White Sands Space Harbor

White Sands Space Harbor
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OwnerUS Air Force
OperatorNASA
ServesWhite Sands Test Facility
LocationWhite Sands Missile Range
Elevation AMSL3,913 ft / 1,192 m
Coordinates32°56′35.67″N 106°25′10.31″W / 32.9432417°N 106.4195306°W / 32.9432417; -106.4195306
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
17/35 35,000 10,700 Dry lakebed
5/23 35,000 10,700 Dry lakebed
2/20 12,800 3,900 Dry lakebed

White Sands Space Harbor (WSSH) is a spaceport in New Mexico that was formerly used as a Space Shuttle runway, a test site for rocket research, and the primary training area used by NASA for Space Shuttle pilots practicing approaches and landings in the Shuttle Training Aircraft and T-38 Talon aircraft. With its runways, navigational aids, runway lighting, and control facilities, it also served as a backup Shuttle landing site.[1] WSSH is a part of the White Sands Test Facility, and is located approximately 30 miles (50 kilometers) west of Alamogordo, New Mexico, within the boundaries of the White Sands Missile Range.

  1. ^ "White Sands Space Harbor". NASA. Archived from the original on 2013-08-30. Retrieved 2008-03-10.