NMMSH News:
Discover the latest developments shaping the future of commercial spaceflight in our next free to the public Launch Pad Lecture series. Scott McLaughlin, Executive Director of Spaceport America, will present “What has Spaceport America been up to, anyway?” in New Mexico Museum of Space History’s New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium at 9 a.m., Friday, Aug. 7, 2026.
Scott A. McLaughlin, Executive Director of Spaceport America, the nation’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport, brings more than three decades of experience in private industry, research, and public service. A New Mexico native, he earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from New Mexico State University and co-founded a radar design and manufacturing company in Colorado, where he led the development of advanced wind measurement systems for space launch, aviation, atmospheric monitoring, and range operations around the world.
Following the acquisition of that company, McLaughlin returned to New Mexico to help advance the state’s aerospace industry and joined the New Mexico Spaceport Authority in 2019. Since becoming Executive Director in 2021, he has guided Spaceport America’s growth as a national hub for spaceflight, suborbital research, and commercial aerospace innovation.
In “What has Spaceport America been up to, anyway?” McLaughlin will highlight recent activities at Spaceport America, including testing campaigns, research initiatives, commercial partnerships, and the evolving role of the spaceport in New Mexico’s economy and STEM ecosystem. Attendees will gain insight into how Spaceport America supports current and future spaceflight operations, as well as how it connects to education, workforce development, and the broader story of space exploration in the region.
The Launch Pad Lecture series continues the museum’s mission to inform and inspire the public by connecting them with leaders and innovators in space science and aerospace. Community members, students, educators, and visitors are encouraged to attend, enjoy coffee and donuts provided courtesy of the Space Hall of Fame, and bring questions for a Q&A session following the presentation at New Mexico Museum of Space History, 3198 State Route 2001, Alamogordo, NM.
