White Sands in Doña Ana County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Shavetail

Photographed by James Hulse, July 23, 2024

1. Shavetail Marker

Inscription. The little Shavetail was an unguided rocket used as a research vehicle to test various aspects of rocket flight. In the 1950s, missile and rocket design was still in its early development and many fuselage shapes, fin configurations, propulsion and guidance systems were tried.

Shavetail was tested at White Sands Missile Range in 1959, when eleven were fired.

Here in the missile park, note the great variety of missile shapes and sizes from this 1950s time of extensive experimentation, missiles such as Ajax, Dart, Falcon, Genie, Lacrosse, Lark and SS-11.

Length: 9 feet
Diameter: 6 inches
Weight: 200 pounds
Propellant: Solid
Range: 6 miles
First Fired: 1959

Erected by White Sands Missile Range Museum. (Marker Number 94.070.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical year for this entry is 1959.

Location. 32° 23.175′ N, 106° 28.738′ W. Marker is in White Sands, New Mexico, in Doña Ana County. It is on New Mexico Route 213 4 miles south of U.S. 70. The marker and various missiles are located on the grounds of the White Sands Missile Range Museum. Touch for map.

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Marker is in this post office area: White Sands Missile Range NM 88002, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Rio Grande Valley.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Gadsden Purchase,

and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pogo and Pogo-HI (here, next to this marker); Hound Dog (a few steps from this marker); XQ-4 Drone (a few steps from this marker); Beechcraft MQM-61 Cardinal Target Drone (a few steps from this marker); Firebee (a few steps from this marker); Little John (within shouting distance of this marker); Balloon Launched Decelerator Test Vehicle (within shouting distance of this marker); XM-21 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in White Sands.

More about this marker. The marker and museum are located on the White Sands Missile Range, an active U.S. military installation. The museum

The Shavetail missile and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, July 23, 2024

2. The Shavetail missile and Marker

is open to the public, but appropriate identification is required for access.

Also see . . .
1. Welcome to the White Sands Missile Range Museum. White Sands Missile Range Museum (Submitted on July 31, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

2. Shavetail. Wikipedia

Shavetail was an experimental American rocket developed during the 1950s. Used to evaluate the rapidly developing technology of rocketry, eleven Shavetail rockets were fired during 1959.

(Submitted on August 1, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 31, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 184 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 1, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.