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Group photograph of Muchea Tracking Station flight control team and staff
1962Muchea Tracking Station opened in March 1961 under an agreement between the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Australian Government. The federal Department of Supply operated and managed the Muchea Tracking Station, which was part of a worldwide network of space flight tracking stations. The Muchea station was involved with several Project Mercury missions, including John Glenn's famous orbit in 1962.
In 1963 Muchea Tracking Station was closed to make way for another Western Australian tracking station at Carnarvon.
Details
Details
The Department of Supply operated and managed Australian space tracking stations on behalf of the government of the United States of America until 12 June 1974, when responsibility for Space Tracking Stations passed to the Department of Science. Records created and kept by the Department of Supply were later transferred to the Western Australian Office of the National Archives of Australia.
Copyright and Reference
Copyright and Reference
NAA: PP300/1, 20