Poker Flat Research Range

The University of Alaska has conducted auroral research since the 1920s. When sounding rockets were developed to study the upper atmosphere, the university decided to build a dedicated launch range. The UAF Geophysical Institute leased 5,132 acres from the State of Alaska, and the facilities at what became Poker Flat Research Range were completed in 1969.  Poker Flat has four launch pads, including two designed for severe weather, and can handle rockets weighing up to 35,000 pounds. The range includes an administrative facility, a concrete blockhouse used as mission control, rocket assembly buildings, a two-story science observatory, and a payload assembly building. Three S-band antennas collect telemetry, while a C-band radar tracks rocket payloads during flight.  More than 1,700 launches have been conducted at Poker Flat, making it an important site for studying Earth’s atmosphere and its interaction with the space environment.

Our guide, kyle

Recovered pay loads. There is a reward if you find any part of

the rocket. All you have to do is report its location. The reward

for the one on the left was $1600.

This is were the rockets are assembled here.

Photo from the internet

Looking the other way

The launch facilities 

The blockhouse

Keyle told us that there are frequent delays that require

adjustment or repair.

It could take a week or more for a launch to take place. 

The launch panel

Seen in the blockhouse

 S-band antennas and the C-band radar 

Photo from the internet

One is not allowed to take photos in the launch building. 

For winter launches the building is heated and the 

rocket is incased in styrofoam. It is mounted horizontally

on a long arm. When ready to launch, the launch building

is moved away and the rocket raised to the proper angle for launch.

The styrofoam is blown off during launch.