Northrop Grumman Capistrano Test Site

USA / California / San Clemente /
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Founded in 1963 for development of the Apollo Lunar Module Descent Engine, the 2,800-acre Capistrano Test Site, created by TRW, (now owned by Northrop Grumman), has conducted over 50,000 tests on space propulsion, directed energy and advanced energy projects from organizations including the National Air and Space Administration (NASA), the Missile Defense Administration (MDA), the U.S. Navy, Army and Air Force, the Department of Energy and commercial customers.
TRW tested, under the Strategic Defense Initiative, a space-based weapons system to shoot down incomming missiles. During a test in 1979, a ground-based laser at this site was used to destroy a wire-guided missile launched from Camp Pendelton.

Northrop Grumman is now in the proccess of ending it's lease agreement for the Capistrano Test Site and is expected to vacate the site completely by mid-2011.
The surrounding area will be soon occupied by up to 14,000 new single-family homes.


www.st.northropgrumman.com/capabilities/space/propulsio...
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   33°27'34"N   117°33'17"W

Comments

  • Just what these lovely hillsides need: more stuccoized crapboxes.
  • Amen. Let the animals keep it for a change.
  • I was stationed at Camp Pendleton's 64 area right next door to this place during the SDI in the 80s and heard lots of explosive sounds coming from the TRW site. I hope they detoxed the place up before building homes.
This article was last modified 2 years ago