Upham is an uninhabited, unincorporated community and place in Sierra County, New Mexico, United States. It has gained recognition for being near the site for the Spaceport America facility being developed by the New Mexico Spaceport Authority.[1] This will be Virgin Galactic's world headquarters and mission control location.[2]
Upham is located approximately 30 miles east of Truth or Consequences, and 45 miles north of Las Cruces, in the southern part of the state[3] 4557 feet (1388 meters) above sea level. Virgin Galactic is the first space tourism company to develop commercial flights into space.
Sub-orbital commercial space launches began in 2007.[4][5]
References
- ^ "Spaceport America Breaks Ground In New Mexico". New Mexico Spaceport Authority. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
UPHAM, NM – With New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Spaceport America officials and supporters of commercial space development in attendance, the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport broke ground today in southern New Mexico.
- ^ "News – SPACEPORT AMERICA RUNWAY DEDICATION". Virgin Galactic. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
UPHAM, NM – The New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) today dedicated the nearly two-mile long “Governor Bill Richardson Spaceway” at Spaceport America, representing significant progress toward launching commercial customers into space from the desert of New Mexico.
- ^ SPACE.com - New Mexico: Building A Better Spaceport
- ^ "Private Firm Launches Test Shot From Spaceport America". space.com. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
- ^ "Lockheed Martin signs agreement with NM Spaceport". New Mexico Business Weekly. 2008-04-15. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
External links
- Google map of Upham, New Mexico
- New Mexico Spaceport blog by Mike McConnell
- David, Leonard (11 May 2004). "New Mexico to host private X Prize spaceflight contests". CNN. Retrieved 2011-05-20.
According to the agency's Web site, selection of a spaceport in New Mexico has centered on Upham, an undeveloped location in Southern New Mexico approximately 45 miles north of Las Cruces and 30 miles east of Truth or Consequences.