Spaceport America, the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport, will host an open house event free to the public on October 3, 2015.
Southern New Mexico has lots to offer Saturday, October 3, 2015 with four of the major space-related sites opening up their doors free to the public. On the same day as Spaceport America’s open house event, WSMR Trinity Site will host its second of two annual open house events. The National Radio Observatory Very Large Array teamed up a few years ago with Trinity Site to offer an open house on the same day, making it possible to visit both attractions. The New Mexico Museum of Space History also opens its doors to the public on Founder’s Day each year.
As guests approach Spaceport America for the Open House Day, they will experience an awe-inspiring view of the world’s first purpose-built spaceport that has been designed to blend perfectly within the valley floor. Once through security at the main gate, visitors will be guided to a designated parking area where shuttles will take them to the Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space Hangar Terminal Area. Here they will have the opportunity to get a close-up view of the SpaceShipTwo replica, see how a spaceship fire truck operates, learn more about the future of commercial space, and interact with Spaceport America and Virgin Galactic crewmembers throughout the day.
“We are delighted to welcome the public to join us for our first Open House Day at Spaceport America,” said Christine Anderson, CEO of Spaceport America. “Virgin Galactic and Spaceport America crewmembers are looking forward to sharing an inside view into the world’s first purpose-built spaceport with friends, neighbors and space enthusiasts from New Mexico and afar.”
Aviators from the New Mexico chapters of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the New Mexico Pilots Association will also be participating in a fly-in so that visitors will be able to engage with the pilots and their aircraft during the Open House Day.
Reservations are required to join in the Spaceport America Open House Day. The first 200 personal vehicles registered will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis via the Spaceport America website http://spaceportamerica.com/openhouse/ Vehicles must have at least two passengers. 100 personal vehicles will be allowed to drive in and park inside the Spaceport America site from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.. The second wave of 100 personal vehicles will be allowed to drive in from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Regional food vendors with food trucks are also urged to apply to participate at the Spaceport America Open House on October 3 via http://spaceportamerica.com/openhouse/