1982 Map of Heart of the Sands NW

About this map

The arid landscape of Alkali Flat and White Sands dominates this 1982 orthophotomap, where the environment is characterized by large expanses of Shifting Sand. This specialized survey highlights the technological and military infrastructure within the White Sands Missile Range, specifically featuring the White Sands Space Harbor. The map records several distinct Landing Strips and a central Control Tower, essential components for the space shuttle training and aerospace testing that occurred in this remote New Mexico desert. Beyond the aerospace facilities, the map documents a network of primitive access routes like the Jeep Trail and specific navigational or survey points labeled Drew, Chub, and Checker, which likely served as ground references for the complex operations occurring across the basin floor.