![]() New Mexico Joint Guided Missile Test Range (1947) White Sands Proving Ground (1945) Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range (1941)[2] | |
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Part of United States Army Test and Evaluation Command | |
Located in the San Andres Mountains, the Oscura Mountains, the San Augustin Mountains, the Tularosa Basin, and the Chupadera Mesa in New Mexico | |
Most of the northern Tularosa Basin (blue) is used for the WSMR (area within dashed perimeter), which encloses numerous areas that are not military land (e.g., the NPS's White Sands National Park), as well as USAF facilities. | |
WSMR location | |
Coordinates | 32°20′08″N 106°24′21″W / 32.33556°N 106.40583°W[3] Condron Army AirfieldCoordinates: 32°20′08″N 106°24′21″W / 32.33556°N 106.40583°W[3] Condron Army Airfield near the southernmost WSMR point |
Site information | |
Controlled by | United States Army |
Website | www |
Site history | |
Built | 1948-07-09 cantonment completed[4] 1957-02: Launch Complex 37 completed |
Built by | Ordnance Corps[4] |
Garrison information | |
Current commander | BG Eric D. Little (2021–present)[5] |
Past commanders |
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White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) is a military testing area operated by the United States Army. The range was originally established as the White Sands Proving Ground on 9 July 1945. White Sands National Park is located within the range.
For the geography and ecology of the WSMR area, see White Sands, New Mexico and Basin and Range Province. |
The largest military installation in the United States, WSMR encompasses almost 3,200 sq mi (8,300 km2) that includes parts of five counties in southern New Mexico:
The following federally-protected natural areas are contained within the borders of WSMR:
Designated historic sites on WSMR land include:
The White Sands Test Center headquartered at the WSMR "Post Area" has branches for Manned Tactical Systems & Electromagnetic Radiation and conducts missile testing and range recovery operations.[20] Other operations on WSMR land include:
For additional events (e.g., USAF launches) at sites not on WSPG but that later became part of WSMR, see Air Force Missile Development Center. |
External media | |
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