Celebrate Valentine’s Day this year with Rockets and Rosé at the New Mexico Museum of Space History
2026-02-12 17:00 - 20:30 UTC | New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Rd. 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
New Mexico Museum of Space History Special Evening Event: “Rockets and Rosé”
Location: New Mexico Museum of Space History, Main Building, 2nd Floor
Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026
Time: 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Celebrate Valentine’s Day this year with Rockets and Rosé at the New Mexico Museum of Space History. This explosive event on February 12th will set your heart aflame as you and your loved one each create a rocket while sipping a glass of wine provided by Carino’s. After completing the rockets, we will head down to the parking lot and blast them off into the night. Can your love survive a rocket launch?
Event is for 21 and up only, IDs will be checked at the door. Cash bar. Purchase of ticket includes first glass of wine.
Event overview: Rockets and Rosé is an adults‑only evening event featuring themed presentation, wine service, and a live model rocket launch from the museum grounds.
Guests can expect the following schedule:

5:00 PM – Doors open; check‑in and welcome
5:45 PM – Program begins
8:00 PM – Rocket launch (weather, crowd size, and skill level dependent)
8:30 PM – Event concludes

Please plan to arrive between 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM so check‑in and ID verification can be completed before the program starts.
Admission: $50.00 — Tickets can be purchased from the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation at the following link: Purchase Tickets HERE
For more information, email msh.info@dca.nm.gov or visit our website at www.nmspacemuseum.org

New Mexico Museum of Space History Governor’s Commission Meeting (Special)
2026-02-27 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Denver) | Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
PUBLIC NOTICE
The New Mexico Museum of Space History Governor’s Commission will conduct a special meeting on:
Date: Friday, February 27, 2026
Time: 1:00pm PM MST
Location: New Mexico Museum of Space History
Clyde Tombaugh Dome Theater & PlanetariumFront Classroom (First)3198 State Road 2001Alamogordo, NM 88310
The Mission of the New Mexico Museum of Space History Commission is to provide direction, advice, and support to the Director of the Museum in the maintenance and operation of the Museum and its activities.
A copy of the draft Regular Meeting Agenda shall be available at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the meeting from the Museum in Alamogordo, New Mexico, as well as the Museum’s website (https://nmspacemuseum.org/events/list/), and from the Department of Cultural Affairs website (https://www.newmexicoculture.org/about/boards-and-commissions/upcoming-board-meetings) whose office is located at 407 Galisteo, Suite 260, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
If you are an individual with a disability who needs a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing or meeting, please contact Angie Rathburn at (575) 437-2840 ext. 41107 or angie.rathburn@dca.nm.gov at least one week prior to the meeting or as soon as possible.
Public documents, including the agenda and meeting minutes, can be provided in various accessible formats. If a summary or other type of accessible format is needed or for any additional information or assistance, please direct requests to the contact person above.

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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 UTC | 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 UTC | 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.

Celebrate Women in Space and their Contributions to Space Exploration, Travel, and Science
2026-03-08 12:00 - 16:00 UTC | New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Rd. 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
Special Event: Women in Space
Location: NM Museum of Space History’s Upper Parking Lot (near the Tornado Fighter Jet)
Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026 — International Women’s Day
Time: 12pm – 4pm
What: Learn about women space pioneers like Katherine Johnson, Sally Ride, and Svetlana Savitskaya. Enjoy a scavenger hunt of Women in Space throughout the museum, with food trucks, vendors, STEM booths, and exciting prizes. Admission to the event includes the museum and all-day star shows in the planetarium. Women in Space is presented in partnership with Women in Aviation International Land of Enchantment Chapter.
Who: Holloman Air Force Base 49th Maintenance Group Deputy Commander, Col. Kristen Torma, the first woman to hold that position, will be the keynote speaker at 2 p.m. in the planetarium. “I am honored to be part of the International Women’s Day Celebration that Alamogordo’s New Mexico Museum of Space History is hosting. As a USAF Colonel stationed at Holloman AFB with a career focused on leadership, aircraft maintenance, and aerospace advancement,” said Col. Torma. “This event reminds us why this day truly matters: to honor the incredible women who have shaped these fields and to ignite the dreams of young girls ready to lead the next chapter in space, aviation, and STEM.”
Why: An afternoon of family fun, inspiration, and learning.
Where: New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Road 2001, Alamogordo, NM. Admission to the event includes the museum and all-day star shows in the planetarium.
Adults $15 nonmembers/$10 members
Children (4-12) $10 nonmembers/$5 members
Children under 3 are free for the Women in Space event
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Astronomy League Monthly Meeting
2026-03-12 19:00 - 20:30 UTC | 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.

Astronomy League and Museum Host Public Star Party
2026-03-14 19:00 - 22:00 UTC | New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Rd. 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
Astronomy League and Museum Host Public Star Party
Location: NMMSH Outdoor Observatory, Upper Parking Lot
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
(ALAMOGORDO, NM) – The New Mexico Museum of Space History invites the public to the next Astronomy League Star Party, an evening dedicated to exploring the wonders of the night sky.
The Star Party begins a with a Constellation Show inside the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium, followed by telescope viewing at the Museum’s Observatory Complex, located in the Upper Parking Lot.
Visitors can observe celestial objects through a variety of telescopes, watch live big-screen imaging, and talk with astronomers and astrophotographers about observing techniques and image stacking — the process of combining photos to reveal the beauty of deep-sky objects such as galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters.
Parking is available in the middle lot, with ADA-accessible spaces at the Hubbard Building. Restrooms will be open before and during the planetarium show.
This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. In the event of cloudy or inclement weather, all programming will take place inside the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium.
For more information, email msh.info@dca.nm.gov or visit our website at www.nmspacemuseum.org

Honoring the Legacy of the “Red Tails” at New Mexico Museum of Space History on March 26
2026-03-26 11:00 - 14:00 UTC | Clyde W. Tombaugh Education Center, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
(Alamogordo, NM) — History takes flight this month as New Mexico Museum of Space History hosts a tribute to the legendary “Red Tail Angels,” the Tuskegee Airmen who broke racial barriers in World War II. The “Red Tails,” fighter pilots escorted American bombers in missions over Europe with skill and perseverance that saved lives and paved the way for the desegregation of the U.S. military.
The Tuskegee Airmen, known for the painted red tails on their planes, broke racial barriers as the first African American fighter pilots while compiling an outstanding record for air combat. In collaboration with the Holloman AFB Tuskegee Airmen Chapter, New Mexico Museum of Space History invites the public to learn about the courage, skill, and perseverance of America’s first Black military aviators.
When: Thursday, March 26, 2026, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium, New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Road 2001, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Why: Learn the remarkable story of the service and sacrifice of the “Red Tails” and its impact on civil rights and aviation.
For more information, visit nmspacemuseum.org, or call (575) 437-2840.

Portrait of Tuskegee airman Edward M. Thomas by photographer Toni Frissell March 1945

Lift Off with Aerodynamics and Kites at the New Mexico Museum of Space History's Science Saturday
2026-03-28 11:00 - 14:00 UTC | 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 UTC | 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 UTC | 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.

Astronomy League and Museum Host Public Star Party
2026-04-11 20:00 - 22:00 UTC | New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Rd. 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
Astronomy League and Museum Host Public Star Party
Location: NMMSH Outdoor Observatory, Upper Parking Lot
Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
(ALAMOGORDO, NM) – The New Mexico Museum of Space History invites the public to the next Astronomy League Star Party, an evening dedicated to exploring the wonders of the night sky.
The Star Party begins a with a Constellation Show inside the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium, followed by telescope viewing at the Museum’s Observatory Complex, located in the Upper Parking Lot.
Visitors can observe celestial objects through a variety of telescopes, watch live big-screen imaging, and talk with astronomers and astrophotographers about observing techniques and image stacking — the process of combining photos to reveal the beauty of deep-sky objects such as galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters.
Parking is available in the middle lot, with ADA-accessible spaces at the Hubbard Building. Restrooms will be open before and during the planetarium show.
This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. In the event of cloudy or inclement weather, all programming will take place inside the New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium.
For more information, email msh.info@dca.nm.gov or visit our website at www.nmspacemuseum.org

"Kites & Tails" event is landing at the New Mexico Museum of Space History
2026-04-19 12:00 - 14:00 UTC | New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Rd. 2001, Alamogordo, NM, 88310, United States
New Mexico Museum of Space History’s “Kites & Tails” Event
Location: 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Kites & Tails at the New Mexico Museum of Space History brings together hands-on kite building and flying activities with adoptable cats from Kitty City NM on Sunday, April 19, 2026, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM 88310. For more information, visit NMSpaceMuseum.org, follow @NMSpaceMuseum on Facebook and Instagram, or call (575) 437-2840.
