As well as the Scaled Composites WhiteKnight Two flyover at about midday you can also look forward to liquid cheese the night before as part of the entertainment. What liquid cheese is I have no idea (unless it is the live music) but no doubt it is as innovative as the US invention that is hotdog on a stick. Read below and in the extended section of this blog post the details of Spaceport America’s ground breaking event
Meanwhile Hyperbola will be at the world’s biggest aerospace event the le Bourget salon aka Paris air show (that’s Paris, France not Texas) so absoutely none of our editorial team can be there. Best of luck New Mexico Spaceport Authority – and Scaled 😉
June 5, 2009SCHEDULE UPDATES
SPACEPORT AMERICA GROUNDBREAKING EVENT
SECOND NOTICE – REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS & EVENT SCHEDULE UPDATESLAS CRUCES New updates to the Spaceport America groundbreaking events have been added to the schedule for Friday, June 19. Please go online at www.spaceportamerica.com/groundbreaking to see the up-to-date detailed event schedule. Members of the media are invited to attend the groundbreaking events, and special transportation provisions have been made for media. This advisory contains specific media-related information required for registration to attend the groundbreaking event.
Bus transportation is available for media members that want to attend the groundbreaking ceremony. No private vehicles are allowed to the spaceport site. Satellite and broadcast trucks will be allowed provided that prior notification is given by calling (575) 524-8118 in advance between 8 A.M. and 5 P.M. MST Monday through Friday. All media, including broadcast equipment vehicles, will be required to check in at the VIP/Media Check-In Area at one of two locations: in Las Cruces at the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, or at Ralph Edwards Park in Truth or Consequences. Registration must be complete before being allowed to board a bus to the site.
Space will be limited on the buses, so it is important to reserve your place. Deadline for registration is 5:00 P.M. Monday, June 15. Register by calling (575) 524-8118 between 8 A.M. and 5 P.M. MST Monday through Friday; or by emailing traffic@wilson-binkley.com. There will be two opportunities to board a bus:
Media Transportation Staging to Ground Breaking Event
LAS CRUCES: Friday, June 19 Check-In Begins at 6:00 A.M. (Look for media check in table)
Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces (Event Headquarters Hotel)
705 S. Telshor Blvd., Las Cruces, NM
BUSES LOAD AT 6:45 A.M.
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES: Friday, June 19 Check-In Begins at 8 A.M.
(Look for media check in table)
Ralph Edwards Park in T or C, NM
(I-25 exit 79 to Date St. Appx. one mile on Date St. Turn left on Riverside Dr., appx.
one block to park.)
BUSES LOAD AT 9:15 A.M.
Buses are scheduled to arrive back in T or C at around 1:00 P.M and in Las Cruces at around 3 P.M. An up-to-date detailed event schedule can be viewed online at www.spaceportamerica.com/groundbreaking
Spaceport America Groundbreaking Schedule
Thursday, June 18th, 2009
PUBLIC EVENT
5:00 PM Main campus of New Mexico State University at Hadley Hall on the Horseshoe
(NOTE: This is a Las Cruces Community Event open to the public)
5:15 PM Bands begin, community games/events
- Orlando Antonio Jimenez and Group
Driving Directions:
Map link to this event: http://www.nmsu.edu/General/Maps/1a.html
6:00 PM Speakers:
- Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima Intro & Welcome (5 minutes)
- New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (10 minutes)
- FAA AST George Nield (5 minutes)
- Ben Woods or new President of NMSU (5 minutes)
- Stephen Attenborough, CEO Virgin Galactic (5 minutes)
6:45 PM VIP’s Depart for Reception at New Mexico Heritage Farm & Ranch Museum
7-8:00 PM Live stage music and community games/events
- Liquid Cheese
- Community activities include: Space Shuttle hot air balloon, kids games and WSMR Display with NASA support.
- Food and beverages available
8:00 PM – Public event ends
PRIVATE RECEPTION
New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum Begins (VIP Reception-private event)
NOTE: VIP’s must check-in and register at this event
Driving Directions: The museum is located just off Interstate 25 in Las Cruces at 4100 Dripping Springs Road. Take the University Exit (Exit 1) and go east 1.5 miles.
7:00 PM Reception starts
- Champagne & or’dourves served
- Music by Nosotros
- Bar from 7 PM- 8 PM
7:45 PM Speakers:
Welcome by Master of Ceremonies New Mexico Spaceport Authority Chairman of the Board, Daniela Glick and introduction of Special Guests (5 minutes)
- New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (10 minutes)
- Steve Landeene, NMSA/Spaceport America Director (10 minutes)
- Pat Hynes, Space Grant (5 minutes)
- Will Whitehorn, President Virgin Galactic (15 minutes)
8:30 PM – Music and Videos continues
9:00 PM Reception Ends
– VIP’s Receive gift bags upon departure
Dress: Business Casual
Friday, June 19th, 2009
VIP/MEDIA TRANSPORTATION FROM LAS CRUCES TO GROUNDBREAKING
- 6: 00 AM VIP/Media check-in at Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces, 705 S. Telshor Blvd.
- Light breakfast & coffee to be served in lobby
- You must check-in and badges must be worn to get on the bus
6:45 AM Buses begin loading
7:00 AM VIP/Media buses leave Las Cruces (Hotel Encanto)
NOTE: ALL VIPs & MEDIA NOT ARRIVING ON LAS CRUCES BUSES HAVE A MANDATORY ARRIVAL CHECK-IN TIME AT RALPH EDWARDS PARK IN TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES AT 8:30 AM. LOOK FOR THE VIP/MEDIA SIGNS AT THE PARK.
MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA MUST RIDE THE BUS IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OFFICIAL SPACEPORT AMERICA HARD HAT TOUR. THERE WILL BE NO PRIVATE VEHICLES ALLOWED INTO THE SPACEPORT GROUNDBREAKING!
PUBLIC BREAKFAST EVENT (Ralph Edwards Park in Truth or Consequences, NM)
Driving Directions: Take I-25 to Truth or Consequences. Exit 79 to Date Street. Proceed for approximately 1 mile. Turn left on Riverside Drive for approximately one block.
8:00 AM – Groundbreaking Breakfast Event (T or C Community Event)
NOTE: ALL VIP’s & MEDIA NOT ARRIVING ON LAS CRUCES BUSES HAVE A MANDATORY ARRIVAL CHECK-IN TIME AT RALPH EDWARDS PARK IN TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES AT 8:30 AM. LOOK FOR THE VIP/MEDIA SIGNS AT THE CHECK-IN TABLE AT IN THE PARK
8:30 AM VIP’s/Media arrive at Ralph Edwards Park Truth or Consequences from Las Cruces by bus.
8:45 Speakers:
- Mayor Lori Montgomery, (T or C) Intro & Welcome (2 minutes)
– New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (5 minutes)
- Steve Landeene (NMSA) (5 minutes)
- Steven Attenborough, CEO Virgin Galactic (5 minutes)
NOTE: IT’S STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA RIDE THE BUS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET THE OFFICIAL SPACEPORT AMERICA HARD HAT TOUR.
9:15 AM Buses begin loading for the spaceport site
- You must check-in and badges must be worn to get on the bus
9:30 AM VIP/Media load buses and depart
- Hard Hat Tours on the bus to the Site.
GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY (Private event for VIP’s & Media)
10:30 AM VIP/Media Arrive at Spaceport America Groundbreaking site
10:45 AM VIP seated and prepare for ceremony
– Media sets up for the event.
11:00 AM On-site Ceremony Begins
- Welcome by Master of Ceremonies New Mexico Spaceport Authority Chairman of the Board, Daniela Glick and introduction of Special Guests (5 minutes)
– National Anthem (5 minutes)
– Speakers:
- Steve Landeene, NMSA/Spaceport America Director (5 minutes)
- Governor Bill Richardson, New Mexico (5 minutes)
- Will Whitehorn, President Virgin Galactic (5 minutes)
- George Nield, FAA- AST (5 minutes)
11:30 AM Groundbreaking
- Young New Mexico Rocketeers fire off their model rockets (tentative)
- Bladed graders move toward the mound near stage for groundbreaking (5 minutes)
- The passing of the Conquistador torch flame to the New World Explores (5 minutes)
- VIP Shovels digging in to the ground/Photos (10 minutes)
- Virgin Galactic WhiteKnight Two Flyover Spaceport America Groundbreaking
NOTE: Virgin Galactic WhiteKnight Two Flyover Spaceport America Groundbreaking site at (Flyover tentative based on weather and aircraft test flight schedule conditions)
11:50 AM – Group photographs taken with press follow-up
12:15 AM – Everyone back on the buses
1:30 PM – Buses arrive back at Ralph Edwards Park in Truth or Consequences
1:45 PM – VIP/Media buses departs for Las Cruces
3:00 PM – VIP/Media buses arrive back in Las Cruces