Spaceport America

The world’s first purpose-built commercial Spaceport!

Spaceport America is exclusively tailored for the needs of commercial users. What sets Spaceport America apart from its counterparts is its unique distinction – it has no prior history of serving as an airport or any form of federal infrastructure.

Visit Spaceport America
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spaceport america in sierra county new mexico on google maps

When does Virgin Galactic launch its space tourism flights?

Where is it?

Why is it in Sierra County?

  • Spaceport America is situated on 18,000 acres adjacent to the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range and boasts 6,000 square miles of restricted airspace. Restricted airspace is required so that launches from the facility do not interfere with commercial and private air traffic.
  • At an elevation of 4,595 feet, Spaceport America has an advantage over other sea level spaceport locations. A higher elevation puts launches almost a mile closer to space, saving energy and fuel.

How do I visit Spaceport?

What else?

  • The site is built to accommodate both vertical and horizontal launch aerospace vehicles, as well as an array of non-aerospace events and commercial activities.
  • Spaceport America is not owned by Sir Richard Branson, as has been frequently misreported in the media. The facility is owned and operated by the State of New Mexico.
  • Tenants of Spaceport America include Virgin Galactic, EXOS Aerospace Systems and Technologies, SpaceX and UP Aerospace.
  • Spaceport America has been used as a setting for film and commercial production
  • The facility is frequently used for STEM education projects for students of all ages.
  • Spaceport America was designed and built utilizing the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED NCv2.2 program as the framework for the sustainable development of the facility. The LEED Rating System is generally recognized as being the most prominent set of sustainability guidelines in the United States by emphasizing strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection, and indoor environmental quality.

If I can’t visit Spaceport America, what is the next best thing?

Spaceport News

First Series of Commercial Flights by Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic Flights to Resume

Signature Campus in Sierra County Will Anchor Curated Customer Journey

Sierra Space and Spaceport America Sign Agreement

Thunderbirds Train at Spaceport America

First Fully-Crewed Flight: Success!

First Spaceport Flight to be Streamed Live

Virgin Galactic to launch Richard Branson on July 11, aiming to beat Jeff Bezos to space

Virgin Galactic Achieves First Human Spaceflight From New Mexico

Spaceport Cup 2021 Goes Virtual

Preparations Underway for First Human Spaceflight from Spaceport America

Virgin Galactic Hires Two New Pilots into its Pilot Corps

Virgin Galactic unveils high-speed aircraft design, inks deal with Rolls-Royce

Virgin Galactic completes second successful glide test at Spaceport America

Virgin Galactic Spaceship Arrives at New Home in New Mexico

Virgin Galactic sees strong demand for tourist flights to space, will re-open ticket sales

Second Virgin Galactic Vehicle Takes Shape

Virgin Galactic, Italian Air Force team up

Virgin Galactic Inaugurated Its ‘Gateway to Space’ by Flying ‘Eve’ Over Spaceport America

Virgin Galactic Going Public After Merger

SpinLaunch to break ground at Spaceport

SpaceShipTwo Test Program Expected to Progress “Fairly Quickly”

Chief Astronaut Instructor Describes First Flight on WhiteKnightTwo

Branson wants to fly to space in July 2019

Virgin Galactic’s Quest for Space

UP Aerospace Completes Two Space Launches Within Five Days

Virgin Galactic Just Made Its Second Successful Test Flight to Space

Virgin Galactic Releases Update on New Mexico Spaceflight Operations

What Virgin Galactic’s ‘Big Move’ Means for Commercial Space Travel

2017 Spaceport America Cup

USC’s Record Setter

Virgin to Test Its Spacecraft in 2016

Virgin Galactic: License is an “Important Milestone”

EXOS Aerospace to Fly From Spaceport

Turner Enterprises Teams Up with Spaceport America

Adidas’ “Y-3” Creates Spacesuit Prototypes for Virgin Galactic

November 6 2015 UP Aerospace Launch Video

How the Spaceport America Project Has Benefitted Local Students

Spaceport America is Ahead of the Curve

Spaceport America Runway Extension Complete!

June 21 Launch from Spaceport America

Press Junket for Shyamalan’s Sci Fi Film “After Earth” at Spaceport America

The Amazing SpaceX Grasshopper!

Fire Truck at Spaceport America

Virgin Galactic & Spaceport America – Doing Business in New Mexico

The Effects of Space Travel: Cosmic Shift Accelerator?

Spaceport Newsletter

NM Senate Bill 240 – Informed Consent

J. Crew at Spaceport America

Rocket Reaches Record Altitude

STIG-A Rocket Launch

Nasa Selects Virgin Galactic

Terminal Hangar Facility in March 2011

Space-Accredited Travel Agents Visit New Mexico

Spaceport America Terminal Hangar Under Construction

Spaceport America Runway Under Construction, March 2010

Hard Hat Tours to Spaceport America

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Roll-Out

Photos from a 2006 Rocket Launch at Spaceport America