map courtesy of torcnm.org
“Southern New Mexico’s combination of low population density, controlled air space, excellent launch trajectories, and more than 4,000 foot elevation provide all the natural elements needed to establish a permanent and lucrative spaceport. Combine these naturally occurring components with the vision of community and political leaders throughout the state, and the role of New Mexico as a leader in the space industry is assured.”
–from the Spaceport America website
Spaceport America on Google Maps
TEMPORARY VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER:
Geronimo Trail National Scenic Byway
Interpretive & Visitor Center
529 N. Broadway
Truth or Consequences
Open Monday-Saturday 9am-4pm and Sunday noon-4pm.
SPACEPORT NEWS
Preview Tours to New Mexico’s Spaceport America are now running every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Spaceport tour map / learn more about the Spaceport Tours
PLEASE NOTE! At present visitors are not allowed at the site unless they book a Preview Tour of Spaceport America. We strongly recommend that you do not drive out on your own! Due to the remote location of Spaceport America, there are no service stations, restrooms or other amenities along the way, and cellphone service is limited at best. Individuals who drive out on their own will not be allowed onto Spaceport property.
Press Junket for Shyamalan’s Sci Fi Film “After Earth” at Spaceport America
Jaden and Will Smith visited Southern New Mexico in May, as part of a press junket for their new movie “After Earth.”… Read more »
Spaceport Tour Operator “Follow The Sun” Opens in Elephant Butte
Follow The Sun, current operators for Spaceport America’s Preview Tours, have opened up shop in Elephant Butte NM…. Read more »
The Amazing SpaceX Grasshopper!
Spaceport America’s newest tenant is SpaceX, the creator of “Grasshopper” – a rocket that is able to return to the launch pad intact for a vertical landing, rather than burning up upon reentry in the Earth’s atmosphere.
… Read more »
Fourteen Great Quotes from Richard Branson
“To me, business isn’t about wearing suits of pleasing stock holders. It’s about being true to your self, your ideas and focusing on the essentials.” This and more memorable quotes from Sir Richard Branson. … Read more »
Fire Truck at Spaceport America
Someone sent us this photo of a Fire Truck at Spaceport America, just because it looks cool. … Read more »
The Latest from Sir B: Seat-to-Seat Messaging on VA
The skies just got a little friendlier with “Seat-to-Seat” messaging system, a new feature offered on many Virgin America Airlines flights…. Read more »
Raton Students’ Enthusiasm for Spaceport Pays Off
Raton students traveled to the State Capitol in Santa Fe earlier this year to participate in the 2013 Legislative Session and the passing of the Limited Liability bill that was so crucial to Spaceport America’s success…. Read more »
Done Deal – Governor Martinez Signs Informed Consent Bill
From the Spaceport America Newsletter: “At a ceremony on-site at Spaceport America this afternoon, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez signed into law the Informed Consent legislation.”… Read more »
Video from KVIA News, El Paso on New Mexico’s Spaceport
Video on developments at New Mexico’s Spaceport America, as shared on IDEAS Orlando’s YouTube channel:
Supercars 2013: Ecurie25 comes to Spaceport America
Got a need for speed (and a spare $9,000 hanging around)? Then come September 2013, you could be one of only 10 lucky people to get to drive the world’s fastest car, a Bugatti Veyron, 200 mph at Spaceport America. Check out the informational video – and our favorite part, the drivers-seat view of speeding down the runway!
more info
The Effects of Space Travel: Cosmic Shift Accelerator?
Check out this video of former astronauts describing the psychological effects of space travel.
Source: Upworthy.com
Green Light on Informed Consent | Virgin Galactic in WIRED
Spaceport News the week of February 21, 2013: the Informed Consent bill, after “rocketing” through the New Mexico House of Representatives and the Senate , was due to land on the Governor’s desk, and WIRED Magazine is about to feature some great shots of Team Virgin at Spaceport America…. Read more »
Spaceport Newsletter
From Christine Anderson: “January has been an action packed month. We started out with our 18th vertical launch from the spaceport. We achieved a major milestone–we gave Virgin Galactic the keys to the Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space on January 15 and correspondingly they started paying rent.”… Read more »
A Letter from Senator John Arthur Smith
John Arthur Smith: “Our state has the opportunity to become a global leader in commercial space flight. Over the past five years, our state has invested over $200 million in taxpayer money to build the world class Spaceport America east of Truth or Consequences. Its purpose has been achieved – New Mexico is positioned to be the nation’s leader in space travel…”… Read more »
J. Crew at Spaceport America
Lookin’ good! (We’re talking to J. Crew, the model AND Spaceport America.)
See all the photos of J. Crew at Spaceport America here!
Informed Consent: Spaceport America on PBS
Moderator Fred Martino conducted an interview with Virgin Galactic’s Mark Butler and Christine Anderson of Spaceport America on PBS / KRWG TV in Las Cruces.
Spaceport America – One of the Year’s 25 Coolest Buildings
Spaceport America has been namedone of the 25 coolest new buildings in the world by BusinessInsider.com… Read more »
Spaceport Tour 2012 – a Visit to Spaceport America
Ohio’s News-Herald visited Spaceport America in 2012. The entire article (which includes the video below) is here: http://bit.ly/spaceport-visit-2012
2012 International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight
Keynote Speakers for the 2012 ISPCS: Lori Garver, Deputy Administrator, NASA; BG Gwen Bingham, U.S. Army, Commanding General, White Sands Missile Range; Robert Dickman, Executive Director, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Roger Krone, President of Network and Space Systems, The Boeing Company; The Honorable Susana Martinez, Governor of the State of New Mexico
… Read more »
Site Chosen for Spaceport America Welcome Center!
The site of the Spaceport America Visitor / Welcome Center will be in “uptown” Truth or Consequences…. Read more »
Virgin’s Frequent Flyers Can Win A Ticket to Space!
Do you fly on Virgin Galactic? If you do, here’s a reason to hang on to those frequent flyer miles! As reported in US News & World Report, Virgin Airlines Frequent Flyers can earn a ticket to fly to space from Spaceport America:
Here’s a video outlining the details of the offer…after the commercial of course!
Spaceport America Debuts a New Logo & Website
In July of 2012, Spaceport America debuted a new website and logo. We love it!… Read more »
Rocket Reaches Record Altitude
Spaceport America officials announced that they successfully launched the 10th rocket from the launch site 35 miles southeast of Truth or Consequences / Elephant Butte on April 6, 2012 at approximately 8:18am.
The rocket reached an altitude of 73 miles or 385,640 feet – a new Spaceport America altitude record. The primary payloads were reportedly Department of Defense experiments. Additional payloads were carried for the Federal Aviation Administration, the University of Texas and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Ashton Kutcher Buys a Ticket to Space
Ashton Kutcher purchased the 500th ticket into space; news broke in March 2012. Read about it on the Richard Branson’s blog!
STIG-A Rocket Launch
"Armadillo Aerospace launched its third STIG-A test rocket from Spaceport America to an altitude of about 50 miles (82 kilometers) on Jan. 28. A test of a balloon-parachute recovery system (“ballute”) was not fully successful, but the Armadillo team was nevertheless able to recover the vehicle. Armadillo says its next test launch will go beyond 62 miles (100 kilometers), the boundary of outer space."
source – MSNBC
Ride along:
Virgin Galactic Video: Dedicating the Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space
Virgin Galactic’s video of the October 17, 2011 terminal hangar dedication at Spaceport America.
“Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space” Terminal Hangar Dedication
October 17, 2011 – Richard Branson dedicates the "Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space" (formerly known as the Spaceport America terminal hangar)
Spaceport America Featured in National Geographic’s “Megastructure” Series
October 2011, from the National Geographic Channel’s MEGASTRUCTURES Series “Spaceport America: Welcome to the world’s first spaceport where runways take you to space”
Federal Grant Obtained for Spaceport America Infrastructure
August 29, 2011 blog post from SpaceRef.com: "Spaceport America Receives Repeat Federal Infrastructure Grant"
Nasa Selects Virgin Galactic
August 10, 2011 press release from the Virgin Galactic Website: “Nasa Selects Virgin Galactic for Suborbital Flights”
NPR on Spaceport America
July 18, 2011 article from NPR: "No Stranger to Spaceships, NM Builds a Spaceport"
CNN Visits Spaceport America
June 30, 2011 article from CNN: “Private Companies Hold the Key to Space Travel’s Future”
BBC: Inside SpaceShipTwo
The media got its first look at the inside of SpaceShipTwo on March 30, 2011.
See the article – which also includes a video of the reporter’s tour of the inside of the terminal hangar at Spaceport America – on the BBC website.
Terminal Hangar Facility in March 2011
A photo of the Spaceport America terminal hangar facility during construction phase.
Christine Anderson, New Director of Spaceport America
Christine Anderson was appointed as the new Executive Director of the Spaceport Authority on February 28, 2012.
Read the press release on the Spaceport website.
Runway Dedication Ceremony
Video from Spaceport America of the Runway Dedication on October 22, 2010.
Terminal Hangar Facility Takes Shape
From the Spaceport America website, an aerial shot of the Spaceport America Terminal Hangar Facility.
Space-Accredited Travel Agents Visit New Mexico
60 “Space Accredited” Travel Agents from around the world visited Southern NM in early October. This photo was taken at the Spaceport America Terminal Hangar Facility.
First Manned Free Flight of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceshipTwo
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo “VSS ENTERPRISE” completes its first manned free flight:
KRQE News 13 coverage of Spaceport Construction
Video from KRQE News 13 on Monday July 19, 2010.
CNN Reports on Spaceport America
June 30, 2011 article from CNN: ”Private Companies Hold the Key to Space Travel’s Future”
Denver Post Article on Spaceport America
The June 26, 2010 Denver Post Sunday edition featured a front-page article on Sierra County’s Spaceport America.
Spaceport America Terminal Hangar Under Construction
The New Mexico Tourism Commission visited Spaceport America in late May 2010.
This photo is of the Terminal Hangar.
Spaceport America Runway Under Construction, March 2010
Aerial photograph of the Spaceport America Runway during construction phase
AP PHOTO: Dick Woodsum
New York Times Article on New Mexico’s Spaceport America
Spaceport America was featured in the New York Times in this article by Dan Barry:
A New Exit to Space Readies for Business
Hard Hat Tours to Spaceport America
Tours are being conducted to Spaceport America as construction allows. Cost is $59 per person; tour time is approximately 3 hours. Tours must be prebooked.
This video about the tours aired on KRQE News 13:
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Roll-Out
Virgin Galactic rolled out SpaceShipTwo, the world’s first manned commercial spaceship, on December 7, 2009.
