Spaceport America is the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport, owned and operated by the State of New Mexico. It serves as a launch site for suborbital and orbital flights, offering both vertical and horizontal launch capabilities. Key tenants and partners include Virgin Galactic, UP Aerospace, SpinLaunch, and other companies in the commercial space industry, with the goal of enabling affordable and efficient access to space. Associated keywords: commercial spaceflight, launch facility, space tourism, New Mexico Spaceport Authority.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Virgin Galactic’s third spaceflight was the first human spaceflight launched from Spaceport America in New Mexico.
VSS Unity's Unity21 flight was the third spaceflight launched from Spaceport America.
The SpaceShipTwo vehicle VSS Unity took off from Spaceport America in New Mexico at 10:34 a.m. Eastern on 2021-05-22.
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham attended the 2021-05-22 flight at Spaceport America.
VSS Unity landed on a runway at Spaceport America at 11:43 a.m. Eastern on 2021-05-22.
The WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft for SpaceShipTwo, VMS Eve, underwent three flights from Spaceport America in the two weeks prior to 2021-05-10 followed by post-flight inspections that revealed a potential wear-and-tear issue requiring further evaluation.
The launch window for the next SpaceShipTwo flight will open 2021-02-13 at Spaceport America in New Mexico.
Virgin Galactic aborted a 2020-12-12 test flight of its SpaceShipTwo vehicle from Spaceport America after a computer system lost connection as the vehicle ignited its engine and the vehicle glided to a safe landing back at the spaceport.
SpinLaunch broke ground in May 2019 on a test site at Spaceport America and pledged to spend $7,000,000 and create 20 jobs there.
SpinLaunch plans to complete the build of its suborbital centrifugal launch system at Spaceport America as part of its next phase of development.
SpinLaunch is expanding operations at Spaceport America in New Mexico and plans to hire 59 additional people at the site.
SpinLaunch expects to spend $46,000,000 on construction and expansion activities at Spaceport America over the next 10 years.
Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo aircraft carrying the SpaceShipTwo vehicle named VSS Unity took off from Spaceport America at 10:24 a.m. Eastern on 2020-12-12.
Virgin Galactic had several rocket motors available at Spaceport America following the 2020-12-12 flight attempt.
Virgin Galactic relocated its vehicles to Spaceport America in February and conducted a series of captive carry and glide flights ahead of the 2020-12-12 powered flight attempt.
VSS Unity glided back to Spaceport America and landed at 11:27 a.m. Eastern on 2020-12-12 with pilots and vehicle safe.
The flight window for Virgin Galactic’s first powered spaceflight from Spaceport America will open on 2020-12-11, pending good weather conditions and technical readiness.
The development of Spaceport America began from a partnership announced about 15 years ago between then-Governor Bill Richardson and Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson, and the spaceport was funded by the state.
Virgin Galactic rescheduled a powered test flight of its SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane for a window that opens 2020-12-11 from Spaceport America in New Mexico.
Scott McLaughlin is the Interim Executive Director of Spaceport America and supports hosting Stratodynamics’ flight campaign at Spaceport America.