Ascension Island Today

Long ago vacated by NASA, the Ascension Island Operations building is one of the very few MSFN buildings not to be demolished. It is now The Challenger Outward Bound Centre of the 1st Ascension Island Scout Group.

In the Goddard publication “Keeping Track – A History of the GSFC Tracking and Data Acquisition Networks: 1957 to 1991”, published in 1991, Wesley J. Bodin, GSFC Associate Chief for Ground Networks, writes:

“Operations at the Ascension station terminated November 1989.

Since there was no other operational use for the station, we were requested by the Island Administrator to restore the site to the pre-station condition. All station equipment, including antennas, has been removed and either returned for use elsewhere by NASA or has been excessed. The operations building was transferred to the Island government for use by the local community. All other buildings are in the process of being demolished and the rubble hauled off.

A significant restoral effort is the cleaning out of the Devil’s Ashpit on the station which has been used for a trash pit for the past 25 years. The Ashpit is approximately 100 feet deep by 125 feet wide and 300 feet long, with sheer, fragile walls. We are expecting to complete the restoration by mid April 1991.” – page 110.

In 2005, Les Smith from the UK visited the site and kindly shares these photos.

Shrouded in fog, the former Ascension Tracking Station operations building now sports camouflage and is the Scouts’ Challenger Outward Bound Centre. Photo: Les Smith.

Photo: Les Smith.

Update:

This photo, taken from near the footings of the MSFN USB antenna, shows the Operations building, apparently in 2015. Published by www.travel-tour-guide.com. Photographer not identified.