Range Schedule:

Friday May 26

• 7:00 a.m. Range setup
• 2:00 p.m. Sunspot Solar Observatory Tour
• 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. “Blast Off” Dinner and Social

Saturday May 27

• 7:00 a.m. Range opens
• 3:00 p.m. Range closes
• 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Museum Warehouse and Restoration Facility Tour
• 7:00 p.m. – ??? Night launch

Sunday May 28

• 7:00 a.m. Range opens
• 1:00 p.m. Mass Launch of V2’s
• 3:00 p.m. Range closes

Monday May 29

• 7:00 a.m. Range opens
• 1:00 p.m. Range closes; site tear down

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

• 7:30 – 4:30 pm WSMR/Holloman AFB guided tour

When it comes to America’s rocket and space activity, New Mexico might not grab the headlines the way Cape Canaveral and Houston do, but much of the early work and behind-the scenes research that paved the way for America to become a world leader in space happened right here. This continues today.

From Robert Goddard near Roswell in the 1930s, through the post-WWII V2 program and continued launch testing at White Sands Missile Range – on to the establishment of Spaceport America today – for eighty years New Mexico has been at the cutting edge, the very frontier, of new developments in space, aerospace, and rocketry. This will continue into the future. It is in this setting that we invite you to come fly with us!

This event is sponsored by the Fellowship of Las Cruces Area Rocketry Enthusiasts (FLARE), and the Spaceport Model Rocket Association (SMRA) of Alamogordo, New Mexico. 

All activities are located in and around Alamogordo, NM. The nearest commercial Airport is ELP in El Paso, Tx., 92 miles to the east. Personal transportation is a must. Bus transport is not available for most of the special activities, or to the launch site.

The desert is warming up here in late May, with daytime highs frequently exceeding 90 degrees. You should dress for warm weather, but have jackets or windbreakers on hand just the same. Temperature swings from day to night can be 40 degrees or more, so be prepared for chilly mornings and evenings. We sometimes see cold fronts move through this time of the year and these can bring moderate to high winds. Afternoon thunderstorms and rain are rare at this time but are nevertheless possible. Otherwise, it is sunny, clear, and still – especially in the morning hours. Due to the high altitude and very dry air, this area provides high exposure to UV light, so don’t forget the sunscreen. Please trust us, sandals and flip-flops are not an option in this area.

Area sites which will interest you include the New Mexico Museum of Space History, White Sands Missile Range, White Sands National Monument, Sunspot Solar and Apache Point Observatories, Holloman Air Force Base, and the Lincoln National Forest. We have put together some very special events and tours in order to make this a must-go event for the whole family. We would be so pleased if you could join us.