338 Comments for NRL Satellite Facility

i want that as a wallpaper. to bad i brought it up like 5 years to late.

Well maacdamia nuts, how about that.

Thanks for posting this. I worked with Compass Link in early 1971 while at 7th AF HQ, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN and this is the first time I have ever seen a picture of the "other end". I worked 12 hours night shifts there and would receive the target strike orders from the White House (via the Pentagon) and carry those outside and across the street to the Command Post, known as Blue Chip, to be turned into "frag orders". When you hear about micromanaging the Vietnam War from Washington, this is part of what is being referred to. The White House deciding on individual targets and many times doing it very badly indeed. This "frag" in frag order refers not to bombs but to (fragmentary) orders for what missions/aircraft were to hit what targets. I would then carry confirmation back and resend via Compass Link.

Now imagine that is being done by a 19 year old, three striper airman in the middle of the night with no officer in sight; they must have trusted me! Sleep well America. It was the height of tech at the time and, yes, nixie lights were the epitome of futuristic cool. BTW, each base had a PMEL (Precision Measurement Equipment or Electronics Lab I think) where the equipment was calibrated and those little stickers were affixed.

if I had gone in there and seen that sweep generator I would have come back with a few screwdrivers and a willing friend to help remove it and help carry it out of there, like previously stated that is either an HP or possibly a Collins sweep generator used for checking the frequency of the transmitter. I'll bet lurking somewhere in that room was a nixie tube display frequency counter too! Gotta love old test equipment, they just don't build things like they used to.

awesome Mr. Motts!

Ah, looks like a water tower or gas tank in Accokeek

http://www.bing.com/ma...where1=38.671155

Thanks for your response Motts.. Actually, I had meant the object that was WAY out across the trees in the distance...The white object that was commented on in comments on smaller dish gallery....

-TT

Thanks - yes that's the smaller of the two dishes on the property. Here's a closer look: http://www.opacity.us/...aller_of_the_two.htm

First time visit here..Hi Motts And to You All!! This site is just awesome! (It's an instant speeddial placement!).

Motts, I was curious about something.. If you look across the trees, in the distance, there is an object that looks like another sat. dish, but not sure because I'm viewing these on a smallish 15.4" notebook. Is this but one installation in an array?

TIA...Love your work, Motts!!..

-TT

Nuclear winter?

The thumbnail looks like a mushroom cloud.

wallpaper please =)

Like a Techno-Pyramid of some sort

It looks like were looking..down?

All of the meters are in the red! Run!