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STS-3 Landing at WSSH, March 30, 1982
 
STS-3 Columbia landing at White Sands Space Harbor, March 30, 1982

During the first few flights of the Space Shuttle, Northrup Strip near White Sands Missile Range was chosen as a back-up landing site in case of rain at Edwards Air Force Base, California, the primary landing site. It was used as the landing site for the orbiter Columbia as it ended the third flight of the Space Shuttle Program on March 30, 1982. After that landing, former Apollo astronaut Senator Jack Schmitt introduced legislation in congress to change the name to White Sands Space Harbor (WSSH).

WSTF Space Harbor continues to be one of the primary training areas.

White Sands Space Harbor continues to be one of the primary training areas for Space Shuttle pilots. Set in the dry gypsum, WSSH is part of NASA’s White Sands Test Facility and is located about 30 miles west of Alamogordo.

Shuttle landing.

For additional information contact Robert Mitchell, (575) 524-5774 or robert.e.mitchell@nasa.gov.

 
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