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Mojave Air & Space Port
Mojave, United States
Mojave Air & Space Port
America's first inland spaceport and aerospace testing hub.
- ›Designated as the first FAA-licensed inland spaceport in the United States in 2004.
- ›SpaceShipOne, the first privately funded crewed spacecraft to reach space, launched from Mojave in 2004.
- ›The airport is used extensively for aircraft storage and desert boneyard operations due to the dry climate.
- ›Scaled Composites, Virgin Galactic, and The Spaceship Company have all operated at the facility.
- ›The airport hosts an annual aviation open house that draws aerospace enthusiasts and industry professionals.
Mojave Air & Space Port, located in the high desert of Kern County, California, is the first facility in the United States to be licensed for horizontal launches of reusable spacecraft. Originally established as a Marine Corps training base during World War II, it has evolved into a unique hub for aerospace testing, aircraft storage, and commercial spaceflight development. Home to companies like Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites, it occupies a singular place in aviation and space history.
- Passenger Terminal — A small, functional terminal primarily serving general aviation, charter flights, and aerospace industry personnel rather than commercial airline passengers.
- Rental cars available on-site or nearby in Mojave
- Personal vehicle or rideshare apps (limited availability in remote area)
- Taxi services from Mojave township
- Kern Regional Transit bus service connecting Mojave to Bakersfield and Lancaster
- Motel 6 Mojave
- Best Western Desert Winds (California City area)
- Holiday Inn Express Palmdale
- Hampton Inn Lancaster
On-airport dining options are extremely limited, reflecting the facility's industrial and research focus rather than passenger services. The town of Mojave offers basic diners and fast-food chains along State Route 58, and travellers are advised to stock up before arriving as options are sparse in this remote desert location.
- This is primarily a working aerospace facility — public access is restricted to designated areas and scheduled events.
- Bring water and sun protection; the Mojave Desert heat can be extreme, especially in summer months.
- Aircraft boneyard enthusiasts can spot retired commercial jets stored on the field, visible from public vantage points.
- Check event schedules in advance as occasional air shows and open house days offer rare access to the facility.
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The Mojave Air and Space Port is a general-use public airport with three main areas of activity: flight testing, space industry development, and aircraft heavy maintenance and storage. Located in Mojave, California, at an elevation of 2,801 feet (854 m), the three runway facility covers 2,998 acres. It is also the first facility licensed in the U.S. for horizontal launches of reusable spacecraft, having received its spaceport designation from the Federal Aviation Administration on June 17, 2004. It received the suffixed formal name Mojave Air and Space Port at Rutan Field in 2022.
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