Ascension Island

Ascension Island views

Tom Sheehan visited Ascension Island in 1963 to instal the TPQ-18 radar when he was working with RCA – and has shared these photos of the island.

Though not directly related to the NASA tracking station (not yet built at that time), they give a feel for the island.

The TPQ-18 radar (a transportable version of the FPQ-6) on COTAR hill.
Photo: Tom Sheehan.

This view of COTAR Hill was taken from the hill 1km ESE of COTAR Hill – larger version here – largest version here.

The cinder cone had been levelled for the installation of a COTAR (Correlation Tracking and Ranging) station, but this was gone by the time the TPS-18 was installed.

Photo: Tom Sheehan.

Tom has swung the camera a little to the right for this next photo.

Photo: Tom Sheehan.

A Douglas C-133 Cargomaster at the airstrip.

Photo: Tom Sheehan.

The US base area.

Photo: Tom Sheehan.

Housing.

Photo: Tom Sheehan.

The road up Green Mountain.

Photo: Tom Sheehan.

Green Mountain Village.

Photo: Tom Sheehan.

This photo was taken “just past the Cable & Wireless village in the bamboo rain-forest. This is on the downwind (rainy) side of Green Mountain. A few hundred meters past this and you get onto the upwind side that is bare volcanic stuff.”

Photo and text: Tom Sheehan.

Looking down from the road up to Green Mountain.

Photo: Tom Sheehan.

Tom Sheehan is standing on telemetry hill with the TLM-18 in the background – click the image for a larger version – or here for a higher res version.

The ramp area with the TPQ-18 in the background.

Photo: Tom Sheehan.

View of a C-130 just landed.

Photo: Tom Sheehan.

A modified USAF C-121. It was an ARMY resource; part of the Down-range Anti-missile Measurement Program (DAMP). Tom writes that it was a ‘permanent-party’ at Ascension for years.

Photo: Tom Sheehan.

The TPQ-18 and ramp area.

Photo: Tom Sheehan.

Syd Buxton visited Ascension Island with the RAF and shared these photos, taken in March 2002.

Ascension Island. Photo: Syd Buxton.

Looking towards Green Mountain from underneath the Royal Air Force VC10 K4 tanker at Wideawake Airfield.

Photo: Syd Buxton.

Andy Townshend also visited Ascension Island with the RAF between May and June 2000. He took these photos from his VC10 K4 reg ZD235.

Ascension Island. Photo: Andy Townshend.

Looking down on Wideawake Airfield. Photo: Andy Townshend.

Ascension Island. The site of the former NASA station is at lower right, hidden beneath the clouds covering The Peak. Wideawake Airfield is at left.

Photo: Andy Townshend.

Volcanic terrain looking towards Sisters Hill. Photo: Andy Townshend.