Muchea Tracking Station 1960

A Tribute to

Muchea Tracking Station

On February 20th 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth.

He was tracked across the Australian continent on his three orbits by the NASA tracking stations at Muchea in Western Australia and Woomera in South Australia.

This was the beginning of Australian manned spaceflight tracking.

In 2021 we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the opening of Muchea Tracking Station. Muchea was established in 1960, officially opened on 24th March 1961, and closed in 1964 at the completion of Project Mercury.

60th Anniversary of the Opening of Muchea Tracking Station,
Western Australia.

Opened 24th March 1961.

Greetings sent in 2012 for the 50th anniversary
of the flight of Friendship 7, piloted by John Glenn,
the first free world Astronaut to orbit the earth
on 20th January 1962.

John Glenn (1921 – 2016)

In 2012, Friendship 7 Astronaut John Glenn, sent this greeting – to the people of Perth, and all who tracked him on his passage across Australia.

“I’ve recalled it so often, almost daily since then, that it just seems like it was yesterday to me.’

(If no video, direct link here.)

Dr Chris Kraft
Friendship 7 Flight Director.
PDF file.

“Please give everyone ‘down under’ my sincerest congratulations for their contribution to our success – we could not have done it without them.”

Dr Michael Griffin
NASA Administrator 2005–2009.
PDF file.

“We remember the warmth shown by the citizens of Perth to our emissary, John Glenn, when you lit up his path as he flew overhead in the dark.”

Learn about Muchea Tracking Station, and about Friendship 7

The rest of the Muchea material is in the Muchea section
on the Honeysuckle Creek website.

Celebrations in Perth held on February 20, 2012.