Rockets and Balloons

It was June 1971 when Bermuda played a part in supporting the Planetary Atmosphere Experiment tests, which were designed to test equipment which had been developed for further space probes to various planets, especially Mars.

The crew at N.A.S.A.'s Cooper's Island instalation launched a series of metorological rockets and balloons to altitudes approximately 400,000 feet to obtain information of atmospheric density and temperature.

The spent rocket engines were expected to impact the ocean about 60 miles to the southeast of Bermuda.

Not always did everything go according to plan. There was a day when the count down was announced: 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1- lift off! what lift off? nothing happened ! The rocket just sat there and looked passive. An inspection crew was sent out to see what was wrong and just before they got there BOOM! the thing took off! 'Whew' that was a close call! Thank God, no one was hurt.