The White Sands Missile Range is nearly 3,200 square miles in area, the largest military installation in the United States. Located in 5 counties of NM, White Sands engineers and scientists conduct analysis using operational research, system engineering and scientific methods over the Life Cycle for military hardware and software.

In 1944, as a result of Robert Goddard´s rocket research in Roswell and the German success with the V-2 rocket, it became evident that a land-based range would be required for testing missiles. By firing the missiles over land they could be recovered after flight for further study. These studies would make it possible to develop future missiles for military and civilian applications. Construction began on June 25, 1945 and the original missile assembly building and blockhouse still stand.

Less than a month after construction, the first nuclear weapons test of an atomic bomb, code named Trinity was conducted at White Sands. This blast was equivalent to 20 kilotons of TNT and ushered the world into the atomic age. On July 2, 1970, an Athena test missile was launched southwards, which was intended to land at the White Sands military base in New Mexico. Instead the missile continued 400 miles south and fell from the sky in the southeastern corner of the state of Chihuahua, Mexico.

At the White Sands Missile Range museum you can trace the origin of America's missile and space activity, find out how the atomic age began and learn about the accomplishments of scientists like Dr. Wernher von Braun and Dr. Clyde Tombaugh at White Sands. Outside the museum is a missile park displaying a variety of missiles and rockets tested at White Sands. More than 50 items are on display. The rich history of testing at White Sands and the land area the size Connecticut have made the range the principal site for rocket testing and development.

Podcast Written and Narrated by David Tatem, Public History Student at the University of West Florida.