White Sands Test Facility
White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) tests and analyzes potentially hazardous materials, components, and systems including Composite Pressure Systems, Critical Systems and Materials Flight Acceptance, Hypervelocity Impacts, Oxygen Systems, Propellants and Aerospace Fluids, and Propulsion Systems.
Location
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Founded
July 6, 1963
People
300+
WSTF Director
Jason E. Noble
WSTF Core Capabilities
Rocket Propulsion Testing and Evaluation
NASA White Sands Test Facility offers numerous ambient pressure and altitude simulation stands to test rocket propulsion systems, as well as single-rocket engines.
Oxygen Systems Testing and Analysis
Comprehensive analysis, modeling and materials testing in actual environments, WSTF assists in the design and optimization of systems for spacecraft, aircraft, military, and medical applications.
Hypervelocity Impact Testing
WSTF’s Remote Hypervelocity Test Laboratory is an access-controlled hazardous test area capable of simulating micrometeoroid and orbital-debris impacts on spacecraft materials and components.
Propellants and Aerospace Fluids Testing and Analysis
WSTF focuses on the safety and performance of hazardous propellant systems including hypergolic fuels and hydrogen.
Composite Pressure Systems Testing and Analysis
WSTF offers leading expertise in the testing, nondestructive evaluation (NDE), and analysis of composite material structures.
Flight Acceptance Standard Testing
Flight Acceptance Standard Testing (FAST) is designed to better understand, improve, and verify the systems, capabilities, and materials used in space flight, and to ensure safety during manned space flights
Spaceflight Component Services
Spaceflight Component Services (SCS) specializes in the handling and processing of spaceflight and flight-like hardware.
WSTF Enabling Capabilities
Calibration Lab
The White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) Calibration Laboratory ensures that instruments used to make measurements are accurate by calibrating them against recognized standards.
Clean Room Precision Cleaning
The White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) maintains several clean rooms and large areas that can be used for test article assembly and checkout
Fabrication Services
The White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) maintains a fully integrated 18,000 ft² (1700 m²) fabrication facility. A staff of experienced machinists and welders is complemented by computer-assisted design services.
Graphics
Publications team is WSTF’s onsite resource for experienced, professional support to produce quality scientific and technical communications, graphics, photographs, video and webpage content.
Photo Video(Coming soon)
Publications maintains a full-service facility for still photography, high-speed imaging, video production and video instrumentation.
Publications (Coming Soon)
Publications provides customer support for all phases of document production. From incremental writing and editing support, to product delivery, WSTF's skilled writer/editors and assistants are available to help every step of the way.
Visit WSTF
White Sands Test Facility is an access-controlled, hazardous testing facility and visitors must be approved before accessing the property. NASA policy for entry into the facility is contingent upon the visitor's consent to inspection of their person and the property in their possession or under their control. On arrival, visitors must check in at the forward guard gate where guards can give directions to specific areas and specific entry requirements. Approval may take up to 30 days so please plan appropriately.
Visiting WSTF Information about Visit WSTF
History
WSTF History
Established in 1963 to test propulsion systems for the Apollo spacecraft, White Sands Test Facility has supported every U.S. human space flight from Apollo to the Space Shuttle Program and the International Space Station. Because of the facility’s remote location and unique facilities, WSTF can safely design, test, and operate hazardous systems.
Learn More about WSTF History
