posted 06-26-2011 12:26 PM               

Several NASA officials from Houston and a handful of astronauts were present during an unofficial ceremony June 13 that honored the long hours and hard work White Sands Space Harbor employees contributed to shuttle missions and extensive astronaut pilot training.

"This has been a very, very important facility for us, critical for every space shuttle commander pilot and we'd like to thank everyone who has helped the program right up to 2011," said Lee Archambault, a NASA pilot and shuttle commander.

Each WSSH employee was honored during the ceremony with a framed certificate and a NASA polo and hat. Robert Mitchell, WSSH manager, said the organization will officially shut its doors in August so it can remain an alternate landing site for the last shuttle launch.

Mitchell said the WSSH employees will either retire or will have other jobs waiting for them on the range. As for the space harbor equipment, Mitchell said what the range doesn't take ownership of will go back to NASA and some of it will be given to Holloman or General Service Administration excess.

"It's a really simple plan," Mitchell said.