The Race for Space 5K/10K designation applies to short road races held at actual space facilities, distinct from typical city-street running events. New Mexico’s Space Race takes place at Spaceport America, the first commercial spaceport globally, offering 5K, 10K, and half marathon distances. Florida’s ACS Gateway to Space 5K/10K is conducted at Kennedy Space Center on the Launch and Landing Facility, previously known as the Shuttle Landing Facility. Houston’s Angels’ Race for Space is a 5K/10K event based at Space Center Houston.
The most notable aspect is the location: at Kennedy, participants run on a course within the same facility where shuttle history remains evident, marked by landing traces from previous shuttle missions. The Houston race supports a charitable cause, benefiting Be An Angel, an organization assisting children with special needs since 1986. It also commemorates Apollo 7 astronaut Walt Cunningham, connecting the local run to NASA history and a children's cause. The Spaceport America event highlights the commercial space aspect, providing runners a unique opportunity to race within a site designed for private spaceflight, rather than a conventional park or downtown circuit.