Spaceport America Newsletter | January-March 2025
Events, updates and information regarding the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport
Newsletter | January-March 2025
Events, updates and information regarding the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport.
A Note from the Executive Director
Spaceport America’s customer base has been gradually increasing for several years. The site is now well known in the larger aerospace community and our business development team handles many calls a week for companies looking to test their new technology. This includes unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), rocket tests, and customers who want to use the 12,000’ x 200’ concrete runway. We can’t always talk about these customers however, since nearly all are in a development phase, and do not want their competitors to know what they are doing. In these newsletters though, we try and discuss what we can, to make sure our stakeholders know what activities are happening at the site. The 2024 Annual Report (link to PDF below) will give you an extensive view of last year's activities.
Discussed below is the renewal of our “base lease” with the New Mexico State Land Office. You might not know, but the spaceport is located on over 18,000 acres of New Mexico trust land. The base renewal is a significant event and allows the spaceport to sign long-term lease agreements with customers. We thank Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard (and her staff) for believing in the spaceport and the growing economic impact it is having in the region. Special thanks also go to Senator George Muñoz for helping close the deal.
Scott McLaughlin | Executive Director, New Mexico Spaceport Authority
USAF Thunderbirds Return to Spaceport America for 2025 Training
In preparation for another packed performance schedule in 2025, the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron “Thunderbirds” once again spent the better part of January honing their collective skills at Spaceport America.
For nearly three weeks in January, the Thunderbirds, comprised of 12 officers and over 130 enlisted personnel serving in 31 Air Force job specialties utilized the spaceport to log dozens of hours of training.
“This is now the fourth time the USAF Thunderbirds have been on site to train since January 2022, and we continue to be honored to serve as their hosts,” said New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) Executive Director Scott McLaughlin. “We are happy they understand the unique benefits that Spaceport America has to offer for the aerospace community,” McLaughlin added.
Complete Press Release
Texas Rocket Engineering Lab Selects Spaceport America as Launch Site for Halcyon
A group of 25 students from the University of Texas spent 10 days at Spaceport America in the month of March preparing the largest liquid rocket solely developed by undergraduate students for launch.
The students from Texas Rocket Engineering Lab were able to fully integrate Halcyon for the first time. Along with the integration process, the student group constructed both a launch pad and internal components necessary for Halcyon’s operation.
TREL team members will return to Spaceport America multiple times to continue development and, eventually, launch Halcyon to sub-orbital heights.
About TREL | About Halcyon
New Mexico State University Students Secure NAR Certifications at Spaceport America
A group of nearly 20 engineering students at New Mexico State University have been making use of Spaceport America to gain certifications from the world's largest and oldest hobby rocketry organization.
In January and February of 2025, NMSU students conducted multiple rocket launches at Spaceport America in order to gain their Level One certifications from the National Association of Rocketry (NAR). NAR features three levels of certification which permit individuals to purchase and use rocket motors whose physical constraints and performance exceed traditional model rocket boundaries.
For the past three years, NMSU has taken advantage of a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) so its students can purchase rocketry supplies and motors for NAR certification flights.
About New Mexico State University Engineering | About the National Association of Rocketry
Spaceport America, TCR Productions, Team Up to Host Inaugural Space Race
Spaceport America, in partnership with New Mexico-based TCR Productions, is set to host the inaugural Space Race on Sunday, April 27, 2025.
Occurring at the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport, the Space Race will feature a trio of races including a 5K, 10K, and half-marathon (13.1 miles). Participants in the 5K may choose to run or walk, while participants in the 10K and half-marathon must run the respective courses.
All interested participants and spectators may register at the link below which also includes course maps, start times, driving directions to Spaceport America, and required paperwork.
“An event like this allows the public to be on site and see the spaceport firsthand, and in this case, even walk and run on the 12,000’ x 200’ runway,” said New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) Executive Director Scott McLaughlin. “We hope to increase activities like this to increase economic impact to the area and allow more opportunities to see the spaceport up close,” he added.
Space Race Registration | Space Race Information
Spaceport America Represented at National Conferences
Leadership from Spaceport America attended national conferences through the first quarter of 2025, increasing the profile of the spaceport while exploring various business development opportunities.
Executive Director Scott McLaughlin and Director of Business Development Dr. Francisco Pallares attended SpaceCom and the Space Mobility Conference & Expo, both of which took place in Orlando, Fla., during the closing days of January. In mid-February, McLaughlin traveled to Washington D.C., to take part in the Commercial Space Conference co-hosted…