Tori Crichton
NMDCA News:
ALAMOGORDO — Join Las Cruces native and Virgin Galactic propulsion engineer Tori Crichton for an engaging look at the thrilling world of commercial spaceflight 9–10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 6, at the New Mexico Museum of Space History’s New Horizons Dome Theater and Planetarium. Drawing from personal experiences—from attending shuttle camp at New Mexico Museum of Space History as a child to earning dual degrees at New Mexico State University—Crichton’s presentation explores the engineering behind Virgin Galactic and its systems.
Learn about the innovations that powered VSS Unity’s historic suborbital flights and the advanced designs boosting the upcoming Delta-class spaceships to enable higher-frequency missions starting in 2026. Discover the challenges of safe, reusable propulsion for private astronauts and researchers, Virgin Galactic’s operations at Spaceport America, and the company’s vision for making space for all. The presentation features visuals from the hangar and insights into New Mexico’s pivotal role in the new space age.
Crichton is a Propulsion Operations Engineer at Virgin Galactic, the pioneering commercial spaceflight company operating from Spaceport America in New Mexico. On the propulsion operations team, she works on the hybrid rocket motor and serves as the engineer in charge of spaceship vehicles and the Pratt & Whitney turbofan engines on the mothership VMS Eve. Recently, Crichton joined the flight test engineering team and has flown on board Eve during test flights, supporting progress toward Delta-class spaceship flight tests in 2026.
A Las Cruces native, Crichton’s passion for space began at shuttle camp as a child at the New Mexico Museum of Space History. She earned dual bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering from New Mexico State University.
“I am very excited to head back to the museum to present in the same place where my inspiration for space was first ignited,” Crichton said. “I’m looking forward to sharing the awesome work that Virgin Galactic is doing and how I got to where I am today!”
The Launch Pad Lecture is free to the public, with coffee and donuts provided by the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation.
The Launch Pad Lecture Series is held on the first Friday of each month on the second floor of the museum and is free to attend. Museum staff, as well as special guest speakers, discuss topics ranging from space history to space future. The program is free to attend. For more information, call 575.437.2840 or 877.333.6589 (toll-free), visit the website at nmspacemuseum.org, or follow on Facebook at facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/