White Sands Missile Range, Military test range and spaceport in New Mexico, United States.
White Sands Missile Range is a military test facility and spaceport in New Mexico that covers five counties and spans more than 3,200 square miles (8,300 square kilometers). The site lies between the Organ Mountains to the west and the Sacramento Mountains to the east, forming the largest military installation in the United States.
The facility was established in 1945 as a testing ground for ballistic missiles and became the site for captured German V-2 rocket trials between 1946 and 1951. These early tests laid the foundation for American space exploration and ballistic missile defense programs.
The name comes from the white gypsum dunes that stretch east of the facility and remain visible from the test sites on clear days. Visitors during public access periods can see old launch pads and concrete platforms that still bear traces of earlier rocket tests.
Access to the range requires photo identification, and nearby roads may close temporarily during active test periods. Visitors should bring plenty of water and sun protection, as the desert climate runs hot and dry.
The space shuttle Columbia made an unplanned landing at Northrop Strip in 1982 after bad weather prevented its return to Florida. This emergency touchdown was the first time a shuttle landed outside its regular landing sites.
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