and subsystems for integration into our carrier aircraft. We look forward to many years of great work in Mojave."