New Mexico Museum of Space History

Launch Pad Lecture: Storms, Science & Surveyor: The Story of Apollo 12
2025-11-07 09:00 - 10:00 UTC
Join the New Mexico Museum of Space History for the next Launch Pad Lecture on November 7, “Storms, Science & Surveyor: The Story of Apollo 12,” presented by Marie De Leon, Senior Instructional Coordinator at the Museum.
Apollo 12 transformed a lightning‑struck launch into one of NASA’s most precise lunar landings, showcasing extraordinary teamwork, scientific innovation, and engineering that advanced the frontiers of exploration.
WHEN: Friday, November 7, 2025 – 9:00 a.m.
WHERE: New Horizons Dome Theater, New Mexico Museum of Space History, Alamogordo, NM
ADMISSION: Free; coffee and donuts provided.
About the Speaker: Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Marie De Leon joined the museum’s education team two years ago, combining her background in psychology with a passion for inspiring curiosity through the powerful stories of space exploration.
The Launch Pad Lecture Series is held on the first Friday of each month. Museum staff, along with special guest speakers, discuss topics ranging from space history to its future. For more information, visit our website at www.nmspacemuseum.org

Museum of Space History Launch Pad Lecture: "Apollo, The Men in the Moon"
2026-01-02 09:00 - 10:00 | New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
Museum of Space History Launch Pad Lecture
Guest Speaker: Michael Shinabery, NMMSH Education Director
Lecture Topic: “Apollo, The Men in the Moon”
Location: New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium
Date: January 2, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
The Launch Pad Lecture Series is held on the first Friday of each month in the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium in the Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center. Museum staff, and sometimes special guest speakers, discuss topics ranging from space history to space future. Free to the public. Coffee and donuts provided. For more information, email msh.info@dca.nm.gov or visit our website at www.nmspacemuseum.org

Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League Monthly Meeting
2026-01-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League Monthly Meeting
Date: January 8, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center
The NM Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League meeting is held on the second Thursday of each month in the Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center and is free to attend. Museum staff and sometimes special guest speakers discuss topics ranging from public observing to off-site adventures. For more information, contact the Museum Outreach Department at 575-437-2840 ext 41135 or visit our website at www.NMSpaceMuseum.org.

Join us for "HAM Day" at the New Mexico Museum of Space History!
2026-01-31 11:00 - 14:00 | New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
Ham the astrochimp after his 1961 suborbital flight. Photo by Ralph Morse LIFE Pictures
Alamogordo, NM — America’s Astro-chimp, HAM, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday, on January 31, 2026, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH), from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
HAM was launched 157 miles into space on January 31, 1961, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight on May 5, 1961, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.
To commemorate the accomplishment, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. The event celebrates the anniversary of the flight and the role chimpanzees played in preparing the way for humans in space. After a short, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine, museum educators will lead hands-on, great-ape-themed crafts designed for all ages. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event, and all supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.
The name HAM comes from Holloman Aero Medical, where he was trained by Alamogordo resident Edward C. Dittmer Sr., who also suited up HAM and placed him in the Mercury Capsule perched on a Redstone rocket before the launch. Space scientists believed chimps had the intelligence and reasoning ability needed to test their theories about space travel for humans and whether their psychological abilities to perform in the vacuum of space would deteriorate during the flight. You can see one of the chimps’ space couches at NMMSH.
HAM is buried at the NM Museum of Space History in Alamogordo; his marker reads, “HAM proved mankind could live and work in space.”
The New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium.
Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.

More HAM Day 2026 Details:
WHAT: To commemorate HAM’s launch 157 miles into space on January 31, 1961, paving the way for the US Space program.
WHY: To remember the scientific accomplishment, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for an explanation of the role all the Astro-Chimps played in preparing the way for humans in space.
WHERE: The New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium at New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM. Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org.
WHEN: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
WHO: Everyone’s invited, after a short, kid-friendly overview of great apes and early space medicine, museum educators will lead hands-on, great-ape-themed crafts designed for students in grades 2–7. Families are welcome to drop in at any time during the event, and all basic supplies are included. There will also be “ham and cheese wheels” to eat, and a homemade costume contest that will be judged by staff.
Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.

HAM the astrochimp training for his historic flight. Photo courtesy of NASA.

Celebrate John Glenn’s historic trip around the Earth with an egg drop at New Mexico Museum of Space History on Feb. 28
2026-02-28 11:00 - 14:00 | New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Rd. 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
What: Astronaut John Glenn orbited the Earth in February of 1962. Celebrate that event with the John Glenn Egg Drop at the New Mexico Museum of Space History.
When: Saturday, February 28, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Why: After orbiting the planet, John Glenn’s Friendship 7 capsule plummeted back to Earth, but it was engineered to protect him from the life-threatening impact when it landed. During this Science Saturday, NMMSH will explore ways engineers and scientists create space capsules to protect astronauts like John Glenn as they return from their historic journeys to space. Using an egg as your John Glenn stand-in and various materials like aluminum cans, cardboard tubes, plastic bags, paper, cotton balls, tape, and string, create a Friendship 7 capsule to safely help your John Glenn return to Earth. Alamogordo firemen will take our John Glenn Eggstronauts up their ladders and drop them down from “space” so we can see if they survive their journey back to Earth! Will your John Glenn Eggstronaut survive? Or will you be eggsasperated?
Where: New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Road 2001, Alamogordo, NM.
The New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday is held held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium.Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/.

New Mexico Museum of Space History Launch Pad Lecture: Listen to the Stars: How a Blind Astronomer “Hears” the Cosmos
2026-03-06 09:00 - 22:00 | New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
New Mexico Museum of Space History Launch Pad Lecture
Speaker: Brianna Buller, Museum Curator
Lecture Topic: “The Groundbreaking Work of Blind Astronomer Wanda Díaz-Merced”
Location: New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium
Date: March 6, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Alamogordo, NM – The groundbreaking work of blind astronomer Wanda Díaz-Merced will be brought into focus at the New Mexico Museum of Space History Launch Pad Lecture on Friday, March 6, 9:00–10:00 a.m. Museum Curator Brianna Buller will introduce visitors to Díaz-Merced’s methods, demonstrate how data can be translated into audio patterns, and highlight how these approaches open doors for researchers with diverse abilities while enriching how all scientists interpret information from space.
Drawing from her lived experience with disability, Díaz-Merced has created new ways of engaging with astrophysical data that have broadened accessibility for scientists and students across the space science community.
“I’m excited to share Wanda Díaz-Merced’s story because it shows that space science belongs to every kind of mind, not just those who see,” said Museum Curator Brianna Buller. “Her work with sonification reminds us that when we change how we listen to the universe, we change who gets to participate in discovering it.”
The lecture is free and will be held in the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium at the New Mexico Museum of Space History, located at 3198 State Road 2001, Alamogordo, New Mexico. Visit us at https://nmspacemuseum.org/ or call 575-437-2840. Coffee and donuts will be provided by the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation.

New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League Monthly Meeting
2026-03-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League Monthly Meeting
Location: Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center
Date: Thursday, March 12, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center
The NM Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League meeting is held on the second Thursday of each month in the Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center and is free to attend. Museum staff and sometimes special guest speakers discuss topics ranging from public observing to off-site adventures. For more information, contact the Museum Outreach Department at 575-437-2840 ext 41135 or visit our website at www.NMSpaceMuseum.org.

Lift Off with Aerodynamics and Kites at the New Mexico Museum of Space History's Science Saturday
2026-03-28 11:00 - 14:00 | Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
Event: Science Saturday — The Aerodynamics of Kites
Location: New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Road 2001, Alamogordo, NM
Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
Time: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
(Alamogordo, NM) – The New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Science Saturday invites families to explore the science of flight through aerodynamics and kite building. Held on the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium, this hands-on program is geared toward students in grades 2–7.
Participants will discuss lift and other forces that help kites fly, then use provided and miscellaneous materials to construct kites they can later fly at the Kites and Tails event on 19 April 2026. Families may join the activities at any time during the program, and some materials will be available on-site.
Science Saturday is included with Museum Admission. For more information, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org. Like us at www.facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/
About the New Mexico Museum of Space History: The New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and a Smithsonian Affiliate, showcasing the significant role New Mexico has played in the development of the U.S. space program and featuring the International Space Hall of Fame and the New Horizons Dome Theater.

Photo: These vivid wings catch the wind just right, turning New Mexico Museum of Space History into a kite flyer’s paradise.

Eye in space: Launch Pad Lecture looks at the Hubble Space Telescope’s legacy at New Mexico Museum of Space History on April 3
2026-04-03 09:00 - 10:00 | New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Launch Pad Lecture
Guest Speaker: Mackette Kark, NMMSH Museum Educator
Lecture Topic: Hubble Space Telescope
Location: New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium
Date: April 3, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
(Alamogordo, NM) — The Hubble Space Telescope is brought into focus in an upcoming Launch Pad Lecture at the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Since its launch in 1990, Hubble has looked into distant galaxies, bringing the world breathtaking glimpses that have transformed scientific understanding of galaxies, nebulae, and stellar evolution. The New Mexico Museum of Space History celebrates that legacy with a Launch Pad Lecture on Friday, April 3, 2026, from 9 – 10 a.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium.
Museum educator Mackette Kark will explore the history, engineering, and discoveries behind Hubble, which reveal some of the most distant corners of the universe. The talk will highlight the telescope’s early challenges, its dramatic in‑orbit fixes, and the breathtaking images that have reshaped our understanding of galaxies, nebulae, and the life cycles of stars.
“For over 35 years, the Hubble Space Telescope has transformed the way we see the cosmos—capturing breathtaking images of distant galaxies, glowing nebulae, and the very edges of the observable universe,” says Kark. “As one of humanity’s most groundbreaking scientific achievements, Hubble has revolutionized our understanding of space, uncovering new worlds, revealing the life cycles of stars, and helping us trace the origins and destiny of the universe itself. Through the dedication of visionary scientists and engineers, Hubble continues to ignite wonder, deepen discovery, and expand our cosmic horizons—one stunning image at a time.”
Guest Speaker Bio: Mackette Kark, a Four Corners native, spent a decade as a ranger in Acadia National Park, where leading star programs fueled her passion for astronomy. Now back in the desert Southwest, she’s an educator at the New Mexico Museum of Space History and liaison to the local Astronomy League, inspiring curiosity about the universe in learners of all ages.
The NM Museum of Space History’s Launch Pad Lecture Series is held on the first Friday of each month in the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium in the Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center. Museum staff, and sometimes special guest speakers, discuss topics ranging from space history to space future. Free to the public. Coffee and donuts provided. For more information, email msh.info@dca.nm.gov or visit our website at www.nmspacemuseum.org

These towering tendrils of cosmic dust and gas sit at the heart of M16, or the Eagle Nebula. The aptly named Pillars of Creation, featured in this stunning Hubble image, are part of an active star-forming region within the nebula and hide newborn stars in their wispy columns. (Photo courtesy of NASA.)

New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League Monthly Meeting
2026-04-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League Monthly Meeting
Location: Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League Monthly Meetings Welcome Stargazers of All Levels
(ALAMOGORDO, NM) – The New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League invites everyone with an interest in the night sky to its monthly meeting, held the second Tuesday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the front classroom of the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium.
These sessions bring together amateur and experienced astronomers for engaging discussions, presentations about current celestial events, hands-on observing tips, and opportunities for learning and networking. Anyone interested in astronomy is welcome to attend — no experience necessary.
Attendees are also invited to consider joining the Astronomy League. Membership offers a chance to take part in special observing programs, earn observing certifications, meet fellow astronomy enthusiasts regionally and nationally, and gain access to resources that deepen the stargazing experience.
All Astronomy League meetings are free and open to the public. For details about upcoming meetings and other astronomy events, visit www.nmspacemuseum.org or follow the Museum on Facebook for updates.

Celebrate Earth Week with Water Rockets at Science Saturday
2026-04-25 11:00 - 14:00 | Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
(Alamogordo, NM) – This month’s Science Saturday at the New Mexico Museum of Space History invites families to mark Earth Week with hands-on water rocket building and launching. The program takes place on Saturday, April 25th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in and around the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium and is designed for students in grades 2–7.
Participants are encouraged to bring an empty 2-liter bottle to turn into a water rocket while learning about the first rocket engines and how water and pressure can generate enough force to send their creations skyward. Families should come prepared to get wet, and all additional basic materials are provided.
Science Saturday is included with Museum admission. For more information, call 575-437-2840 or visit www.nmspacemuseum.org.
About the New Mexico Museum of Space History: The New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and a Smithsonian Affiliate, showcasing the significant role New Mexico has played in the development of the U.S. space program and featuring the International Space Hall of Fame and the New Horizons Dome Theater.

From Space to White Sands: U.S. Army Astronaut to Speak at NM Museum of Space History Launch Pad Lecture on May 1st
2026-05-01 09:00 - 10:00 | New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
ALAMOGORDO, NM – The New Mexico Museum of Space History’s next Launch Pad Lecture will feature distinguished astronaut Col. Andrew R. Morgan, M.D. (U.S. Army), the Senior Commander of White Sands Missile Range. The event is scheduled for Friday, May 1, 2026. Morgan will present “A Soldier’s Journey to Space,” offering insights into his leadership career that spans military medicine, special operations, and human spaceflight.
A 1998 graduate of West Point and a 2002 graduate of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Morgan served aboard the International Space Station from July 2019 to April 2020 on Expeditions 60, 61, and 62. During this mission, he performed seven spacewalks, a record for a single spaceflight. Before his selection as a NASA astronaut in 2013, he served as an emergency physician with U.S. Army Special Operations units, deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa. His career also includes serving as the Army Senior Astronaut and Detachment Commander at the Johnson Space Center and commanding the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Since June 2025, he has served as the Senior Commander of White Sands Missile Range.
The Colonel’s military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal. His NASA honors include the Distinguished Service Medal and the Space Exploration Medal. Morgan and his wife, Stacey, have been married for 25 years and have four children.
“We are honored to host Col. Morgan for May’s Launch Pad Lecture as an exciting start to Astronaut Week,” said Karen Kinkaid Brady, Executive Director of the New Mexico Museum of Space History. “His knowledge and commitment to the space program are unsurpassed.”
The lecture will take place on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium, located at 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM. Admission is free. Guests will enjoy complimentary coffee and donuts, courtesy of the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation.
The Launch Pad Lecture series, held on the first Friday of each month, highlights notable figures and topics from space science, exploration, and history. The International Space Hall of Fame Foundation’s support makes this program possible.

New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League Monthly Meeting
2026-05-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League Monthly Meeting
Location: Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center
Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League Monthly Meetings Welcome Stargazers of All Levels
(ALAMOGORDO, NM) – The New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League invites everyone with an interest in the night sky to its monthly meeting, held the second Thursday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the front classroom of the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium.
These sessions bring together amateur and experienced astronomers for engaging discussions, presentations about current celestial events, hands-on observing tips, and opportunities for learning and networking. Anyone interested in astronomy is welcome to attend — no experience necessary.
Attendees are also invited to consider joining the Astronomy League. Membership offers a chance to take part in special observing programs, meet fellow astronomy enthusiasts regionally and nationally, and gain access to resources that deepen the stargazing experience.
All Astronomy League meetings are free and open to the public. For details about upcoming meetings and other astronomy events, visit www.nmspacemuseum.org or follow the Museum on Facebook for updates.

New Mexico Museum of Space History's Science Saturday
2026-05-30 11:00 - 14:00 | Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
Event: Science Saturday
Location: New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Road 2001, Alamogordo, NM
Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The New Mexico Museum of Space History invites families to drop in and explore the science of space together at Science Saturday, a monthly program held on the last Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center.
Each month’s Science Saturday features a new theme with interactive, family-friendly activities that bring rockets, astronauts, planets, and space technology to life. Visitors can expect engaging stations that encourage kids to tinker, test, and ask questions, while learning how space science connects to everyday life. Many of the activities highlight New Mexico’s unique role in space history, including selected stories that showcase the state’s contributions to rocketry, astronomy, and space exploration.
“Science Saturday gives families a fun way to experience STEM together,” said Karen Kincaid Brady, Executive Director at the New Mexico Museum of Space History. “Kids are not only seeing rockets and spacecraft in our exhibits. They are building, experimenting, and discovering how science and engineering shape the world around them.”
Science Saturday activities are included with Museum admission, and all ages are welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult. These activities are free for International Space Hall of Fame Museum members. Guests are encouraged to drop in anytime between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., explore as many activity stations as they like, and pair their visit with a trip through the museum’s exhibits and planetarium shows.
To stay up to date on monthly themes, event reminders, and additional programs, follow the Museum on Facebook and Instagram: @NMSpaceMuseum. Visitors can also explore upcoming events and plan their visit at NMSpaceMuseum.org.

NM Museum of Space History's Launch Pad Lecture: “Chix in Space”
2026-06-05 09:00 - 10:00 | New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
(Alamogordo, NM) — New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Launch Pad Lecture Series features “Chix in Space” on Friday, June 5, 2026, from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. in the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium. The free program, open to everyone, will be presented by Dr. Rebecca Anklam.
“Chix in Space” highlights the work of a Purdue University graduate whose experiment to hatch chicks in space grew into the commercial space venture Redware and helped advance today’s space payload industry, including work supporting companies like Virgin Galactic.
The Launch Pad Lecture Series is held on the first Friday of each month in the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium at the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Museum staff and special guest speakers explore topics ranging from space history to the future of space exploration in an informal setting that encourages questions and discussion.
The New Mexico Museum of Space History is located at 3198 State Road 2001, Alamogordo, New Mexico 88310. For more information about this lecture or other museum programs, visit NMSpaceMuseum.org or call (575) 437‑2840.

NM Museum of Space History's Launch Pad Lecture: “Wings of Courage: The Untold Story of WASP and the Superfortress in New Mexico”
2026-07-03 09:00 - 10:00 | New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
New Mexico Museum of Space History Launch Pad Lecture
Lecture Topic: “Wings of Courage: The Untold Story of WASP and the Superfortress in New Mexico”
Guest Speaker: Jacquelyne Nichols, NM Chapter of Women in Aviation
Location: New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium
Date: Friday, July 3, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
(Alamogordo, NM) – The New Mexico Museum of Space History invites the public to a powerful Launch Pad Lecture, “Wings of Courage: The Untold Story of WASP and the Superfortress in New Mexico,” on Friday, July 3, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM in the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium.
Guest speaker Jacquelyne Nichols, a veteran U.S. Marine Corps aviator and American Airlines A320 First Officer, will spotlight the extraordinary bravery of the World War II Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Nichols will share how these pioneering women flew everything from primary trainers to heavy bombers and helped change the course of aviation history.
The lecture will feature the gripping story of Dora Dougherty and Dorothea Moorman, two WASP pilots who tamed the troubled B-29 Superfortress at Alamogordo Army Air Field. By confidently demonstrating the aircraft’s safety, they helped restore trust in the bomber, silenced skeptics, and contributed to a pivotal shift in the war effort.
Nichols brings a wealth of real-world aviation and leadership experience to the presentation. She served 11 years on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, flying helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, completing a combat deployment in Afghanistan where she earned a Strike Flight Air Medal, and serving in Japan and Qatar before transitioning to the Marine Corps Reserves as an instructor pilot and Marine Liaison Officer. She continues to serve in the Reserves while attending Command and Staff College.
Now an American Airlines A320 First Officer with a master’s degree in Public Leadership, Nichols lives near her husband’s family ranch in La Luz, New Mexico, where she looks after a herd of horses, goats, and mini donkeys. She previously served as president of the New Mexico Chapter of Women in Aviation International and now acts as the Otero County Coordinator for the chapter. Nichols also serves on the Board of Directors for the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation and is a member of 100 Women Who Care Alamogordo, reflecting her strong commitment to community and aviation outreach.
The Museum of Space History’s Launch Pad Lecture Series is held on the first Friday of each month in the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium at the New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM. The program is free to attend, and museum staff, along with special guest speakers, present topics spanning from space history to the future of space exploration. These Launch Pad Lectures are brought to you with the support of the International Space Hall of Fame.
