Two NIKE-APACHE rockets were fired off from the Keweenaw Missile Range as a
part of the IGY, International Geophysical Year, in a coordinated launch with
other NASA facilities in North America. Although other research sounding
rockets had been fired from the Keweenaw Range in years previous, these were by
far the largest rockets fired.
Preparations went on through the Fall of 1970, but took until
January, 1971, to bring things to a readiness. Weather that winter also took a
toll. These pictures were taken by Roland Burgan, then WHDF (Houghton, later
WCCY) General Manager, & News Director, over two trips made into the site on two
consecutive days, Thursday, January 28th, and Friday, January, 29th., 1971.
Accompanying Roland was a brother, Read, then General Manager of WGGL-FM, (PBS
station at MTU). The first launch had been set for Thursday, but was postponed
at the last minute by uncooperative high altitude winds. The launch went as
planned on Friday, at noon. Temperatures that day hovered at -20 deg.F
1 - Roland Burgan at road warning sign 2 miles E. of Copper Harbor.
2 - Road entrance to Missile Launch Complex.
3 - Some of telemetry antennas.
4 - NASA Equipment van & telemetry antenna.
5 - Roland B. interviews Dr. Allen (head of U.of M. Team).
6 - Electrical equipment racks.
7 - More electrical racks.
8 - View of telemetry & test equipment racks.
9 - Still more electronic gear.
10 - Roland Burgan gets overview of Missile Status/Launch Control
Console.
11 - NASA Technicians check equipment prior to launch.
12 - Missile storage, fueling, and payload checkout building.
13 - Missile checkout equipment.
14 - Nike-Apache (fueled) from Nike booster end.
15 - Nike-Apache from payload end.
16 - Waiting for data checkout after launch...no vehicles or snowmachines
could run for 1 hour.
17 - Post flight conference in Copper Harbor. Next launch would be Sunday,
Jan. 31.
One interesting note....about 20 seconds after launch, more birds (they
literally filled the sky) suddenly appeared overhead than anyone had
ever seen before...the sky went black for about a minute! The rocket attained an
altitude of about 82 miles.
For more information, see the following Daily Mining Gazette articles:
Jan.7, 1971 (two stories); Jan. 9; Jan.11; Jan. 13; Jan. 15; Jan. 18; Jan. 23;
Jan.28; Jan.30 (two stories); Feb. 1; & Feb. 9th.
(Roland Burgan, Hancock, MI...Nov.,1998)
rburgan@up.net