Don’t come in or you’ll get Asbestos poisoning
Woomera Test Range was built in the middle of nowhere, Australia, as a joint venture between the UK, Australia, and the US, originally named “Anglo-Australian Long Range Weapons Establishment”. It is now known a RAAF Woomera Range Complex (WRC), the ground within is called Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA), and the air above, Woomera Restricted Airspace (WRX). It also houses a military airfield RAAF Base Woomera, which has been in operation since an RAF Dakota landed there June 19, 1947.
Map of Woomera Test Range in Australia
It was founded in 1947 – of all the years in history to be tied to a UFO mystery, ’47 is about as good as they get. Most of you know this, but for the uninitiated, some highlights:
Ghost Rockets – Through ’46 & ’47 – Reports from Europe of mysterious, rocket-like objects that catches the attention of the US military. White Sands UFO – April 24, 1947 – White Sands Proving Ground employees report a UFO, investigated by Military personnel. Harold Dahl/Maury Island Sighting – June 21, 1947 – Sighting that goes viral and sparks national UFO conversation Kenneth Arnold June 24, 1947 – Coins the term ‘Flying Saucer’ after his sighting goes viral Alleged Roswell Crash – July 8, 1947 Chiles-Whitted UFO – July 24, 1947 – Thomas Mantell and Clarence Chiles, with John Whitted, report a UFO. Mantell chases it in his aircraft and dies. Twining Memo – September 23, 1947 – Allegedly written by General Nathan Twining, head of USAF Air Materiel Command, to Brig. Gen. Shulgen describing that the UFO phenomenon is real and not visionary or fictitious. Gorman Dogfight – Oct 1, 1947 – George Gorman reports an encounter and “dogfight” style manuevers with a UFO in Fargo, ND.
Woomera was a collaboration between the UK, Australia, and the United States. It’s stated purpose was a secure facility for the testing of British and US weapons in a vast, sparsely populated area – specifically, missiles, rockets, and other aerospace technologies. It grew into a facility that also has launched satellites, high-altitude balloon flights, and scientific research. It has been operated jointly by the UK, Australia, the US, and their defense agencies. It is still in operation today.
It is now known as RAAF Woomera Range Complex, operated by the Royal Australian Air Force. It covers over 47,000 square miles. It is equipped with facilities for tracking and monitoring spacecraft, and has served as a strategic defense facility for tracking of satellites and high-speed missiles.
In the 1960s, Woomera served the laudatory function of space exploration, launching scientific and research payloads into orbit.
Woomera is divided into several key facilities:
Launch & Impact Areas – missiles & rocket launches and fall zones Control & Command Centers – Equipped with advanced tracking, telemetry, and communication systems for the analysis of test flights. Range safety facilities – monitoring stations, emergency response, and safety officers to enforce strict protocols. Tracking & Telemetry Systems – Woomera’s comprehensive network of tracking & telemetry systems employs radar, optical instruments, and other sensors to monitor trajectory, position, and performance of objects flying over Woomera. Aerospace Test & Evaluation Facilities – specialized facilities such as wind tunnels, environmental test chambers, and instrumentation laboratories, engineers and scientists simulate and assess the performance of missiles, rockets, and space vehicles. Space Tracking & Data Collection Support Infrastructure – personnel buildings, equipment, logistics, workshops, maintenance hangars, manufacturing facilities, fuel storage, and transportation.
Facts about Woomera:
It is the largest land-based test range globally (at one point, it contained over 100,000 square miles, before downsizing). Woomera is an Aboriginal device described as “the most efficient spear-throwing device, ever.” Surrounded by vast uninhabited land, making land approach nearly impossible without purpose. Unauthorized aircraft cannot enter the area. Woomera is surrounded by cutting edge surveillance systems. Areas within Woomera are separately controlled by specific clearances. Many of the buildings are within self-contained restricted zones and hardened against attack or explosive threat.
Ties to space programs:
In the 1960s, Woomera participated in the US’s Mercury and Gemini Space programs, as well as earlier Ranger & Mariner missions. Specialized tracking and communication stations were established at Woomera, and were used during the first moon landing. (Island Lagoon Tracking Station / Deep Space Station – 41 “DSS-41”). This facility was operated by NASA. It was shut down in the 70s. New facilities have since been constructed in the area.
Australia launched its own satellite in 1967 from Woomera called “WRESAT” or “Weapons Research Establishment Satellite”, becoming the 3rd country in the world to launch a satellite from its own territory into space, after the Soviet Union and US. During the Cold War, Woomera launched more space rockets than anywhere else in the world other than Cape Canaveral.
Today, Woomera is in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) hall of fame, with a plaque commemorating its contributions to aerospace on par with Kitty Hawk. Recently, in 2010 and 2020, Japanese space probes who collected samples from Asteroids (Hayabusa and Hayabusa2) were plummeted into the Woomera Range for recovery.
Ties to Aerospace R&D:
In the mid 90’s, the RAAF Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) in conjunction with the Defense Science and Technology Organization (DSTO) took over total operation of Woomera. ARDU was formed out of the No 1 Air Performance Unit, and renamed to ARDU in, you guessed it – September 1947. Its role is primarily testing of new and classified aircraft, not unlike the mission performed at Area 51 and Area 52 in the US.
Contractors:
It’s difficult to find information about what contractors were engaged with Woomera in the past. In modern times, Woomera has participated in large scale contracts with Raytheon, BAE Aerospace, and others. Lockheed Martin has a presence on Woomera Ave, in Edinburgh (near Adelaide, the major city south of Woomera Range). In 2020, Australia allocated nearly $1b to upgrade Woomera. In 2020, the chair of the WPA Advisory Board, was Amanda Vanstone, board member of Lockheed Martin Australia (though she was not on the board in 2017 when elected; Lockheed hired her in 2018).
I have found LinkedIn profiles of USAF personnel who were stationed at Woomera within the past twenty years.
So, what building is it at Woomera?
This I’m not sure on. It could be one of the Launch Complexes, though dubious that they would then launch actual rockets off the top of it:
As far as I can determine, the first launch pad was not constructed until 1957 – meaning if something was found earlier (likely by the Survey Corps of Australia who were looking for a test range, but perhaps stumbled across something more interesting?), this isn’t a good candidate.
It’s quite difficult to get details on specific buildings. Here’s a few more:
Space Tracking & Telemetry facilities
Anyone else want to scour sat photos or Google Earth, have at it!
If I’m dead wrong, hopefully you still found this post interesting and informative. I had heard of Woomera but never really dug into its past until now, so at least for me, this was an interesting history lesson.
Next best guess: the related facility of Pine Gap…
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAAF_Woomera_Range_Complex
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/woomera-australia/
https://michaelwest.com.au/are-australians-paying-for-secret-us-weapons-tests-at-woomera/
https://www.baesystems.com/en/article/bae-systems-demonstrates-its-at-home-on-the-range
https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/raytheon-to-develop-woomera-test-range-system
submitted by /u/mmx2000
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