The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) has reached a significant milestone with its next-generation Very Large Array (ngVLA) prototype antenna, which recently gathered its first light in New Mexico. This achievement signifies the transition from construction to astronomical testing and sets the foundation for a future array comprising 244 antennas. The ngVLA prototype successfully made independent observations and collaborated with the existing Very Large Array (VLA) to track various astronomical sources, including the Crab Nebula and Perseus A, an active galactic nucleus located about 230 million lightyears from Earth. The proposed ngVLA will greatly enhance radio astronomy capabilities, offering ten times the effective collecting area and resolution compared to its predecessors. Additionally, the project is poised to stimulate New Mexico's economy by creating construction jobs and enhancing educational outreach. NRAO is establishing new offices in Albuquerque and a headquarters at New Mexico Tech in Sorocco to support this expansion. Further testing of the prototype will continue as scientists prepare for future observations.