The First Nike-Apache: Roland Burgan photos

Two NIKE-APACHE rockets were fired off from the Keweenaw Missile Range as a part of the IGY, International Geophysical Year, in a coordinated launch with other NASA facilities in North America. Although other research sounding rockets had been fired from the Keweenaw Range in years previous, these were by far the largest rockets fired.

Preparations went on through the Fall of 1970, but took until January, 1971, to bring things to a readiness. Weather that winter also took a toll. These pictures were taken by Roland Burgan, then WHDF (Houghton, later WCCY) General Manager, & News Director, over two trips made into the site on two consecutive days, Thursday, January 28th, and Friday, January, 29th., 1971. Accompanying Roland was a brother, Read, then General Manager of WGGL-FM, (PBS station at MTU). The first launch had been set for Thursday, but was postponed at the last minute by uncooperative high altitude winds. The launch went as planned on Friday, at noon. Temperatures that day hovered at -20 deg.F

Roland Burgan at road warning sign 2 miles E. of Copper Harbor.
Roland Burgan at road warning sign 2 miles E. of Copper Harbor.


 

Road entrance to Missile Launch Complex.
Road entrance to Missile Launch Complex.


 

Some of telemetry antennas.
Some of telemetry antennas.


 

NASA Equipment van & telemetry antenna.
NASA Equipment van & telemetry antenna.


 

Roland B. interviews Dr. Allen (head of U.of M. Team).
Roland B. interviews Dr. Allen (head of U.of M. Team).


 

Electrical equipment racks.
Electrical equipment racks.


 

More electrical racks.
More electrical racks.


 

View of telemetry & test equipment racks.
View of telemetry & test equipment racks.


 

Still more electronic gear.
Still more electronic gear.


 

Roland Burgan gets overview of Missile Status/Launch Control Console.
Roland Burgan gets overview of Missile Status/Launch Control Console.


 

NASA Technicians check equipment prior to launch.
NASA Technicians check equipment prior to launch.


 

Missile storage, fueling, and payload checkout building.
Missile storage, fueling, and payload checkout building.


 

Missile checkout equipment.
Missile checkout equipment.


 

Nike-Apache (fueled) from Nike booster end.
Nike-Apache (fueled) from Nike booster end.


 

Nike-Apache from payload end.
Nike-Apache from payload end.


 

Waiting for data checkout after launch...no vehicles or snow machines could run for 1 hour.
Waiting for data checkout after launch...no vehicles or snow machines could run for 1 hour.


 

Post flight conference in Copper Harbor. Next launch would be Sunday, Jan. 31.
Post flight conference in Copper Harbor. Next launch would be Sunday,
Jan. 31.

One interesting note....about 20 seconds after launch, more birds (they literally filled the sky) suddenly appeared overhead than anyone had ever seen before...the sky went black for about a minute! The rocket attained an altitude of about 82 miles.

For more information, see the following Daily Mining Gazette articles: Jan.7, 1971 (two stories); Jan. 9; Jan.11; Jan. 13; Jan. 15; Jan. 18; Jan. 23; Jan.28; Jan.30 (two stories); Feb. 1; & Feb. 9th.

(Roland Burgan, Hancock, MI...Nov.,1998) rburgan@up.net

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