AMERICA TURNS 250- New Mexico Aerospace History
New Mexico—admitted to the Union on January 6, 1912, as the 47th state—plays a vital role in advancing U.S. national security, aerospace innovation, and commercial spaceflight. Home to Spaceport America, the nation’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport, New Mexico hosted the world’s first commercial human spaceflight and space tourism missions, marking a milestone in expanding access to space. The state’s aerospace ecosystem is further anchored by Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the White Sands Missile Range, providing mission-critical research, testing, and sustainment for space and defense systems. Together with a growing commercial space sector, New Mexico continues to strengthen American air and space leadership.
LT. GOVERNOR HOWIE MORALES CHAIR
MISSION:
To advance the New Mexico aerospace community and facilitate state economic development within New Mexico through industry networking, policy development, educational discussions, and focused events, involving state elected and other government officials.
SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN VICE CHAIR
New Mexico aerospace and aviation day- January 27, 2026
Launch into Enchantment!
On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, the New Mexico Airport Managers Association and Aerospace States Association will once again host the NM Aviation & Aerospace Day Reception in Santa Fe with Lt. Governor Howie Morales from 5:30pm to 8:00pm at La Fonda, New Mexico Ballroom, Santa Fe, NM.
NEW MEXICO AVIATION AND AEROSPACE DAY FEBRUARY 6 2024
Lt. Governor Howie Morales addresses attendees at the Aerospace Reception
(Photo Credit NM Lt. Governor's Office)
Lt. Governor Morales with Jane Lucero of the NM Department of Transportation Aviation Division at the exhibit area in the Roundhouse
(Photo Credit NM Lt. Governor's Office)
New Mexico Roundhouse
(Photo Credit MRGB Aerial)
Spaceport America's Executive Director and Chapter Vice Chair Scott McLaughlin addressing attendees at the Aerospace Reception
(Photo Credit NM Lt. Governor's Office)
Lt. Governor Morales visiting with exhibitors
(Photo Credit NM Lt. Governor's Office)
Lt. Governor Morales with Virgin Galatic Astronaut 007, Jamila Gilbert, at the Aerospace Reception.
(Photo Credit NM Lt. Governor's Office)
Chapter Report
2025 2nd Quarterly Report
- NM went to the Space Symposium…it was a good event for meetings and networking. Thanks to Ross for hosting/organizing the government affairs breakfast with our Lt Gov.
- In just a few weeks NewSpace Nexus will host the 2025 State of the Space Industrial Base (SSIB) workshops, in Albuquerque, from April 29-May 2. This is a small event, great for networking, and includes important keynotes from USSF, USAF, AFRL and in-depth workshops.
- NM is sponsoring the ASA Annual Meeting for 2026.
- Spaceport America has been busy with some suborbital vertical rocket flights, UAV flights, and rocket engine testing. Also, we can support both horizontal and vertical rocket launches, and are working on our FAA orbital reentry license. We are also hosting a foot race, the “Race to Space” on April 27th, which will allow the public to run on the runway and see the spaceport up close.
- We expect Virgin Galactic to resume flights in 2026, with their two new Delta class space ships.
- The Spaceport America Cup has moved to Midland Texas, called the International Rocket Engineering Competition, but some local teams (UTEP and NMSU) are still participating.