Muchea Tracking Station
Encyclopedia
Established in 1960, Muchea Tracking Station (near Perth
, Western Australia) was built specifically for NASA
's Project Mercury
. It was Station No. 8 of 14 sites around the world used throughout the project. The only other Australian site was No. 9, the Island Lagoon Tracking Station
at Woomera
, South Australia.
Muchea used VERLORT (Very Long Range Tracking) equipment, capable of tracking objects up to 4000 km away. Muchea was the only station outside of the US able to send commands to the spacecraft, all others were only able to retrieve data.
Muchea Communications Technician Gerry O’Connor became the first Australian to speak with a space traveller on 20 February 1962, when he called John Glenn
aboard Friendship 7 on its pass over the West Australian coast. A small plaque installed in the place occupied by the Communications Technician's console reads: 'This plaque is to mark the spot where an Australian first spoke to a space traveller'.
Muchea was closed in 1963, soon after the end of the Mercury Project. It was replaced by the Carnarvon Tracking Station
for the Gemini
and Apollo Projects. Although the Muchea Tracking Station is now long gone, the Shire of Chittering
has erected a small display about the local history.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia) was built specifically for NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's Project Mercury
Project Mercury
In January 1960 NASA awarded Western Electric Company a contract for the Mercury tracking network. The value of the contract was over $33 million. Also in January, McDonnell delivered the first production-type Mercury spacecraft, less than a year after award of the formal contract. On February 12,...
. It was Station No. 8 of 14 sites around the world used throughout the project. The only other Australian site was No. 9, the Island Lagoon Tracking Station
Island Lagoon Tracking Station
The Island Lagoon Tracking Station was the first deep space station to be established outside of the United States, near Woomera, South Australia in November 1960....
at Woomera
Woomera, South Australia
The town, or village, of Woomera is located in the south east corner of the Woomera Prohibited Area ; colloquially known as the Woomera Rocket Range...
, South Australia.
Muchea used VERLORT (Very Long Range Tracking) equipment, capable of tracking objects up to 4000 km away. Muchea was the only station outside of the US able to send commands to the spacecraft, all others were only able to retrieve data.
Muchea Communications Technician Gerry O’Connor became the first Australian to speak with a space traveller on 20 February 1962, when he called John Glenn
John Glenn
John Herschel Glenn, Jr. is a former United States Marine Corps pilot, astronaut, and United States senator who was the first American to orbit the Earth and the third American in space. Glenn was a Marine Corps fighter pilot before joining NASA's Mercury program as a member of NASA's original...
aboard Friendship 7 on its pass over the West Australian coast. A small plaque installed in the place occupied by the Communications Technician's console reads: 'This plaque is to mark the spot where an Australian first spoke to a space traveller'.
Muchea was closed in 1963, soon after the end of the Mercury Project. It was replaced by the Carnarvon Tracking Station
Carnarvon Tracking Station
The Carnarvon Tracking Station in Western Australia was a tracking station built in 1963 for use by NASA for the Gemini program, the second step for NASA's plan to put a human on the Moon...
for the Gemini
Project Gemini
Project Gemini was the second human spaceflight program of NASA, the civilian space agency of the United States government. Project Gemini was conducted between projects Mercury and Apollo, with ten manned flights occurring in 1965 and 1966....
and Apollo Projects. Although the Muchea Tracking Station is now long gone, the Shire of Chittering
Chittering, Western Australia
The Shire of Chittering is a Local Government Area in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, covering an area of about just beyond the northeastern fringe of the Perth metropolitan area, generally along and east of the Great Northern Highway. Its seat of government is the town of...
has erected a small display about the local history.
External links
Further reading
- Muchea tracking station for Project Mercury(1962?). Department of Supply, Australian Defence Scientific Service, Weapons Research Establishment. Adelaide : The Establishment.