Poker Flats, Alaska

This past Saturday night, Poker Flats celebrated its 50th anniversary.  Imagine, a place for 50 years responsible for launching rockets into space but only during the winter time.  I have a friend who went and checked it out.  He said that there were so many people it was busy.

First a bit of information on the facility. Poker Flats is the only scientific rocket launching site owned by a university.  It is also the largest land based launch site in the world and the only high latitude launch site in the United States.

The actual site is located about 30 miles north of Fairbanks.  Although the University operates the facility, it is used under contract by the part of NASA that is associated with Goddard Space Center.  It is located in the interior of Alaska which means the area is sparsely populated and they are able to launch a variety of rockets.  This is all done with permissions from the Federal, State, and Tribal governments.

Poker Flats was established back in the 1960's when someone at the University of Fairbanks suggested a rocket launching range be constructed because the area was just south of the active auroral area.  Unfortunately, there had already been a launch range built in Canada in the 1950's but its location was inside the auroral range so that created some problems.

In 1968, the Geophysical Institute was given a contract to create a minor launch site to launch six barium release rockets for the Department of Defense.  The University secured a lease for 5000 acres of land to build the launch site on.  The man who got this contract also agreed to help monitor chemical signatures from these rockets if the government would allow him to launch his auroral research rockets from this site.

The government agreed. After his seven rockets were launched, the University continued the rocket range, running it on a shoe string until the facility proved itself.  In 1970, the University gained the contract to launch seven more rockets and construction began on the new facilities.  Over the years, things have been added and now they can construct and launch rockets to meet scientific needs.

Most launches happen at night during the winter when the moon is dark because that makes it easier to launch.  All launches have a window of opportunity which is limited by weather, conditions, etc so they are often ready to launch for days at a time.  Once everything is perfect, the rocket is launched.

According to my friend, Poker Flats provided two buses to bring people out to the celebration and they were full.  I gather they expected maybe 700 people and ended up with closer to 1500.  They were giving tours to the upper range which is highly unusual.  Normally, you can get a tour of the facilities during the summer when its the off season but to visit during the busy season is unheard of.

The lines of people waiting for the buses taking people to the upper range were long. My friend said the waiting time was probably closer to an hour and in the meantime, they had a walking tour.  They saw so much.  My friend said he got home late because the celebration ran from 8:00 to Midnight.

I honestly wish, I'd been closer because I would have gone.  Something like that happens so seldom, it is a privilege to attend.  He'll be sending me pictures, I plan to share with you later in the week when I get them.

Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.