In March 1953, JPL personnel went to White Sands Proving Ground (now known as White Sands Missile Range) in New Mexico to test the Corporal guided missile. Guidance equipment vans were placed near the missile launching area. A combination of Doppler and radar antennas were used to collect data on the trajectory of the missile and to transmit telemetry correction commands to it. JPL was responsible for overall testing and firing of the Corporal missile and for the training of Army personnel who set up and launched the missile.

For more information about the Corporal project, or White Sands, please contact the JPL Archives. The JPL History Collection contains more than 110 documents relating to Corporal and White Sands. The White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs Office also has a fact sheet on line.