(Photo via @WorldViewVoyage - Twitter)

Space-flight company World View wants to build its headquarters and a launching pad on leased county land near Tucson International Airport.

Pima County taxpayers are getting into the space travel business.

The county Board of Supervisors has approved an agreement with a space-flight company to build its headquarters and a launching pad on leased county land near Tucson International Airport.

The company is World View, which puts research and communications balloons into the stratosphere and into orbit. It’s also planning to offer space tourism.

The company projects 400 employees in five years. The county will help build out the facility by borrowing up to $15 million in exchange for the lease payments.

County officials say there are big economic development benefits in its aerospace park near the airport.

World View Test Of Capsule Transported By Balloon