The facility is designed to assemble and evaluate advanced sensor, tracking and atmospheric compensation systems. In 2002 the goal was to improve the ability of the United States Air Force to track missiles and then efficiently transmit laser energy through the atmosphere to destroy them. The site is managed by the AFRL−Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate, headquartered at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, about 140 miles (230 km) to the north.
Overall, 40 people are working on the project, most of whom reside in offices at the Directed Energy Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, about 140 miles (230 km) away. Six to eight people work at the site with four of them there full-time.
Three lasers are typically used at the site: a 30 watt tracking laser, a 30 watt adaptive optics beacon laser, and a 3 watt scoring laser. The scoring laser acts as a surrogate for the high energy weapons laser.
Atop 8,000-foot (2,400 m) high North Oscura Peak, a 30-inch (760 mm) telescope is used to send and receive laser light to and from Salinas Peak, another site approximately 35 miles (56 km) away. Sophisticated instrumentation is used to measure the extent that Earth's atmosphere distorts the laser light. Then, deformable optics are used: mirrors that can change their shape to compensate for the distortions.
The information gained from these tests will benefit any follow on efforts to the Airborne Laser — a large cargo aircraft, equipped with a high energy laser that can destroy theater ballistic missiles hundreds of miles away. In contrast to the Airborne Laser, which is designed to operate at altitudes around 40,000 feet (12,000 m), these tests are taking place on peaks that are between 8,000 and 9,000 feet (2,700 m) in elevation. The denser air at these lower test elevations makes it possible to take the collected data and scale it to the higher altitudes and longer ranges envisioned for the Airborne Laser. Research at this site may be applied on the first three Airborne Laser production aircraft or as advanced weaponry on tactical aircraft.
During a test, North Oscura and Salinas Peaks are in constant communications, and a laser cannot propagate unless several failsafe measures are in force at both locations. These are among the safety precautions in place to ensure eye-safe operations.
A 30-inch (760 mm) telescope was initially used, one of the largest refractor telescopes in the world. However, in late January 1999, it was replaced with a $2.5 million, 1 metre (39 inches) telescope built for the Research Laboratory by Contraves Brasher Systems in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Unlike the initial telescope, which was stationary, the new telescope was designed to be used with a moveable mount. Capable of moving down 5 degrees and revolving 360 degrees, it can be used with moving targets to simulate more realistic wartime conditions. In order to properly house the new telescope, an isolation free structural steel tower was built in December.
By June 1999, the Air Force will be able to fire its nondestructive lasers at a variety of missiles being launched at White Sands Missile Range. Although three to four missile launches may take place each year, Laboratory scientists will be getting better data from a different “target” — a single engine propeller driven Cessna Caravan airplane. This test aircraft will carry a scoring board comprising a range of detectors that will be able to gather greater amounts and more complete information than will be available from the missiles.