Holloman High Speed Test Track

The Holloman High Speed Test Track is a test facility at Holloman Air Force Base in the desert of southern New Mexico. The track features precision-aligned rails where rocket sleds and aircraft components are tested under extreme conditions.

The facility began operations in 1949 and underwent multiple expansions to accommodate increasingly advanced testing needs. This growth reflected the rising demands for high-speed evaluation of aerospace technologies during the Cold War era.

Lieutenant Colonel John Stapp earned recognition as the Fastest Man on Earth after riding a rocket-propelled sled at 632 miles per hour in 1954.

The site is located on a military base and is not open to public visitors. Those interested can learn about the work through documentaries and media coverage of test events.

In the 1950s, a test pilot named John Stapp pushed human tolerance by riding rocket sleds to study the effects of extreme acceleration on the body. His research directly informed the design of ejection seats and safety systems for military aircraft.