![]() ![]() At Wallops, researchers developed components of the human space program, such as capsule escape techniques, maximum pressure tests and recovery systems. ![]() ![]() This facility enabled researchers to overcome the limited capabilities offered by the wind tunnels of the day.ġ958 - 1974: Wallops Station - 1958 marked the birth of NASA and the civilian space program. Its high-speed aeronautical launch site used rockets to propel unmanned aircraft models. Wallops' earlier history can be put into the following phases:ġ945 - 1957: Pilotless Aircraft Research Station - For the first 12 years, Wallops helped provide a foundation for aerodynamic and heat transfer research. At any launch location required for a particular scientific task, Wallops could provide the expertise and instrumentation to launch, track, acquire data and recover the payload. Wallops also maintained mobile launch facilities enabling scientists and engineers to launch rockets around the world. By that time the launch range had grown to include six launch pads, assembly facilities and range instrumentation. By the year 2000, the facility had launched more than 14,000 rockets. Wallops launched its first rocket on July 4, 1945. NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), built facilities at Wallops to conduct aeronautical research using rocket-propelled vehicles. In 2006 a Minotaur booster made the first orbital launch from Wallops in over 20 years. Phase I development of new Multipurpose Processing Facility (MPF) and Liquid Fueling Facility (LFF) were completed in 2005. The Movable Service Structure on Pad 0B was validated in 2005 to support Minuteman and Peacekeeper-derived launch vehicles. Significant upgrades to Pad 0B were completed in 2005 to make it fully compatible with liquid as well as solid fueled launch vehicles. Two orbital launch pads, payload processing and integration facility vehicle storage and assembly buildings, on-site and downrange telemetry and tracking, and payload recovery capability were established in the existing facilities. Then the FAA-certified Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport was created by the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority. Its fortunes revised with the establishment of Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in 2005 and orbital launches resumed in 2010.ĪKA: Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport WFF. With the last orbital launch in 1985 and the decline in sounding rocket launches, Wallops fell into near-disuse as a launch center. Air launches are conducted from the Drop Zone Wallops Island, 37.00 N 72.0 W. Small NASA launch site for sounding rocket launches and occasional Scout launches to orbit. ![]()
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