Spaceport America Newsletter | January-February 2026

Events, updates and information regarding the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport

Newsletter | January-February 2026

Events, updates and information regarding the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport.

Scott McLaughlin (left) and Cilicia Acosta (right) pose for a photo at the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce Legislative Reception on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026

A Note from the Executive Director

New Mexico’s own FAA-licensed spaceport is busier than ever. Below, you will see a wide range of customers, vehicles, and events. And this is before Virgin Galactic brings its first new Delta-class spaceship here later this summer and resumes passenger spaceflights this fall.

We have been persistent in marketing the spaceport, and one factor that has helped is the growing support from New Mexico legislators and other stakeholders. When the world sees that New Mexicans back this bold and complex project, potential customers feel more confident and come to us. When they see the facilities, the wide-open range, the airspace, the great weather, our excellent staff, and understand the benefits of our partnership with the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), they begin asking when they can schedule their operations.

The region's growing reputation as “Space Valley” is also convincing aerospace companies to consider establishing their operations in New Mexico. A prime example is Castelion, Inc., a hypersonic vehicle developer that tested at the spaceport and is now building a factory in Rio Rancho. While the spaceport itself was not the sole deciding factor, New Mexico’s rich aerospace heritage, its national laboratories (Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and the Air Force Research Laboratory), excellent universities, skilled workforce, as well as test sites like WSMR and Spaceport America collectively make the state stand out in ways other places cannot. With strategic investments from the NM State Investment Council (SIC), New Mexico remains highly competitive compared to other states.

Space may always be called the “last frontier,” but its time is now, and New Mexico is truly part of the significant growth in the commercial space industry. With orbital launches occurring every few days in the U.S., a NASA moon launch planned soon, and the cost per pound to space decreasing (thanks to reusable vehicles), applications of space are expanding rapidly. Our state is in the ‘right place at the right time,’ and we must continue to promote our benefits and invest if we want to be part of this growing market.

Scott McLaughlin | Executive Director, New Mexico Spaceport Authority

Members of the USAF Thunderbirds conduct a presentation at Spaceport America on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2026

Thunderbirds Prepare for 2026 Show Season with Winter Training at Spaceport America

For the fifth time in as many years, the United States Air Force (USAF) Air Demonstration Squadron Thunderbirds touched down at Spaceport America to engage in their winter training.

For a two-and-a-half-week period in January 2026, the Thunderbirds, comprised of roughly 70 team members (12 of whom are officers) serving in dozens of Air Force job specialties, logged dozens of training hours at the Sierra County site to hone their individual and collective skills. This customer creates significant economic impact in the region and these young airmen get a chance to experience the Land of Enchantment.

“Winter training is an absolutely critical time for this team,” said Lt. Col. Alexander Prevendar, Commander/Leader of the Thunderbirds. “It’s an incredible opportunity to come together and rehearse every piece of our operations. The public demonstration you will see in March would not be possible without this time together–learning from one another–to forge Team 2026.”

Complete Press Release | About the USAF Thunderbirds | 2026 Thunderbirds Show Schedule

Virgin Galactic team members assemble the fuselage of a Delta-class spacecraft (photo credit: Virgin Galactic)

Virgin Galactic Continues Construction of Delta-Class Spacecraft

At its campus in Mesa, Ariz., Virgin Galactic continues to assemble its new Delta-class spaceships. Ahead of its quarterly earnings call set for 3:00 p.m. MT on Monday, March 30, 2026, the commercial spaceflight company released the latest video in its We Build Spaceships series, which detailed assembly and integration of the wing, feather, and fuselage of the Delta-class craft.

The entire We Build Spaceships series and access to the company’s Q4 2025 earnings are available at the links below.

Virgin Galactic We Build Spaceships series | Virgin Galactic Investor Relations

NMSU students pose with their rockets ahead of a series of NAR/ARC launches at Spaceport America on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026

Spaceport America Hosts NAR/ARC Student Launches

Students from New Mexico State University (NMSU) and the Albuquerque Heights Composite Squadron (a.k.a. Spirit Squadron), unit NM-083 of the Civil Air Patrol, completed a series of rocket launches at Spaceport America on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026.

Saturday’s event was coordinated in part by NMSU Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student Joshua Davila, who serves as the Atomic Aggies’ (the competition rocketry team of NMSU) National Association of Rocketry (NAR) Section #982 President and Solid Propulsions Lead. In addition to including the NAR fliers from NMSU, Davila also contacted seven American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) teams throughout the region to promote Saturday’s event as an opportunity to conduct preliminary launches.

“We, the Atomic Aggies, are incredibly proud of the growing community of local rocketry enthusiasts we are building connections with,” said Davila. “We’re thrilled to have local American rocketry challenge teams joining us for launches at Spaceport America.” The NMSU students who launched represented the Atomic Aggies Rocketry Team. Of the team members in attendance,…