Explore Outer Space in Las Cruces
Las Cruces in New Mexico is the perfect vacation destination for space lovers throughout the US and the world, and for a good reason. Space aficionados can explore outer space from Las Cruces and the surrounding area, and with over 60 aerospace companies based throughout New Mexico, Las Cruces is at the very center of space exploration, tourism, and history.
Hacienda RV Resort is the perfect place for holiday makers and families to access everything space related that Las Cruces has to offer. So, what exactly does it have to offer?
Spaceport America
Spaceport America is an FAA licensed spaceport built specifically for commercial use, and it is the very first to be built in the entire world. It is located approximately 45 miles north of Las Cruces and is built on 18,000 acres of land with an eye on the future, as aerospace companies begin preparing for space tourism and commercial flights into space.
Innovative companies such as SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, EnergeticX, and more have made use of the spaceport, and visitors get to see where all of the action is happening and will be happening in the future.
The Spaceport America Cup
Every year, the Spaceport America Cup attracts upwards of 150 collegiate teams from all around the world to showcase new designs and compete in this awesome rocket engineering competition. The competition just keeps growing every year and is an awesome event for Las Cruces and the surrounding area.
It’s the Base for Virgin Galactic
Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic, which is part of the Virgin Group, operates out of Spaceport America and has already taken passengers into space aboard their SpaceShipTwo. As soon as they finish carrying out some final tests, they are going to be scheduling regular commercial space flights from this location.
This places Las Cruces at the very center of commercial space flights into the future, although its place in the history of US space exploration has already been cemented.
It’s the Place Where the U.S. Missile and Space Program Started
Established in 1963, the White Sands Missile Range, which can be found north of Las Cruces, is the birthplace of the US space and missile program. The first image of earth was taken from a rocket launched from this historic site, and nearby at the White Sands Test Facility, propulsion systems testing is still carried out to this day, filling Las Cruces and the surrounding area with the breathtaking sounds and sights of rockets.
To the southwest of Las Cruces lies a volcanic crater that was used to train multiple astronauts of the NASA Apollo 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 missions due to its moon-like terrain.
The Las Cruces Space Festival
Everyone in Las Cruces and beyond comes together for this space festival in order to celebrate the accomplishments of the area while also providing educational and inspirational experiences for everyone. It is a guaranteed fun time out for any space enthusiast and is often the highlight of a vacation for those who visit.
Quality Museum Experiences
Las Cruces is home to the Museum of Nature and Science where visitors can learn about everything space related while looking through the telescope that the famous Clyde Tombaugh built, along with many other educational materials from the NASA Space Science Institute.
Just a short drive away in the neighboring town of Alamagordo is the New Mexico Museum of Space History. This museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Museum, and visitors can check out artifacts from the space age along with the International Space Hall of Fame and more. This museum is also a repository for Spaceport America and the National Space Society, so there are lots of rockets and tech from the space age to be seen.