A Historic Milestone

NEW MEXICO LEADING THE WORLD IN SPACE TOURISM  
Achieving a Historic Milestone in 2019

Press Release via New Mexico True
1/24/2019

The future is now. For nearly a decade New Mexico has partnered with Virgin Galactic to take tourism out of this world to new heights. During an interview today on “CBS This Morning,” Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group said 2019 is the golden year, “I will hope to go up in the middle of this year myself.” Virgin Galactic is planning a few more test flights in Mojave before launching from Spaceport America in southern New Mexico. 

“We are beyond excited to hear about all the new developments Virgin Galactic is making each day and inching closer to providing an incredible, once in a lifetime experience,” NMTD Cabinet Secretary Jen Schroer said, ”this is a testament to New Mexico as we continue to be pioneers in science and technology.”
 
New Mexicans have been leading and paving the way for centuries. The New Mexico True Science and Technology Trail is proof.  The Land of Enchantment, long known as the birthplace of the atomic bomb, giant balloons to UFO (if you’re a believer), continues to change the future through energy and nanotechnology. 
 
“As tourism professionals, we understand people are curious about the unknown and want to explore new adventures, which is why we are ecstatic to support Virgin Galactic in creating a whole new kind of tourism,” Secretary Schroer said. 
 
Just as relevant as it was in 1969, the famous quote by Dr. Buzz Aldrin aboard Apollo 11, still resonates today – “We feel that this stands as a symbol of the insatiable curiosity of all mankind to explore the unknown.”
 
The Tourism Department is thrilled to be working with cities and counties across the state to prepare for this monumental moment. There are 600 people on the waiting list to experience space tourism. 

 About New Mexico True: The New Mexico Tourism Department created the New Mexico True brand in response to common misconceptions that New Mexico is a dry, arid, barren desert state with nothing to do. Built upon the idea that a trip to New Mexico is an “adventure that feeds the soul,” the brand advertising campaign provides a platform for unified messaging for more than 50 communities and businesses around the state. In 2015, New Mexico True received two prestigious awards for “Best Digital Campaign” in the country, and was also awarded the "Best Cooperative Marketing Program" in the US in 2018. Since the launch of the brand in 2012, the economic impact of tourism in New Mexico has grown for seven consecutive years.