Posts Tagged ‘Albuquerque’

Release courtesy of Spaceport America

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, NM – The New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) Board of Directors reviewed plans today to design, build and program the Spaceport America Visitor Experience. The plan includes two off-site Welcome Centers located in the Village of Hatch in Doña Ana County and in Truth or Consequences in Sierra County, plus an on-site Visitors Center and specially developed behind-the-scenes tours as well as the chance to visit the Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space.

The Spaceport America Visitor Experience will be a professionally designed immersion into the excitement of the world’s first purpose-built, commercial spaceport. Guests will be invited to explore the history, adventure, potential and inspiration of both the next space-age. Officials project attendance will grow to more than 200,000 visitors annually.

“The Spaceport Experience begins on-line long before a guest arrives at a Welcome Center” explained Bob Allen, IDEAS Chief Storytelling Officer. “There will be a robust virtual environment offering games, mobile apps and content so that especially our younger guests will already feel a part of the new space age by the time they come for a visit.” Kelly Pounds, IDEAS Vice President of Learning, noted that a lot of the content will have an educational focus. “We’ll have a special section for educators incorporating lesson plans, instructionally and designed interactives as well as a way for teachers to establish a dialogue with Spaceport for long-term collaboration.

“The Welcome Centers are the “mission briefing” areas where guests become part of the spaceport crew, get updated on current activity, get their credentials and catch a shuttle,” said Allen. The shuttles, designed as traveling theaters are an integral part of the experience. Because Spaceport America is a part of a rich portfolio of regional tourism, the Welcome Centers will also feature a “regional trailhead” where guests can learn about and plan multi-day itineraries. Once guests arrive at Spaceport America, they enter the onsite Visitors Center, which will feature hands-on access to space technology and artifacts from recent launches, the opportunity to create a payload and manifest it for flight, interactive and simulation based experiences and a theater. From the Visitors Center, guests can take a guided in-depth shuttle tour of the entire spaceport finishing at the entrance to the Virgin Galactic Gateway to Space where they will get a chance to see in depth into the exciting reality of the world’s first passenger spaceship fleet. Allen noted that, “we are designing a learning-enriched, hands-on immersion into what space is going to be about for the next twenty years. We want a relationship with our guests that lasts generations.”

Comprised of nine companies with rich experience in the design, development, operation and marketing of location-based entertainment, TEAM IDEAS was hired by NMSA to create a memorable visitor experience for Spaceport America, and to create a plan that will meet the needs of visitors and enhance regional tourism. The team evaluated six potential Welcome Center sites in Hatch and eight sites in Truth or Consequences using metrics and criteria developed in the destination hospitality industry before recommending a site in each community with proximity and easy access to I-25 to enhance guest wayfinding and brand visibility.  Officials with NMSA and TEAM IDEAS emphasized a focus on the commercial success of the visitor experience as the best way to make a positive impact on local communities.

The NMSA Board of Directors indicated their support for the plan, with NMSA Chairman Rick Holdridge saying, “After reviewing the TEAM IDEAS recommendations and reconciling it with our budget and commitment to the two counties, we are confident that we have a winning solution fulfilling the promise of economic development, tourism and education.”

Next steps in the development process include the release of Requests for Proposals (RFP) targeting outside investment in Visitor Experience facilities from private developers, the development of a unified visual spaceport brand identity, and continued refinement of the plans as presented. The initial Spaceport America Visitor Experience is expected to reach operational capacity in 2013, about the time Virgin Galactic is intending to begin their commercial operations from Spaceport America. In the meantime, Spaceport America Preview Tours will provide visitors a taste of the project until the full Visitor Experience is ready.

About Spaceport America

Spaceport America has been providing commercial launch services since 2006. Phase One of the construction for the spaceport is expected to be complete in early 2012. Phase Two of the construction and pre-operations activities will follow, including the development of a world-class Visitor Experience for students, tourists and space launch customers, the vertical launch complex improvements and the paving of the southern road to the spaceport. When Phase Two construction is completed in 2013, Spaceport America will become fully operational.

Officials at Spaceport America have been working closely with entrepreneurial space leaders like UP Aerospace, Virgin Galactic, and Armadillo Aerospace, as well as established aerospace firms like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and MOOG-FTS to develop commercial spaceflight at the new facility. The economic impact of launches, tourism and new construction at Spaceport America are already delivering on the promise of economic development to the people of New Mexico.

For more information, please visit: www.spaceportamerica.com
For more information on Preview Tours of the Spaceport, please visit: www.ftstours.com
Facebook: Spaceport America, or follow us on Twitter: @Spaceport_NM

About TEAM IDEAS

IDEAS is an innovation studio using the power of story to provide creative, design and production services for entertainment, marketing and learning clients. IDEAS was created in 2001 in a management buyout from The Walt Disney Company and serves clients in enterprise and government worldwide. The company operates from its studio headquarters in downtown Orlando’s Creative Village.

Other team members include: Integrated Insight, Inc.; ORCA Consulting LLC; Cordova Marketing Group; Exline Design and Architecture; MYDesign, Inc.; and Blackhorse Worldwide. Team members from New Mexico include SMPC Architects and Larry Littlebird of Albuquerque, NM. The contract called for companies to create partnerships to provide a wide range of services to develop the spaceport’s Visitor Experience.

TEAM IDEAS members have provided a broad range of services in experience development for a list of clients that includes every major Walt Disney theme park & resort around the world, major Universal Studios theme parks, NASCAR, the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, the U.S. Capitol, the Statue of Liberty, the United States Air Force and the United States Navy. This caliber of relevant experience makes the team well-suited to develop the story, design, market analytics, operational strategy, and facilities of the Spaceport America Visitor Experience.

For more information, please visit: www.ideasorlando.com

Facebook: Ideas Orlando

Mission of Mercy (MOM) is seeking 1,000 volunteers to serve the expected 2,000 patients in need of dental treatment. Not only is the dental community volunteering, but MOM is in need of hosts to escort patients, people to volunteer in registration, parking, data entry, hospitality & more! The event will take place at the Las Cruces Convention Center on March 2-3, 2012. For more information regarding volunteer types, shifts available and to register please click here.  Volunteers should register no later than Friday, February 17^th.

Mission of Mercy is a New Mexico Dental Foundation sponsored event. During the two day event, dental professionals and passionate volunteers come together to help provide dental care for the underserved population in our state. It is a first come, first served clinic where all are welcome. This clinic is for low- or no-income New Mexicans who cannot pay for dental care.

In 2010, the inaugural NM MOM was held in Albuquerque, NM and it was a huge success. A total of 1.3 million dollars in dental services was donated. This event pulled together 1,700 volunteers who served over 2,200 New Mexico residents and performed 8,724 procedures. The 2010 MOM event was the single largest charitable event in New Mexico history. The New Mexico Dental Foundation will be sponsoring the second event here in New Mexico in Las Cruces with the help of the Las Cruces community. The Foundation is an important new player on the public health scene in our state.

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Economic Development Department, in collaboration with the New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership, is offering New Mexico 9000 training classes to prepare New Mexico businesses for ISO 9001 Certification.

The first session is scheduled for December 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the New Mexico State University Albuquerque branch, 4501 Indian School Rd. NE.

New Mexico 9000 was created by the Economic Development Department to provide training and assistance to New Mexico businesses in preparing for ISO 90001:2008. Training will be broken into six half-day sessions over a 3-6 month period.

“This is a great opportunity for New Mexico businesses to access new customers, become more efficient and lower their operating costs,” said Jon Barela, New Mexico Economic Development Cabinet Secretary.

The New Mexico 9000 training program has been completed by 155 companies, creating over 1,000 new expansion jobs.

Trained professionals will conduct ISO 9001:2008 classes in:

• Internal Auditing
• Writing Standard Operating Procedures
• Writing Work Instructions
• Understanding the Standard

ISO is a general Quality Management System. Companies like Intel, Boeing and many other companies are requiring that their first tier suppliers be ISO 9001 certified. In turn, those suppliers are requiring that their suppliers are ISO 9000 certified. In addition, government agencies, such as the Department of Defense, NASA and NNSA are also requiring ISO certification of their providers.

ISO 9000 standards have been adopted by 178 countries. There are now more than 1 million companies worldwide that have registered to the ISO standards. Costs associated with obtaining, maintaining, and renewing ISO registration are tax deductible. The cost of the New Mexico 9000 training classes is based on annual company sales revenue, ranging from $550 to $3,300 for the training.

For more information, or to register for the program, contact the New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership, at (505) 262-0921 or via e-mail, at info@newmexicomep.org.

Release courtesy of the Governor’s Office

 SANTA FE – Governor Susana Martinez made the following statement after receiving notification that global electronics manufacturer TE Connectivity will merge two distribution and manufacturing centers in the southwest United States into a single facility in Santa Teresa. Governor Martinez and Economic Development Secretary-designate Jon Barela both met personally with representatives from TE Connectivity to encourage them to expand their operations in New Mexico and contribute to the state’s growing economy along the southern border.

“As we work to encourage economic growth in and attract new businesses to our state, I’m pleased that TE Connectivity has decided to expand in Santa Teresa,” said Governor Martinez. “Continuing to foster a friendlier environment that encourages growth and investment will send a signal that New Mexico is open for business. This announcement is an important development and I am committed to further encouraging growth and expansion as we work to turn New Mexico’s economy around.”

“New Mexico can and should be an attractive destination for businesses to grow and expand,” added Secretary Barela. “TE Connectivity’s decision to centralize their operations in Santa Teresa is a great step forward for economic development in our state. This administration remains committed to creating a friendlier business environment so we can continue to attract businesses and create jobs in New Mexico.”

Governor Martinez and Secretary Barela met with TE Connectivity executives in Albuquerque over the summer and encouraged them to consider merging their southwestern facilities in Santa Teresa. As a result, Southern New Mexico will house the company’s largest distribution and manufacturing center in the United States.

“Our conversations with Governor Martinez and her administration were very encouraging as we were making the decision to expand operations in Santa Teresa,” said Joann Piccolo, Vice President of Global Government Affairs for TE Connectivity. “We are grateful for the guidance provided by Governor Martinez and Secretary Barela and we look forward to a long and successful presence in Southern New Mexico.”

TE Connectivity designs and manufactures over 500,000 products and employs nearly 100,000 workers. Their partners include customers in a wide range of industries, including consumer electronics, energy, healthcare, automotive, aerospace, and communications networks.

Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Bulletin

By Todd G. Dickson

On the eve of a week of activities related to new space entrepreneurs, Spaceport America’s two primary customers – Virgin Galactic and UP Aerospace – have made major announcements.

UP Aerospace, the company that has conducted a number of traditional sounding rocket launches from the spaceport 45 miles north of Las Cruces, announced this week that it will conduct up to nine new missions from Spaceport America in 2012 and 2013.

The launches will be for NASA and the Department of Defense. If all the planning launches from contracts are conducted, they will be twice the number of missions UP Aerospace has flown from Spaceport America since 2006.

“Spaceport America has an established history with UP Aerospace, and we congratulate this forward-thinking company on its new launch contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense,” said New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) Executive Director Christine Anderson. “UP Aerospace has been launching here since 2006 and we are looking forward to hosting UP Aerospace and other commercial space launch providers as they continue to meet the needs of our nation.”

NASA’s Office of Chief Technologist Launch Opportunities Program awarded UP Aerospace a contract to integrate technology payloads and launch them into space on up to eight flights using its SpaceLoft rocket. This contract reserves two launches with options on purchasing up to six additional flights in 2012 and 2013.

The first launch for NASA is still in the planning phase, but is expected in the first quarter of 2012, according to a news release from NMSA. The second contract was issued by the Defense Department’s Operationally Responsive Space Office, and will be a suborbital flight also planned for the first quarter of 2012.

“We have a great relationship with Spaceport America,” said UP Aerospace President Jerry Larson. “We are excited to see business ramping up for our SpaceLoft launch vehicles, and look forward to meeting the needs of our customers.”

UP Aerospace has provided launch services for the Defense Department previously, although this will be the company’s first fully dedicated launch for the military. UP Aerospace has teamed with Schafer Corporation of Albuquerque to provide comprehensive launch and payload integration services for the NASA launches.

At Spaceport America, UP Aerospace has conducted launches test rocket vehicle or booster concepts for companies that do business with the Defense Department.

Virgin Galactic gets the keys

On Monday, Oct. 17, which is the start of Space Week in New Mexico, Virgin Galactic will host a hangar dedication ceremony at Spaceport America, where work on its Terminal Hangar Facility is nearly completed where Virgin will be housing its fleet of spaceliners. Virgin Galactic is calling the hangar dedication ceremony “Keys to a New Dawn.”

Meanwhile, Virgin Galactic has a new Vice President of Operations Michael Moses, a former NASA executive. Moses will oversee the planning and execution of all operations of the company’s commercial suborbital spaceflight program.

“Following a distinguished career in NASA’s recently retired Space Shuttle Program, Moses brings to Virgin Galactic a proven record of safe, successful and secure human spaceflight missions, spaceport operations, and human spaceflight program leadership,” Virgin Galactic stated in its announcement. “He served at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida as the Launch Integration Manager from 2008 until the landing of the final Shuttle mission in July 2011. He was responsible for supervising all Space Shuttle processing activities from landing through launch, and for reviewing major milestones including final readiness for flight.”

Moses also served as chair of the Mission Management Team, providing ultimate launch decision authority for the final 12 missions of the Space Shuttle Program, directly overseeing the safe and successful flights of 75 astronauts. According to Virgin Galactic, Moses will develop and lead the team responsible for its spaceship operations and logistics, flight crew operations, customer training and spaceport ground operations, with overall operational safety and risk management as the primary focus.

“Bringing Mike in to lead the team represents a significant investment in our commitment to operational safety and success as we prepare to launch commercial operations,” said Virgin Galactic President and CEO George Whitesides. “His experience and track record in all facets of spaceflight operations are truly unique. His forward-thinking perspective to bring the hard-won lessons of human spaceflight into our operations will benefit us tremendously.”

Prior to his most recent NASA role, Moses served as a flight director at the NASA Johnson Space Center, where he led teams of flight controllers in the planning, training and execution of all aspects of space shuttle missions. Moses also has more than 10 years experience as a flight controller in the Shuttle Propulsion and Electrical Systems Groups.

“I am extremely excited to be joining Virgin Galactic at this time, helping to forge the foundations that will enable routine commercial suborbital spaceflights,” Moses said. “Virgin Galactic will expand the legacy of human spaceflight beyond traditional government programs into the world’s first privately funded commercial spaceline.”

Moses holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Purdue University, a master’s degree in space sciences from Florida Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Purdue University. He is a two-time recipient of the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal as well as other NASA commendations and awards.

Carolyn Wincer, who is Virgin Galactic’s head of travel and tourism, recently said the company will soon be opening an office in Las Cruces. Wincer said more than 70 flight tests have made of Virgin’s system that launches a six passenger rocket from mid-air to reach 70miles above the Earth’s surface.

Some 500 experienced test pilots have applied to fly for Virgin Galactic, according to Wincer. Meanwhile, more than 500 potential passengers have made down payments for the $200,000 tickets, totaling close to $60 million in deposits. Virgin Galactic also will host the first-ever “Industry Day” for potential suppliers and partners at Spaceport America on Tuesday, Oct. 18. The invitation-only event is designed to educate potential companies on the type of goods and services that will be needed as commercial space travel becomes a reality at Spaceport America.

“Virgin Galactic and (its sister) The Spaceship Company are looking to create relationships with local, regional and global suppliers to support their operations at Spaceport America,” Anderson said. “The organizers of this event have stated their intention to hire locally as much as possible, which is good news for New Mexico companies.”

The daylong event will include presentations by Whitesides, Anderson and New Mexico Department of Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela. Attendees will have an opportunity to see the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo vehicles in their new home at the spaceport.

Space gathering an international event

After the Virgin Galactic event, the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight (ISPCS) begins at New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Spring Road.

A Growing Community Partnership Luncheon will be held Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Commercial Space Exhibit Hall inside the museum. The $50 luncheon includes a talk by Allan Lockheed, son of the aviation pioneer who created what is now Lockheed Martin. Lockheed will talk about how the space industry will coalesce around Spaceport America – an industry that is currently supported by $60 billion just in government spending.

More than 500 people – mostly key movers in the private space industry – are expected to attend ISPCS Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 19-20. Panel discussion will cover a host of topics, including creating the supply chain support.