Official Press
The world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport
SPACEPORT AMERICA FACTS
Spaceport America is home Our 18,000-acre spaceport to a 12,000-foot x 200-foot is home to four permanent concrete runway. tenants.
We have launched over 300 Spaceport America is rockets from Spaceport approximately 4,600 feet America. Spaceport America above sea level compared to provides horizontal launch coastal space launch facilities. and vertical launch areas This gives customers a with amenities not available one-mile head start towards anywhere else in the world. reaching space.
Spaceport America has Spaceport America takes full access to 6,000 sq. miles advantage of its 340 days of of restricted airspace. This sunshine and low humidity to allows our customers to launch into clear skies! launch without air traffic restrictions.
Spaceport America is managed by the New Mexico Spaceport •Promote educational involvement in spaceport activities Authority. The Mission of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority and education and training of the workforce to develop is stipulated in the Spaceport Development Act [New Mexico the skills needed for spaceport operations Statutes Annotated 1978 §58-31-1 et seq., Laws of 2005]: The New Mexico Spaceport Authority began its operations as a •Encourage and foster development of the state and its State Government Agency on July 1, 2006. The first rocket launch cities and counties by developing spaceport facilities in at Spaceport America occurred on September 25, 2006. The first New Mexico; phase of Spaceport construction was completed in FY16.
•Actively promote and assist public and private sector The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation issued the infrastructure development to attract new industries and license to the Spaceport Authority for vertical and horizontal businesses, thereby creating new job opportunities in the State. launches from the Spaceport in December 2008, and a groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 19, 2009. •Create the statutory framework that will enable the state to design, finance, construct, equip and operate spaceport facilities necessary to ensure the timely, planned, and efficient development of a southwest regional spaceport; and FAQ
Who owns Spaceport America?
Spaceport America was designed, built and is owned and operated by the State of New Mexico.
What is the relationship between Spaceport America and Virgin Galactic?
Virgin Galactic is the anchor tenant at Spaceport America, and holds a 20 year lease agreement for the use of the Gateway to Space and the horizontal launch area. In addition, Spaceport America has other tenants and customers.
What is the difference between Spaceport America and the New Mexico Spaceport Authority?
The New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) manages Spaceport America. NMSA coordinates all the airspace, manages all facilities across the 18,000 acres, security, fire and EMT support. All facilities at Spaceport America are paid for by New Mexico taxpayers.
What companies operate at Spaceport America?
Virgin Galactic is the largest employer. Other tenants with long-term leases at Spaceport America include AeroVironment/ HAPSMobile, UP Aerospace and SpinLaunch. Boeing, Swift Engineering, Stratodynamics, C6 Launch Systems and White Sands Research and Developers are among the many short-term customers at Spaceport America.
When will you launch to space from Spaceport America?
Spaceport America has been launching vehicles to space (as defined by the US Air Force space as 50 miles above the Earth’s surface/ approximately 80kms) since 2007. The highest altitude of a launch from Spaceport America was achieved by UP Aerospace on their SL-9 mission in 2014.The radar-verified apogee was 407,862 ft = 77.25 miles = 124.32 km!
Why is Spaceport America in this location?
Spaceport America is in a remote unpopulated area with great weather for launch. It is adjacent to White Sands in Missile Range, which provides access to 6,000 square miles of restricted airspace, and can provide services like telemetry, radar, optical tracking, and weather forecasting.
Is Spaceport America available as an event venue?
Spaceport America has served as a venue for special events, photo-shoots, films and more. For more details, visit SpaceportAmerica.com
For any media inquiries contact:
Alice Carruth Public Relations Coordinator
New Mexico Spaceport Authority 4605 Research Park Circle Suite A Las Cruces, NM 88001 Email - [email protected] Desk phone – 575-267-8528 Mobile phone – 575-528-8227
THE SPACE TO BE...