Ascension Island! (Aka...the MOON) Part 1: WORK

Ascension Island is basically a "work camp." All personnel who are on the island are there to support one of the several operations going. Approximately 500 are tied up supporting the Wideawake Airfield through either the US or the UK portion of operations. The UK portion is strictly in support of the Airbridge to the Falkland Islands, while the US portion is to support many different space related missions, and they just happen to own the runway!



This entry in the blog is to show you that we did more than just screw around on our work trip...I traveled 7.5 hours beyond Antigua to spend time cross-talking with Rob about his operations and how they differ from Antigua and to see if we could share anything that would be helpful to our replacements...Rob leaves the end of June, and I leave in Mid-July. This is a picture of me taking a picture at the Telemetry Site overlooking the runway.

As the US operations own the Runway, they are also responsible for Air Traffic Control tower, that is not extremely busy. (1 scheduled US flight a week, and 1 or 2 scheduled UK flights a week) Here Rob and I are getting ready to watch the UK flight get ready to take off and head for the Falkland Islands...7.5-8 hours South.

And here is the UK DC-10 flight on take off. We were in a location you will not be afforded on most runways. We got to look down on the aircraft as it was leaving the runway. This runway is 40+ years old and was built between 2 cindercones (as Ascension is a dormant volcano). A new runway would require 1500 ft on either side, this one has about 200 or so...so definitely a cool view.

Chaplain Christopher La Pack and I on top of the Air Traffic Control Tower with the VORTAC and Telemetry sites located behind us. Notice the uniforms...remember we were WORKING!

And we even got to wear our Service Dress...as Vonnie mentioned we had a ceremony celebrating 50 years of US forces presence on Ascension. Chappy La Pack officiated the first non-catholic ceremony on the island in "years" and the rest of us got to play a part. I did the Roll-Call of 64 names of US military personnel who were lost on or around Ascension Island over the years...that was a solemn affair.
Stay tuned for the next couple of blogs Part 2: Island Hikes Part 3: Fishing and Snorkeling, Part 4: Assorted Island photos...same time same place!