Spaceport America welcomes C6 Launch Systems with unveiling of new rocket test platform Algernon D'Ammassa, Las Cruces Sun-News SIERRA COUNTY – Tuesday's rocket launch nearly didn't happen. The winds of March in southern New Mexico are often unfavorable, and by 9:30 a.m. strong gusts were blowing across the desert basin, tugging at masks and hats worn by Spaceport America personnel. But it was a tiny rocket and the team wanted to celebrate. Tuesday, coinciding with the 95th anniversary of Robert Godard launching the first liquid-fueled rocket, was the unveiling of a new piece of infrastructure for testing new liquid-fueled rocket engines.