The Spaceport America Cup competition hosted teams from American and International Colleges and Universities. With over 122 teams registered in 2019 from around the globe, the competition was challenging for the participants and exciting for spectators. University students launched solid, liquid, and hybrid rockets to target altitudes of 10,000 and 30,000 feet.
The world’s largest intercollegiate rocket engineering conference and competition
During the press briefing Daniel Hicks, CEO of Spaceport America explained the importance of space travel for humanity:
During the Spaceport America Cup I was able to meet incredible people involved in current space travel:
BETH MOSES, Chief Astronaut Instructor with Virgin Galactic, and DAVE MACKAY – Chief Pilot with Virgin Galactic with over 14,000 hrs experience of flying.
Both individuals are moving humans into a new direction.
Even during your time of lunch you will meet people that have made history in the USA. Meet a legend of our time: Alexander Nawrocki, PhD, who was the founding member of the JAVA-CONSORTIUM.
Dr. Nawrocki worked for NASA and the Canadian Space Agency in Montreal, Canada serving as Ground Segment Manager, Astronaut Training Manager, Space Operations Manager. He was also assigned to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas as Robotics Manager, Designer of the Space Operations for Robotics Operations and Utilizations – Shuttle and International Space Station, and Shuttle Flight Controller.
Most important though was the competition in the grueling summer heat of New Mexico’s desert. Believe me, worth every second to see the launch of the rockets, the enthusiasm of the students and the privilege to be part of history.
By the way: If you are interested in news about Technology of Space Exploration, visit: BLOG.SPEXCAST.COM
I am a freelance photographer and cultural photo journalist, located in Las Cruces, NM
Out in the western part of the American Pecan Belt, the sun burns hot, water runs scarce, and pecan trees grow for miles and miles. Growers look forward to a bright future and continue to plant in Doña Ana County, New Mexico and around the El Paso Valley, Texas.
But a cloud looms over growers in these areas. Already a scarce commodity, water—an essential resource—has become even more treasured.
When over 1,500 students and bright minds from all over the world meet . . . the dream to reach stars will become reality for all of us.
Every city has a “Benjamin Franklin” – Las Cruces has their Zach B. Nimble who is combining engineering with art.
Not far from Las Cruces, NM, southwest of the foothills of the San Augustin Mountains, and across the San Augustin Pass sits a sleepy, small community with a glorious past.
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