spaceport america tours

Tour Spaceport America

Your invitation to space begins here.

Spaceport America Experience  visitors should be ready for an authentic experience they can’t get anywhere else! Spaceport America, the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport, was designed to make space travel as accessible to all as air travel is today – and to be a place where visitors can have a have a hands-on, fun experience inside a real commercial space launch facility.

Departing from Las Cruces, NM

This tour departs on Fridays at 9:00 AM. Limit of 13 people per tour.

Departing From T or C, NM

This tour departs on Saturdays at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Limit of 13 people per tour.

About Your Experience

After arriving to the secure Spaceport America site and a short walk up the Astronaut Walk, visitors enter the Gateway Gallery where their journey through commercial space continues with numerous interactive exhibits and kiosks. Some visitors choose to experience the G-Shock simulator that subjects the would-be astronaut to rapid acceleration comparable to what an actual astronaut might feel in flight. Later, visitors venture into the Spaceport Operations Center (SOC) and interact with Spaceport America crew-members and the state-of-the-art fire station before stopping in front of the iconic URS/ Foster + Partners structure, Gateway to Space terminal/hangar for a photo opportunity. The Spaceport America Experience journey lasts approximately 4 hours.

Don't Take Our Word For It

Imagine sitting in the cockpit of a space vehicle and launching from a two-mile-long runway in the middle of a New Mexico desert. Imagine the heart-pounding, dizzying effect of weightlessness in outer space. Travel Awaits

Traveled out of ToC on Saturday for afternoon tour. Drove by Elephant Butte Dam on way to facility. Drove by Amendaris Ranch and Santa Fe train line. Drove by cattle ranches before reaching Spaceport. Stopped at large sculpture. Visited Mission Control facility with only 5 computer consoles. Drove on 12,500 ‘ runway. The end of tour was highlight. Saw the spacecraft used last year. Enjoyed the 2g flight simulator that can go to 3g. Anonymous Trip Advisor

★★★★★ I learned about this by chance at the last minute but we were lucky enough to be able to reserve slots. The hosts Chris and Curtis were great and the tour was very interesting. We went from Las Cruces on a Friday but I understand it also leaves from Truth and Consequences on Saturdays. Visit if you can. Anonymous Trip Advisor

Interesting & informative tour with Curtis & Chris. My husband is a space nerd so knew he would love it and I just came along for the tour. But I absolutely loved the tour also! Anonymous Trip Advisor

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Enjoy an authentic experience at Spaceport America, the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport. Learn the story behind this high-tech spot with a friendly guide.

Book Tour from Las Cruces

Book tour from t or c.

Spectator weekly passes are now available for the 2024 Spaceport America Cup

Reach for the stars at Spaceport America through one of earths largest areas of protected airspace

The world's largest intercollegiate rocket engineering conference and competition.

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Spaceport America Experience Tour

• Truth or Consequences, NM 87901
• Phone: (575) 267-8888
• Visit Website
•      
• Pet Restrictions: Service Animals Only

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Take off to Spaceport America for a Stellar Tour

As New Mexico space flights take off, so do possibilities for visitors.

Above: Spaceport America’s G-force simulator is a highlight of the tour. Photograph by Jesse Ramirez.

CURTIS ROSEMOND INVITES my five- and seven-year-old sons to have a seat at Spaceport America ’s mission control. They each claim a swivel chair. Then, like most kids would do, they start spinning around in front of the computers that will oversee Virgin Galactic’s tourist trips into space.

Rosemond, president of the facility’s tour operator, Final Frontier Tours, encourages us to take photos, one of many opportunities he calls attention to throughout our two-and-a-half-hour visit at the 18,000-acre facility, adjacent to White Sands Missile Range, near Upham in southern New Mexico. The #gramworthy possibilities abound: A view of Spaceport’s Gateway to Space building rising from the expanse of the Jornada del Muerto desert basin competes with taking selfies in front of a replica of the Virgin SpaceShip Unity .

From where we stand, overlooking the runway, the San Andres Mountains stretch majestically against a pristine New Mexico sky.

I’m already imaging my kids finding their old Spaceport photos in a future where visiting space might be as common as this family trek.

That goal became ever-so-slightly closer to reality in May, when VSS Unity —often referred to as SpaceShipTwo—and its crew soared 55.45 miles above the earth, and New Mexico became the third state, after California and Florida, to launch human beings into space. By July, the first fully crewed Unity flight , which included Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson, had successfully launched into space.

For Rosemond, the launches have brought about a surge in bookings for tours. The price tag for a seat on the Unity may be $250,000, but for a fraction of that ($39–$59 for adults, $30–$40 for kids 12 and under) Rosemond is more than happy to inspire your imagination.

From mission control we load into our white RAV4 and follow Rosemond’s van (an option that may not be offered on future tours). He stops to inspect our car’s tires before we follow him onto the 12,000-foot runway. It must be kept clear of any debris, including pebbles and thorns, to protect the spaceship and its passengers.

The tour wraps up with a visit to the museum, where you can learn the history of space exploration in New Mexico and peer through a semi-opaque window at Virgin Galactic’s latest contribution to the story. Don’t miss the chance to experience the sensations of space travel with a quick ride on the G-force simulator, the Spaceport’s giant swivel chair for anyone over four feet tall, or take a keepsake video of your more daring travel partners flipping upside down.

Rosemond invites us on a stroll up the Spaceport’s entry walkway, the concrete ramp where future space tourists will take the first steps of their journey to almost 300,000 feet above the earth—eight times the cruising altitude of a jetliner.

There are plans, Rosemond says, for in-person visitors to watch those citizen astronauts take their journey into space. “That’s my dream for the future,” says Rosemond. “To have people come to the facility and actually watch a launch.”

FLIGHT PATH

Spaceport America tours are offered every Saturday at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and last 2.5 hours. 575-267-8888

Virgin Galactic space tourists will enjoy updated and redesigned guest rooms at Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces . But you can stay there, too.

Spaceport America Experience Tour

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Spaceport America Experience Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Visitor guide, signup for our, spaceport america, 55 mile from las cruces, nm.

Spaceport America is the world’s first commercial spaceport designed and constructed for commercial space flight. It is located 45 miles north of Las Cruces at an elevation of 4,600 above sea level. Built on 18,000 acres of land in the Jornada del Muerto desert basin, the spaceport is adjacent to the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range and under 6,000 square miles of protected airspace.

Spaceport America has FAA-licensed horizontal and vertical launch areas that attract innovative entrepreneurial tenants including some of the most well-respected companies in the commercial space industry: anchor tenant Virgin Galactic, UP Aerospace, HAPSMobile, AeroVironment, SpinLaunch, and more.

On May 10, 2019 Sir Richard Branson announced that Virgin Galactic would be moving its California operations to Spaceport America near Las Cruces over the coming summer, in preparation for the world’s first commercial space flights. 

“New Mexico delivered on its promise to build a world-first and world-class spaceport,” Branson said. “Today, I could not be more excited to announce that in return, we are now ready to bring New Mexico a world-first, world-class spaceline. Virgin Galactic is coming home to New Mexico, where together we will open space to change the world for good.”

Although tenant operations remain private, public tours are offered of the spaceport grounds. Final Frontier Tours departs from Visit Las Cruces, 336 S. Main St. Tour guides offer background of the site and visitors can experience the G-Shock simulator and see the runway to space– all in the beautiful high desert of southern New Mexico. Tours must be booked in advance.

Space Tourism

Spaceport america cup.

The annual Spaceport America Cup is the world’s largest intercollegiate rocket engineering competition on the vertical and horizontal launch campuses at Spaceport America. Annually dozens of teams from across the world travel to southern New Mexico to participate. Thousands of students and faculty represent the best and brightest from more than 150 institutions located across the world. Part academic conference and part design-build-fly style competition, the Spaceport America Cup has quickly grown into one of the best opportunities amateur aerospace enthusiasts have to collaborate, develop their skills and compete among their peers at a world-class spaceport facility.

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Visit Sierra County New Mexico

Sierra County New Mexico

State parks, wilderness areas, hiking trails, and the high desert await. “Eco”tours are available to vast ranches with natural wonders and wildlife like bison, falcons, oryx, and bats.

Soak in the hot springs or play a round of golf in the New Mexico sunshine in winter.

In summer, take to the lakes — we have two! — or higher elevations.

County Seat: Truth or Consequences

The town named after a game show is home to ten hot spring spas. T or C’s commercial district is a great place to walk, gawk, shop, eat, and chill.

T or C quick links:

Elephant Butte Lake

The largest lake in the state has miles of beach, marinas, boat rentals, open water, and quiet coves — all made possible by the dam that was completed in 1916. Come here to swim, jet-ski, fish, hike and camp.

Elephant Butte quick links:

Plan Your Trip

Accommodations, restaurants, rv parks / camping, pet friendly places, three state parks, t or c hot springs, beer, wine, cocktails, art & architecture, coffee spots, historic towns, massage, spa, pampering, meeting & wedding planner, upcoming events, fiesta golf tournament, portrait workshop at rio bravo fine art, truth or consequences fiesta, never miss an event.

Sign up for our mailing list. Just before the beginning of every month, we will remind you of what’s upcoming.

There’s also…

Elephant butte, the largest lake in new mexico.

Miles of beach, marinas, boat rentals, open water, and quiet coves, all made possible by the dam that was completed in 1916.

Spaceport America

The Home of Spaceport America

Tenants have included Virgin Galactic, UPAerospace, SpaceX, Spinlaunch, and Google. Tours from T or C are available most Saturdays. Reservations required.

Miles and Miles of Wilderness

The world’s first designated wilderness and the largest in New Mexico, the Gila offers mountain trails, camp sites, and natural serenity.

State parks, hiking trails, and the high desert all await. You can even “eco”tour one of Ted Turner’s vast ranches, where you might see bison, falcons, oryx, or thousands of Mexican free-tail bats.

If you prefer to have pavement underfoot, check out the county’s many unique shops, galleries and studios. Explore museums and historic towns. Sample some of our locally made beer and wine, or pamper your body with a massage and a hot spring soak.

and Many More Attractions!

Coffee spots & bakeries, scenic byways, t or c art hop, caballo lake state park, ecotours by ted turner reserves, boating, kayaking, floating, tubing, truth or consequences, “ how do i get there”.

• I-25 exits 75, 79 & 83
• 2 hours south of Albuquerque
• 2 hours north of El Paso
• 70 miles north of Las Cruces & Interstate 10

Sierra County Recreation and Tourism Advisory Board

301 S. Foch, Truth or Consequences

director@sierracountynewmexico.info

575-894-1968

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• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro 2019

Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case). 

• STEM with Spaceport America
• STEM with Customers

STEM EDUCATION

Promot ing  educational involvement in spaceport activities, and education and training of the workforce to develop the skills needed for spaceport operations,  is part of the mission of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority. We want people of all ages to get excited about space, and to pursue future careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). 

STEM with Spaceport America is an initiative started by the New Mexico Spaceport Authority team to engage students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics working in remote learning environments. These bite-sized videos are designed with at-home activities in mind. Use them as stand alone brain breaks, add to them with lesson plans or request a Spaceport America speaker to join your virtual classroom.

PATHWAYS WORKSHOP SERIES

The  Global Spaceport Alliance  and Spaceport America are hosting a series of virtual workshops to provide practical workforce readiness instructions to  Spaceport America Cup   (June 19-24) students interested in careers in the aerospace sectors. The Pathways Workshop Series is generously sponsored by  Jacobs .

The  four workshops  will focus on building the future space workforce. The series will be held on Saturdays to allow maximum student attendance. Attendance will be open to university-level students from across the globe. The session will also be recorded as a future resource.

Each workshop session will include a mix of subject matter experts and panel discussions to cover four topics, along with ample time for Q&A.

WATCH PREVIOUS SESSIONS

Session 1 – astropreneurship.

March 18, 2023

STEM with Spaceport America Ambassador Canelo

Stem with spaceport america videos, kindergarten.

World Book Day

1st & 2nd Grade

2nd & 3rd grade, 3rd & 4th grade.

Air Pressure

5th & 6th Grade

Moon to Scale

Motion of the Moon

Eclipses of the Moon

About Spaceport America & Rocket Science

DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO

Our youtube channel, learn stem with our customers.

Learn about Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo:

WHITEKNIGHTTWO COLORING SHEET

Whiteknighttwo flight profile, whiteknighttwo data brochure.

Spaceport America in partnership with its official tour operator, offer a dedicated STEM tour at a discounted rate. Once the students arrive on site, Spaceport America crew members will interact with them and demonstrate all the different types of people it takes to run a Spaceport.

Spaceport America provides fun and educational opportunities for students of all ages. Whether you are bringing your students to Spaceport America for hands-on experiences or you are visiting virtually by only teaching the lessons we have prepared for you, your time with us will be educational and inspiring.

The instructionally sound lesson plans below were created to help you get the most out of each learning experience found at Spaceport America. They can be used by teachers or parents to prepare for (or to extend the learning after) a visit to make it a richer learning experience for everyone!

These tours are currently subject to restrictions due to COVID-19 safety regulations. 

REQUEST A STEM SPEAKER / VIRTUAL TOUR

I have an inquiry for an Aerospace representative at Spaceport America. 

I have an inquiry for an Events or Business Development representative at Spaceport America. 

I have an inquiry for a Press or Media representative at Spaceport America. 

I would like to request a STEM speaker from Spaceport America.

I have a general inquiry about Spaceport America.

4605 Research Park Circle, Ste A Las Cruces, NM 88001 United States Phone: (575) 267-8500

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