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Coordinates: 32°56′35.67″N 106°25′10.31″W / 32.9432417°N 106.4195306°W / 32.9432417; -106.4195306
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{{db-hoax}}
{{For|Launch Complex 96 that fires toward White Sands|Fort Wingate}}
{{For|Launch Complex 96 that fires toward White Sands|Fort Wingate}}
{{short description|NASA training and research site}}
{{Infobox airport
{{Infobox airport
| name = White Sands Space Harbor
| name = White Sands Space Harbor
| nativename =
| nativename =
| image = STS-3 landing.jpg
| image = STS-3 landing.jpg
| IATA =
| IATA =
| ICAO =
| ICAO =
| FAA =
| FAA =
| type = Military
| type = Military
| owner = US Air Force
| owner = US Air Force
Line 15: Line 15:
| elevation-f = 3,913
| elevation-f = 3,913
| elevation-m = 1,192
| elevation-m = 1,192
| coordinates = {{coord|32|56|35.67|N|106|25|10.31|W|}}
|coordinates = {{coord|32|56|35.67|N|106|25|10.31|W|type:landmark_region:AR_dim:2000|display=inline}}
| website =
| pushpin_map = USA
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[USA]]
| website =
| r1-number = 17/35
| r1-number = 17/35
| r1-length-f = 35,000
| r1-length-f = 35,000
| r1-length-m = 10,700
| r1-length-m = 10,700
| r1-surface = Dry Lakebed
| r1-surface = Dry lakebed
| r2-number = 5/23
| r2-number = 5/23
| r2-length-f = 35,000
| r2-length-f = 35,000
| r2-length-m = 10,700
| r2-length-m = 10,700
| r2-surface = Dry Lakebed
| r2-surface = Dry lakebed
| r3-number = 2/20
| r3-number = 2/20
| r3-length-f = 12,800
| r3-length-f = 12,800
| r3-length-m = 3,900
| r3-length-m = 3,900
| r3-surface = Dry Lakebed
| r3-surface = Dry lakebed
| stat-year =
| stat-year =
| stat1-header =
| stat1-header =
| stat1-data =
| stat1-data =
| stat2-header =
| stat2-header =
| stat2-data =
| stat2-data =
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}


'''White Sands Space Harbor''' (WSSH) was a [[List of space shuttle landing runways|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 stood continuously ready as a backup Shuttle landing site.<ref>
'''White Sands Space Harbor''' ('''WSSH''') is a [[spaceport]] in [[New Mexico]] that was formerly used as a [[List of Space Shuttle landing sites|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.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wstf/spaceharbor/index.html | title = White Sands Space Harbor | publisher = NASA | access-date = 2008-03-10 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130830131254/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wstf/spaceharbor/index.html | archive-date = 2013-08-30 | url-status = dead }}</ref> 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]].
{{cite web | url = http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wstf/spaceharbor/index.html | title = White Sands Space Harbor | publisher = NASA}}</ref> 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]].


== Runway facilities ==
== Runway facilities ==
In 1976, NASA selected Northrup Strip as the site for shuttle pilot training. A second runway was added crossing the original north-south landing strip, and in 1979 both lakebed runways were lengthened to 35,000&nbsp;ft (10,668 m), which includes 15,000&nbsp;ft (4,572 m) usable runway with 10,000&nbsp;ft (3048 m) extensions on either end, to allow the White Sands Space Harbor (WSSH) to serve as shuttle backup landing facility. While the Space Harbor was activated as a backup landing site for [[STS-116]] due to poor weather conditions at both [[Edwards Air Force Base]] (high cross-winds) and [[Kennedy Space Center]] (clouds and rain), White Sands was only used for one landing of the space shuttle, that of the {{OV| 102}} on 30 March 1982 for [[STS-3]].<ref>
In 1976, NASA selected Northrup Strip as the site for shuttle pilot training. A second runway was added crossing the original north-south landing strip, and in 1979 both lakebed runways were lengthened to 35,000&nbsp;ft (10,668 m), which includes 15,000&nbsp;ft (4,572 m) usable runway with 10,000&nbsp;ft (3048 m) extensions on either end, to allow White Sands Space Harbor to serve as shuttle backup landing facility. While the Space Harbor was activated as a backup landing site for [[STS-116]] due to poor weather conditions at both [[Edwards Air Force Base]] (high cross-winds) and [[Kennedy Space Center]] (clouds and rain), White Sands was only used for one landing of the Space Shuttle, that of the {{OV| 102}} on March 30, 1982, for [[STS-3]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wstf/spaceharbor/Capabilities.html | title = White Sands Space Harbor - Capabilities | publisher = NASA | access-date = 2008-03-10 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130614181714/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wstf/spaceharbor/Capabilities.html | archive-date = 2013-06-14 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

{{cite web | url = http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wstf/spaceharbor/Capabilities.html | title = White Sands Space Harbor - Capabilities | publisher = NASA}}</ref>
[[Boeing Defense, Space & Security|Boeing]]'s [[Boeing CST-100 Starliner|Starliner]] ''[[Boeing Starliner Calypso|Calypso]]'' returned from a 49-hour [[Boeing Orbital Flight Test|Orbital Test Flight]] at 12:57 UTC on December 22, 2019, on runway 17/35. This marked only the second time an orbital vehicle has returned to Earth at White Sands.


==Launch complex==
==Launch complex==
The [[McDonnell Douglas DC-X]] of the USAF Single Stage Rocket Technology (SSRT) program was launched 1993-96 at the harbor.<ref>http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/dcx.htm</ref><ref>{{youtube|ra5rY6gTZ0A|Delta-Clipper-1993-White-Sands-Xenon.mov}}</ref>
The [[McDonnell Douglas DC-X]] of the USAF Single Stage Rocket Technology (SSRT) program was launched 1993-96 at the harbor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/dcx.htm |title=DC-X |access-date=2013-01-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228125150/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/dcx.htm |archive-date=2012-12-28 }}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|ra5rY6gTZ0A|Delta-Clipper-1993-White-Sands-Xenon.mov}}</ref>

== Landing history ==
{|class="wikitable"
! No.
! Date
! Flight
! Spacecraft
! Landing site
! Result
|-
| 1
| 30 March 1982
| [[STS-3]]
| {{OV|102}}
| Runway 17
| {{Success}}
|-
| 2
| 22 December 2019
| [[Boeing Orbital Flight Test]]
| {{ComV|Starliner|3}}
|
| {{Success}}
|-
| 3
| 25 May 2022
| [[Boeing Orbital Flight Test 2]]
| {{ComV|Starliner|2}}
|
| {{Success}}
|-
| 4
| 7 September 2024
| [[Boeing Crew Flight Test]]
| {{ComV|Starliner|3}}
|
| {{Success}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


== References ==
==External links==
*[[Historic American Engineering Record]] documentation, all filed under White Sands, Dona Ana County, NM:
{{reflist}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-27 |id=nm0341 |title=White Sands Space Harbor |data=38 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28 |id=nm0342 |title=White Sands Space Harbor, Area 1 |photos=11 |data=20 |cap=3 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-A |id=nm0343 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, Runway 17/35 |photos=10 |data=30 |cap=3 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-B |id=nm0344 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, Runway 23/05 |photos=6 |data=25 |cap=2 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-C |id=nm0345 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, Runway 20/02 |photos=5 |data=23 |cap=2 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-D |id=nm0346 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, Control Tower |photos=9 |data=29 |cap=2 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-E |id=nm0347 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, Weather Tower No. 4 |photos=2 |data=16 |cap=2 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-F |id=nm0348 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, HUB Maintenance Facility |photos=16 |data=24 |cap=4 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-G |id=nm0349 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, Fire Station No. 4 |photos=3 |data=20 |cap=2 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-H |id=nm0350 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, HUB Generator Building |data=19 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-I |id=nm0351 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, HUB Tool Storage Building |photos=3 |data=16 |cap=2 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-J |id=nm0352 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, Navigational Aid Control Building |photos=2 |data=16 |cap=1 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-K |id=nm0353 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, Navigational Aid Storage Building |data=16 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-L |id=nm0354 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, Helicopter Staging Area |photos=1 |data=17 |cap=2 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-M |id=nm0355 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, PAPI Control Building |photos=5 |data=18 |cap=2 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-N |id=nm0356 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, PAPI Control Building |photos=1 |data=16 |cap=2 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-O |id=nm0357 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, XENON Control Trailers |photos=3 |data=18 |cap=2 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-P |id=nm0358 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, Microwave Scanning Beam Landing Ground Stations |photos=2 |data=17 |cap=2 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-Q |id=nm0359 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, Crash/Rescue Standby Support GPS Buildings |photos=1 |data=15 |cap=2 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-R |id=nm0360 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, Crash/Rescue Standby Area Trailer |photos=1 |data=15 |cap=2 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-S |id=nm0361 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, TACAN Beacon Station |photos=1 |data=16 |cap=2 |link=no}}
*{{HAER |survey=NM-28-T |id=nm0362 |title=White Sands Space Harbor Area 1, Waterhole |data=18 |link=no}}


{{coord|32|56|35.67|N|106|25|10.31|W|type:airport_source:dewiki|display=title}}
{{Coord|32|56|35.67|N|106|25|10.31|W|type:airport_source:dewiki|display=title}}
{{Space Shuttle}}
{{Space Shuttle}}


[[Category:Launch complexes of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:Historic American Engineering Record in New Mexico]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle landing sites]]
[[Category:Launch complexes of the United States Space Force]]
[[Category:Spaceports in the United States]]
[[Category:Spaceports in the United States]]
[[Category:White Sands Missile Range]]
[[Category:White Sands Missile Range]]
[[Category:1979 establishments in New Mexico]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle Emergency Landing Sites]]

Latest revision as of 00:40, 11 September 2024

For Launch Complex 96 that fires toward White Sands, see Fort Wingate.
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
Map
White Sands Space Harbor is located in the United States
White Sands Space Harbor
White Sands Space Harbor
Location in USA
Map
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.

Runway facilities

[edit]

In 1976, NASA selected Northrup Strip as the site for shuttle pilot training. A second runway was added crossing the original north-south landing strip, and in 1979 both lakebed runways were lengthened to 35,000 ft (10,668 m), which includes 15,000 ft (4,572 m) usable runway with 10,000 ft (3048 m) extensions on either end, to allow White Sands Space Harbor to serve as shuttle backup landing facility. While the Space Harbor was activated as a backup landing site for STS-116 due to poor weather conditions at both Edwards Air Force Base (high cross-winds) and Kennedy Space Center (clouds and rain), White Sands was only used for one landing of the Space Shuttle, that of the Space Shuttle Columbia on March 30, 1982, for STS-3.[2]

Boeing's Starliner Calypso returned from a 49-hour Orbital Test Flight at 12:57 UTC on December 22, 2019, on runway 17/35. This marked only the second time an orbital vehicle has returned to Earth at White Sands.

Launch complex

[edit]

The McDonnell Douglas DC-X of the USAF Single Stage Rocket Technology (SSRT) program was launched 1993-96 at the harbor.[3][4]

Landing history

[edit]
No. Date Flight Spacecraft Landing site Result
1 30 March 1982 STS-3 Space Shuttle Columbia Runway 17 Success
2 22 December 2019 Boeing Orbital Flight Test Boeing Starliner Calypso Success
3 25 May 2022 Boeing Orbital Flight Test 2 Boeing Starliner Spacecraft 2 Success
4 7 September 2024 Boeing Crew Flight Test Boeing Starliner Calypso Success

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "White Sands Space Harbor". NASA. Archived from the original on 2013-08-30. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  2. ^ "White Sands Space Harbor - Capabilities". NASA. Archived from the original on 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
  3. ^ "DC-X". Archived from the original on 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
  4. ^ Delta-Clipper-1993-White-Sands-Xenon.mov on YouTube
[edit]

32°56′35.67″N 106°25′10.31″W / 32.9432417°N 106.4195306°W / 32.9432417; -106.4195306

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=White_Sands_Space_Harbor&oldid=1245098919"