More about the Space Center

It's appropriate that New Mexico, the cradle of America's space program, offer a museum which celebrates man's exploration of space. The Space Center in Alamogordo is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the history, technology and science of the "space age."

The Space Center, a five-story golden cube nestled on the western slope of the Sacramento Mountains, mixes education with entertainment in its presentation of space history. The Space Center includes the International Space Hall of Fame, which features exhibits ranging from Robert Goddard's early rocket experiments near Roswell, New Mexico, to mockups of tomorrow's space stations; John P. Stapp Air and Space Park features larger exhibits such as the Apollo program's Little Joe II rocket and the rocket sled that "Fastest Man Alive" Stapp rode to 634 mph; the Clyde W. Tombaugh OMNIMAX Theater and Planetarium, the only OMNIMAX theater in New Mexico; and Astronaut Memorial Garden, a tribute to the Space Shuttle Challenger astronauts.

The Hubbard Space Science Education Building houses the Space Center's annual summer program--Shuttle Camp--and the museum's agressive outreach and education programs. Shuttle Camp, for children from kindergarten through the 12th grade, educates 650 students each summer in week-long residential and non-residential sessions.

The Space Center Education Department's ShuttleVan outreach program and Teacher/Student Resource Room are additional education success stories. The department serves approximately 20,000 students each school year.

The Space Center opened to the public in 1976. The Space Center's staff is assisted in its planning and development by the 11-member Space Center Commission, which is appointed by the governor. The museum and its OMNIMAX theater receive about 200,000 visitors annually.