Question: when did the space shuttle land at white sands
Answer: While the Space Harbor was activated as a backup landing site for STS - 116 due to poor weather conditions at both Edwards Air Force Base ( high cross-winds ) and Kennedy Space Center ( clouds and rain ) , White Sands was only used for one landing of the space shuttle , that of the Space Shuttle Columbia on 30 March 1982 for STS - 3 .