Reports about the recent groundbreaking at Spaceport America (SA) have understandably focused on the story behind its coming into being and the who, what, and when of the event as it unfolded.  As one who was there, I can say all aspects were well handled which made the trip to the remote site near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, well worth the trek. 

What doesn’t come through in most of the news reporting is the extraordinary public excitement and support for this event.  For me, the action kicked off when charter buses in Las Cruces began filling with a mixture of residents, press, and dignitaries at 6:15 a.m.  Several hundred people, from the same area of New Mexico and who actually knew each other, boarded buses while buzzing with stories of their families, lives, and, of course, their high expectations for the Spaceport.  After traveling to Truth or Consequences, they picked up additional passengers, but only after attending an early morning rally there featuring Governor Richardson, among others.  He spoke to a large crowd that combined both groundbreaking attendees and those who would remain in “T or C” (as they say) for the day.  The applause was loud and heartfelt.

The attendees from Dona Ana County, where the SA offices are located, and Sierra County, where the SA site is located, are the same people who voted to pass a gross receipts tax in order to help fund construction of the Spaceport.  And how often do we see that kind of commitment these days?  It is truly awesome to realize that you are changing the course of history for future generations in your state, and on June 19th the excitement was humming like a generator from the wee hours of the morning until long after the event ended.

What non-local groundbreaking visitors might not have realized is that, in addition to the support of the superb New Mexico SA staff, many community volunteers pitched in to make sure that plenty of water and refreshments were available for guests.  Some may recall the barn-raising scene from the Harrison Ford movie “Witness,” and the tingle they felt at seeing neighbors come together for a common purpose.  It was a lot like that: a contagious sense of community engagement and shared pride.

And it is not the first time this has happened, as I can verify.  At the May 2, 2009 Educational Launch event, organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, about 250 people showed up at the high school gymnasium in T or C at 6:00 a.m. to register for bus passes to SA.  Many had driven up from Las Cruces, which means they had to arise about 4:30 a.m. to make it.  Kids as young as 5 years were jumping up and down with anticipation, asking over and over again when they could board the bus.  You had to raise your voice to a person three feet away from you in order to be heard!

To paraphrase Shakespeare, “There is nothing possible or impossible but thinking makes it so.”  It is quite clear from the groundbreaking excitement that New Mexico is truly focused on the possible.