NASA Space Tracking Station Carnarvon
In the early 1960’s NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration of America) sought communication facilities in Australia to support both the tracking of scientific satellites and the next generation of manned space flights, the Gemini and Apollo missions.
After an extensive search in July 1962, it chose a site on Brown Range just outside Carnarvon. The location was a logical choice. The launch flight passed over the Carnarvon area and Australia was a politically stable country.
The NASA Space Tracking Station Carnarvon was closed in 1975 and has now been fully decommissioned and the site restored. The Carnarvon Space & Technology Museum has been opened on the adjacent closed but not decommissioned OTC Satellite-Earth Communications Station. More detail on the Museum is available at https://www.carnarvonmuseum.org.au/.
Click for directions to the see the Space Technology Museum
Click for directions to the heritage marker outside the Carnarvon Visitor Centre
Click for directions to the Council Offices
Engineering Heritage Recognition Program
Marker Type | Engineering Heritage International Marker (EHIM) |
Award Date | 23 June 2012 |
Prominent People | Buzz Aldrin, Wilson Tuckey, Allen Fairhall, Paul Dench |
Nomination Document | Available here |
Ceremony Report | Available here |
Ceremony Booklet | Available here |
Interpretation Panel | Available here The panel is located outside the Carnarvon Civic Centre |