Area 51 is the common name of a highly classified United States Air Force (USAF) facility within the Nevada Test and Training Range. A remote detachment administered by Edwards Air Force Base, the facility is officially called Homey Airport (ICAO: KXTA, FAA LID: XTA) or Groom Lake (after the salt flat next to its airfield). Details of its operations are not made public, but the USAF says that it is an open training range, and it is commonly thought to support the development and testing of experimental aircraft and weapons systems. The intense secrecy surrounding the base has made it the frequent subject of conspiracy theories and a central component of unidentified flying object (UFO) folklore.
What is Area 51 and what makes it famous?
Area 51 is a facility in Nevada operated by the United States government. The origin of the name is unknown. It's believed its primary purpose is to develop and test aircraft and weapons. However, in recent years and decades, Area 51 has become famous and synonymous in pop culture with conspiracy theories, especially ones involving UFOs. It requires extremely high levels of government clearance to access Area 51. Thus, the mystery of its operations still remains.