Eastern Test Range

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The Eastern Test Range is the missile test range associated with missile and rocket launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center. The range is managed by the US Air Force. The range starts at the launch pads at Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island and extends eastward and south over the Atlantic Ocean and into the Indian Ocean. Until 1964, it was known as the Atlantic Missile Range^[1].

The range consisted of a chain of shore and sea based tracking sites. "By January 1960, the Eastern Range included 13 major stations, approximately 91 outlying sites, a fleet of ships and three marine support stations. By September 1963, the Eastern Range extended around the tip of South Africa to the island of Mahé in the Indian Ocean.^[2]" Eventually all of the sea based tracking and many of the land based stations were replaced by space based tracking, including the present TDRS.

[edit] See also

• Ascension Island
• US Air Force ships
• Missile Test Project

[edit] References

1. ^ Lethbridge, Keith. THE HISTORY OF CAPE CANAVERAL CHAPTER 3 NASA ARRIVES (1959-PRESENT). Retrieved on August 19, 2006.
2. ^ The 45th Space Wing: Its Heritage, History & Honors 1950-2005. Retrieved on August 19, 2006.