When did the Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range open its gates?
The Alamogordo Bombing and Gunnery Range opened its gates in December 1941. This facility emerged from Executive Order No. 9029 which canceled existing grazing leases on the land.
Questions about White Sands Missile Range
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What date marked the detonation of the first atomic bomb ever tested at White Sands Missile Range?
The 16th of July 1945 marked the detonation of the first atomic bomb ever tested. Code named Trinity, this explosion occurred near the northern boundary of the range.
How many German V-2 rockets were test-fired between 1946 and 1951 at White Sands Missile Range?
Sixty-seven captured weapons were test-fired between 1946 and 1951 from the White Sands V-2 Launching Site. Operation Paperclip brought thirty-five German scientists to work at the proving ground during 1946.
Which NASA mission concluded with a landing on the Northrop Strip at White Sands Missile Range on the 30th of March 1982?
Mission STS-3 concluded when the Space Shuttle Columbia touched down on the Northrop Strip at White Sands Missile Range on the 30th of March 1982. This remains the only time NASA used this facility as a shuttle landing site.
In which five New Mexico counties does White Sands Missile Range encompass almost four million acres?
White Sands Missile Range encompasses almost four million acres across Doña Ana, Otero, Socorro, Sierra, and Lincoln counties. Las Cruces lies west of the facility and Alamogordo stands forty miles to the east.