Spaceport America launches multi-million dollar visitor experience
POSTED 02 Jul 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
Visitors board multi-media shuttles to make the 25 mile (40km) journey out to the remote Spaceport Credit: Spaceport America
New Mexico’s Spaceport America – the first purpose-built commercial spaceport in the world – has launched a new experience tour and exhibition for its visitors as it looks to offset operational costs for the US$219m (€195m, £139m) facility.
A new US$7m (€6.2m, £4.4m) visitor centre, which sits in the hot-springs district of the city of Truth or Consequences, is located inside a historic 1930s adobe building. The visitor centre offers educational and interactive space experiences, with the option of purchasing a ticket for the official tour of the URS/Foster + Partners-designed Spaceport for the full experience.
The four-hour trip, which had been running as a “hard hat” tour for several years, has now been modified to provide a fully-fledged experience. Visitors board multi-media shuttles to make the 25 mile (40km) journey out to the remote location, where video presentations en-route will educate them about the history and evolution of the regional Spanish and Native American pioneers all the way up to the space pioneers currently shooting for the stars in astro-travel.
After arriving at the Spaceport, visitors enter the brand new Gateway Gallery by Orlando-based experience design firm IDEAS, where they can see life-size replicas of offerings from Virgin Galactic, get a view of the 45,000sq ft (4,180sq m) terminal hangar and the chance to try out a G-Shock simulator. Following this, visitors are taken to the Spaceport Operations Center (SOC) and can interact with Spaceport’s staff and look around the state-of-the-art fire station before being driven down the 12,000ft-long (3,657m) main runway.
"We wanted Spaceport America to be a place where the public can have a hands-on, authentic and fun experience inside a real commercial space launch facility – an experience you can't get anywhere else," said CEO Christine Anderson. "To that end, we have created the Spaceport America Experience so that our guests will learn more about space travel, about Spaceport America, and about New Mexico's role in enabling commercial space."
The new visitor centre and accompanying experience have been developed as a way to offset running costs for the Spaceport, where flights are currently grounded after a Virgin Galactic test flight broke apart during a rocket-powered test flight over California's Mojave Desert last year, killing one pilot and seriously injuring another.
Prior to the accident, flights had been scheduled for early 2015, but that has now been altered to “when we’re ready”, according to Spaceport representatives.
Visitors can interact with the Spaceport’s staff Credit: Spaceport America
A new US$7m (€6.2m, £4.4m) visitor centre is located inside a historic 1930s adobe building Credit: Spaceport America
Guests get the chance to try out a G-Shock simulator Credit: Spaceport America
RELATED STORIES
Campbeltown confident about being named spaceport POSTED 21 May 2015. BY Kath Hudson Scottish community-owned airbase, Machrihanish
Airbase in Campbeltown, is confident it
is going to beat the other four shortlisted candidates
to become the UK’s first spaceport in
2018.
Another step forward for space tourism plans POSTED 09 Mar 2015. BY Kath Hudson Britain’s ambitious space tourism are taken one step closer, after a
three month consultation has shown widespread support for a UK spaceport.
Scotland dominates list of potential sites for UK spaceport POSTED 16 Jul 2014. BY Jak Phillips The UK’s bid to become a space tourism hotspot has taken a ‘giant leap’
forward, after the government unveiled eight coastal sites under consideration
to host the country’s first spaceport – six of which are in Scotland.
Government reveals UK space tourism ambitions POSTED 07 May 2014. BY Jak Phillips The government has backed plans for a four-fold expansion of the UK space
industry, with the potential for an operational British spaceport within five years
as it bids to cash in on the expected boom in space tourism.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Spaceport America launches multi-million dollar visitor experience
POSTED 02 Jul 2015 . BY Tom Anstey
Visitors board multi-media shuttles to make the 25 mile (40km) journey out to the remote Spaceport Credit: Spaceport America
New Mexico’s Spaceport America – the first purpose-built commercial spaceport in the world – has launched a new experience tour and exhibition for its visitors as it looks to offset operational costs for the US$219m (€195m, £139m) facility.
A new US$7m (€6.2m, £4.4m) visitor centre, which sits in the hot-springs district of the city of Truth or Consequences, is located inside a historic 1930s adobe building. The visitor centre offers educational and interactive space experiences, with the option of purchasing a ticket for the official tour of the URS/Foster + Partners-designed Spaceport for the full experience.
The four-hour trip, which had been running as a “hard hat” tour for several years, has now been modified to provide a fully-fledged experience. Visitors board multi-media shuttles to make the 25 mile (40km) journey out to the remote location, where video presentations en-route will educate them about the history and evolution of the regional Spanish and Native American pioneers all the way up to the space pioneers currently shooting for the stars in astro-travel.
After arriving at the Spaceport, visitors enter the brand new Gateway Gallery by Orlando-based experience design firm IDEAS, where they can see life-size replicas of offerings from Virgin Galactic, get a view of the 45,000sq ft (4,180sq m) terminal hangar and the chance to try out a G-Shock simulator. Following this, visitors are taken to the Spaceport Operations Center (SOC) and can interact with Spaceport’s staff and look around the state-of-the-art fire station before being driven down the 12,000ft-long (3,657m) main runway.
"We wanted Spaceport America to be a place where the public can have a hands-on, authentic and fun experience inside a real commercial space launch facility – an experience you can't get anywhere else," said CEO Christine Anderson. "To that end, we have created the Spaceport America Experience so that our guests will learn more about space travel, about Spaceport America, and about New Mexico's role in enabling commercial space."
The new visitor centre and accompanying experience have been developed as a way to offset running costs for the Spaceport, where flights are currently grounded after a Virgin Galactic test flight broke apart during a rocket-powered test flight over California's Mojave Desert last year, killing one pilot and seriously injuring another.
Prior to the accident, flights had been scheduled for early 2015, but that has now been altered to “when we’re ready”, according to Spaceport representatives.
Visitors can interact with the Spaceport’s staff Credit: Spaceport America
A new US$7m (€6.2m, £4.4m) visitor centre is located inside a historic 1930s adobe building Credit: Spaceport America
Guests get the chance to try out a G-Shock simulator Credit: Spaceport America
RELATED STORIES
Campbeltown confident about being named spaceport POSTED 21 May 2015. BY Kath Hudson Scottish community-owned airbase, Machrihanish
Airbase in Campbeltown, is confident it
is going to beat the other four shortlisted candidates
to become the UK’s first spaceport in
2018.
Another step forward for space tourism plans POSTED 09 Mar 2015. BY Kath Hudson Britain’s ambitious space tourism are taken one step closer, after a
three month consultation has shown widespread support for a UK spaceport.
Scotland dominates list of potential sites for UK spaceport POSTED 16 Jul 2014. BY Jak Phillips The UK’s bid to become a space tourism hotspot has taken a ‘giant leap’
forward, after the government unveiled eight coastal sites under consideration
to host the country’s first spaceport – six of which are in Scotland.
Government reveals UK space tourism ambitions POSTED 07 May 2014. BY Jak Phillips The government has backed plans for a four-fold expansion of the UK space
industry, with the potential for an operational British spaceport within five years
as it bids to cash in on the expected boom in space tourism.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
+ More news
COMPANY PROFILES
Sally Corporation Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
