Alamogordo in Otero County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Daisy Track
Photographed by James Hulse, July 24, 2024
1. Daisy Track Marker
Inscription.
Daisy Track. . The "Daisy Track" Decelerator was a sled-track facility used for equipment, animal, and human impact/deceleration (G-force) testing. Housed at the 6571st Aeromedical Research Laboratory at Holloman Air Force Base, the track was operational from 1955 to 1985. Six different sleds were used on the Daisy Track offering a variety of positions to test rapid deceleration. From 1960 to 1985, the sleds were propelled down the rails by use of a pneumatic piston device (like a Daisyฎ BB gun, hence the track's nickname). Prior to 1960, small ejection seat rockets were used. This track was used for testing many harnesses and aircraft/spacecraft seats, including those for the Apollo Command Module., Fun Fact: Some of the most significant research performed on the track had nothing to do with aircraft or spacecraft, but was done by Col. John Paul Stapp and his staff in conjunction with the automobile industry to test various types of seat belts. Due to his significant contributions to this field, Dr. Stapp was present when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the first seat belt law in America. One of the test seats is on display in the adjacent Daisy Track building., Captions , Acquired by trade from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH-NMMSH #87.003.034
The "Daisy Track" Decelerator was a sled-track facility used for equipment, animal, and human impact/deceleration (G-force) testing. Housed at the 6571st Aeromedical Research Laboratory at Holloman Air Force Base, the track was operational from 1955 to 1985. Six different sleds were used on the Daisy Track offering a variety of positions to test rapid deceleration. From 1960 to 1985, the sleds were propelled down the rails by use of a pneumatic piston device (like a Daisyฎ BB gun, hence the track's nickname). Prior to 1960, small ejection seat rockets were used. This track was used for testing many harnesses and aircraft/spacecraft seats, including those for the Apollo Command Module.
Fun Fact: Some of the most significant research performed on the track had nothing to do with aircraft or spacecraft, but was done by Col. John Paul Stapp and his staff in conjunction with the automobile industry to test various types of seat belts. Due to his significant contributions to this field, Dr. Stapp was present when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the first seat belt law in America. One of the test seats is on display in the
Click or scan to see this page online
adjacent Daisy Track building.
Captions
Acquired by trade from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH-NMMSH #87.003.034
Location. 32° 55.234′ N, 105° 55.205′ W. Marker is in Alamogordo, New Mexico, in Otero County. It is on State Route 2001 0.4 miles east of N Scenic Drive. The marker is located on the grounds of the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3198 State Rte 2001, Alamogordo NM 88310, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in New Mexico’s Pecos 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 Comancherํa, and the Republic of Texas.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Daisy Track Waterbrake
Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 310 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 9, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
