Welcome to the NASA JSC White Sands Test Facility

White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) is a preeminent resource for testing and evaluating potentially hazardous materials, space flight components, and rocket propulsion systems. These services are available to NASA, the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, universities, and commercial industry.

Rocket Propulsion
The primary mission of WSTF is to support NASA's Space Shuttle and Space Station Programs. We support these and other Government and commercial efforts. As the official Johnson Space Center (JSC) Propulsion Systems Development Facility, our rocket propulsion program is a leader in propulsion systems testing, with unique test expertise in hypergolic propellant handling and training, and is the Shuttle Fleet Leader for testing orbital maneuvering and reaction control subsystems. 

Chemical and Physical Properties of Materials
Our engineers, chemists, and scientists in WSTF state-of-the-art laboratories conduct testing of hazardous materials and propellants, air quality, aerospace hardware and ground support equipment, and all materials used in space flight. We routinely perform Standard Testing for ASTM and NASA, as well as ignition and flammability testing. We continually seek to better understand and improve materials, components, and systems, and to ensure safety during manned space flights. 

Hazards Assessment
Hazards assessment is a large part of what we do for NASA, the Department of Defense, aerospace, and other areas of industry. Our laboratory facilities conduct hazardous fluid assessment, hypervelocity tests, and explosive hazard assessment. The High Energy Blast Facility performs explosive testing with solid, cryogenic, hypergolic propellants, and other high explosives.

Oxygen Systems
Oxygen compatibility is a critical issue in space, aircraft, medical, and industrial applications. At WSTF, we investigate the effects of increased oxygen concentration on the ignition and burning of materials and components used in these applications. Hazards analyses are performed on materials, components, and systems; and failure analyses determine the cause of fires. Training courses about design and operation of safe oxygen systems are provided by WSTF personnel under the auspices of ASTM.

Space Flight Hardware
The Propulsion Component Test Facility at WSTF is an Orbiter and International Space Station Depot Repair Facility. We perform flight hardware assembly, repair, and acceptance testing for private aerospace manufacturers, as well. We refurbish hypergolic propellant components for the Space Shuttle, handle advanced pyrovalve testing at two of our laboratory facilities, and perform failure investigations.

Launch and Landing Support
White Sands Space Harbor (WSSH) is the primary training area for Space Shuttle pilots flying practice approaches and landings in the shuttle-training aircraft and T-38 aircraft. Our runways, navigational aids, runway lighting, and control facilities continuously stand ready as a backup Shuttle landing site.