ABANDONED MICHIGAN: The Keweenaw Rocket Range
Ever been to the Keweenaw Rocket Range? It ain't easy...been there myself and the roads are extremely rough, but if you have a 4-wheeler in warm weather, or a snowmobile in winter, you could make it there.
What's the big deal about it? Only that the first Michigan rocket to enter space was launched on this exact spot back on January 29, 1971.
NASA used this rocket launch site between 1964-1971, shooting Nike Apache rockets and Arcas into space.
To gather information on electron density, energetic electron precipitation, solar X-rays, and other types of measurements.
These days, only the adventurous make the trek to the old abandoned rocket range. You can camp there if you desire - it's a great place for it. Take footage, because you may never make it back again.
The plaque at the site reads:
"THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ESTABLISHED A
ROCKET RANGE ON THIS SITE WHICH WAS USED
FROM 1964-1971. MICHIGAN'S FIRST ROCKET TO
ENTER SPACE WAS LAUNCHED FROM THIS SITE
ON JAN. 29, 1971. IN TRIBUTE TO THE HISTORIC
WORK DONE IN THE FIELD OF ROCKETRY, THIS
MEMORIAL STONE WAS PLACED IN THE
SUMMER OF THE YEAR 2000 BY GT FFRC NASA".