Poker Flat celebrates 50 years of rocket launches

March 6, 2019

Rod Boyce

March 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the first rocket launch from the Poker Flat Research Range. An open house on March 9 will commemorate a half-century of research at the range, operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute.

During the event, tours will visit the upper range, including the lidar and telemetry facilities and the Davis Science Operations Center. These locations are not part of the summer walking tour.

The open house will feature science talks and demonstrations.

The event is free and family friendly.

Gates open March 9 at 7:30 p.m. The event starts at 8 p.m. and goes until midnight, in hopes that the aurora will appear.

The range is located 30 miles out the Steese Highway. If you don’t want to drive, there will be two round-trip shuttles departing from the Geophysical Institute. Shuttles are free but, as space is limited, reservations are recommended.

For more information, including shuttle reservations, please visit https://sites.google.com/alaska.edu/pokerflat50/home.