Decades ago, President John F. Kennedy set a plan in motion that would send Neil Armstrong to explore the Moon. Now, a different Kennedy and Armstrong are teaming up to try to entice space tourists to explore New Mexico.
Sheli Hinds Armstrong will serve as the first director of space tourism at the SpaceValley Foundation, an Albuquerque-based nonprofit led by executive director Bryce Kennedy. SpaceValley aims to combine space and science with arts, culture, travel, and education to foster conversation and innovation to shape the future of space.
Road trip: From the tourism perspective, Armstrong wants all people who visit New Mexico to experience the enormous grandeur that includes Spaceport America. But the officials also see the spaceport— which offers a near-unpopulated environment near White Sands Missile Range, meaning there’s already minimal flights overhead— as a tool to ease congestion at other US launch ranges.
“Spaceport America is this rare, rare gem that…we’re hoping to shape that narrative [for] and bring attention to this so we can start utilizing it,” said Kennedy.
What to expect: Armstrong will help develop a state-wide space tourism strategy, and establish new tours and programs, for travelers to the Land of Enchantment. While tour details are still being finalized, SpaceValley hints that visitors may be able to:
- Sled down dunes at White Sands Missile Range and explore its missile and rocket history.
- Navigate lava tubes at El Malpais National Monument, which is a NASA rover testing ground.
- Explore UFO history at sites in Socorro or Roswell.
- Stargaze at Cosmic Campground, an International Dark Sky Sanctuary in Gila National Forest with a pristine view of the night sky.
Space for all: Armstrong brings decades of experience in event planning, business ops, and hospitality. Her focus is on crafting visitor experiences with SpaceValley that complement New Mexico’s broader tourist ecosystem.
“It’s really [about] making space for everyone, so everyone can experience it,” said Armstrong. “…In New Mexico, we have so many opportunities in so many different areas…what I am trying to create is something different, so that people don’t have to travel far to have a unique experience.”
