2011: Keweenaw Rocket Range

Located past the Copper Harbor, the Keweenaw rocket launch site was an isolated launch pad. It was used between 1964 and 1971 for launching rockets for meteorological data collection. NASA along with the University of Michigan conducted the project under the lead of Dr. Harold Allen. The site was one of six other similar ones scattered around North America that were to collect measurements of electron density, positive ion composition and distribution, energetic electron precipitation, solar X-rays, and Lyman alpha flux.

The facility originally consisted only a small launch pad and a few metal shacks, but as the site serviced larger and more powerful rockets the facility was updated and expanded. At its height this range featured a multitude of tracking equipment, a mobile control center, equipment trailers, rocket assembly and storage building, along with a large concrete launch pad complete with gantry.

Thanks be to

dear friend, Russell Lutch, for the information about this historic site.

EXIF and other information

Archive ID n2c_111-4437
Date and Time 2011-08-01 16:16:22
GPS Date and Time Image does not include relevant information
GPS Location 47.43028 N, -87.71491 E, 620 ft (Goolgle Map: Pin | Directions)
Camera Nikon D200
Lens AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED
Focal Length 10.5 mm (35 mm equivalent: 15.0 mm)
Mode Aperture-priority AE
Shutter Speed 1/500 second(s)
Aperture f/11.0
ISO 200
Exposure Bias 0
Flash No
Filters None
Light Value 14.9
Hyperfocal Distance 0.48 m
Focus Distance 1.33 m
Depth of Field inf (0.35 m - inf)
Field of View 99.9 deg (3.18 m)
Tripod
No
Notes/Remarks ±2 stop and HDR using Photomatix Pro

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.