Guam MSFN Tracking Station (GWM)

Guam / Inarajan /
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Built in 1966 to support the Apollo space mission, GWM was equipped with a 30-foot USB antenna and VHF Air-Ground Voice and Telemetry capabilities. GWM was the first dedicated Apollo station built. It was primarily intended for near-earth and TLI operations.

On 23 July 1969, a bearing in the antenna failed. GWM was critical to the landing of the Apollo 11 spacecraft, being the only way NASA and the astronauts could communicate before splashdown.

Rather than waste precious time tearing the antenna apart so the bearing could be greased, Charles Force, the director of the station, sent for his 10-year-old son, Greg. Greg was able to squeeze his arm through a two-and-a-half inch opening and repack the bearing with grease, allowing the antenna to function properly again.

www.honeysucklecreek.net/other_stations/guam/index.html
www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/space/07/20/apollo11.irpt/
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Coordinates:   13°18'40"N   144°44'15"E
This article was last modified 16 years ago