Spaceport America, NM – Spaceport America, the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport, hosted hundreds of members of the public today during the first-ever public Open House event. Most of the visitors came by private vehicle. In addition, about 30 pilots from the New Mexico Experimental Aircraft and the New Mexico Pilots Associations landed at Spaceport America. Assisting with today’s event were New Mexico Civil Air Patrol volunteers who helped with the ground movement of visiting aircraft and local public safety officials who assisted with additional support services.
Saturday’s event was held in conjunction with open house events at White Sands Missile Range Trinity Site, the National Radio Observatory Very Large Array (VLA), and the New Mexico Museum of Space History.
Visitors got a firsthand look at the place where the world’s first commercial spaceline will conduct their daily operations. Virgin Galactic crewmembers gave visitors an up-close look at the full-size SpaceShipTwo replica. Spaceport America crewmembers also led discussions from a pop-up commercial space cinema inside the hangar featuring video shorts about space. Meanwhile outside, Spaceport America firefighters demonstrated the fleet of Air Rescue and Fire Fighting equipment. Out on the apron, guests were able to interact with Spaceport America crewmembers and pilots while admiring the aircraft on display.
“Today was a fun day for our staff. We have worked hard to put New Mexico on the map with our fabulous commercial spaceport and we are eager to share it with the public,” said Christine Anderson, CEO of Spaceport America. “From the looks of it, I think the feeling is mutual! We hope to have two Open Houses per year coinciding with other similar public events in southern New Mexico.”
The public can visit the Spaceport America site by booking a Spaceport America Experience guided tour offered by FTS Tours LLC, Spaceport America’s official tour operator. The guided tour departs from the new Spaceport America Visitor Center in Truth or Consequences and includes transportation to and from the remote site, while providing visitors with an authentic, hands-on and fun experience inside a real commercial space launch facility.