When one talks about the Seychelles islands one imagines the sun, the white beaches and the coco-nut trees, as well as the spicy Creole food, nature, the beauty, the rich culture and the stars, the moon, the sun, our solar system , space exploration and beyond.
Did you just read that correctly? Space the Seychelles islands together, a commonality and link?
Yes for sure you read it quite right! Let me just refresh your memory providing to you just how the Seychelles is integrally linked with space exploration and the great potential for ‘space tourism’ as an added niche marketing prospect when ‘selling’ the islands as an interesting destination.
Allow me first go to the ‘near’ present or ‘recent’ history, whichever you like, as regards the last shuttle landing bringing an end to the NASA’s space shuttle programme, as the shuttle Atlantis touched down at the Kennedy Space Center at 05:57am on July 21st 2011. Bringing a closure to the shuttle missions, 30 years of remarkable flights and history, that started with the launch of the shuttle Columbia launching on April 12th 1981.
To understand the link between the shuttle missions, space in general, and the role the Seychelles islands had to play let us understand that well into the shuttle missions that the U.S. satellite tracking station located on Mahe which was as of the 1st of July 1987 known as Detachment 4, 2nd Satellite Tracking Group, was ably assisting various US space missions to include those of NASA.
On the 6th of August 1996 the operations of the ‘tracking station’ came to an end. It was officially decommissioned on the 15th of August 1996 with the last American personnel leaving the property on the 30th of September 1996 at 1400hrs according to official logs.
For about 33 years, the US tracking station becoming operational on the 9th of October 1963, sited on the main island of the Mahe, was an integral part of the US space missions.
The facility played key roles for the lunar landing of 20th July 1969 using the 60 foot dish antenna to ‘listen’ to the astronauts on the moon talking with ‘Houston Control’ in the state of Texas in the USA. The site continued to be important to US space missions until its closure.
Other significant and interesting events occurred such as when the Pan Am seaplane made its last flight to the Seychelles on June 1972. After that personnel would then utilize the newly opened Seychelles International Airport which we all know was so very vital to Seychelles’ own launch into the world of tourism. Prior to that Tracking station personnel would fly to the Seychelles on the Pan Am Hu-16 seaplane with the first flight being in July 1963 flying from Mombasa Kenya into the Seychelles. The first sea plane flights would arrive at the Long Pier at Victoria. Today the only ‘marker’ left of any significance is a tether point which is by the slip way and was used to tie up the seaplanes.
Other memorable events, and perhaps of interest to both residents and tourists alike, was the visit by well known comic, singer and actor, Bing Crosby, who toured the facility on the 22nd of August 1973. British author and playwright Noel Coward who fell ill while visiting the islands in November 1965 and at the request of then Governor Earl of Oxford and Asquith, was flown out of the Seychelles on an emergency medical flight to Kenya using the HU-16 seaplane.
Another interesting bit of information which links the Seychelles, the tracking station, and the world, for all those who are not only ‘fans’ of space travel and exploration, but as well film, songs, and the ‘King’, together was that a past base commander, Air Force base commander Paul Beaulieu, was the step-father to world famous Priscilla Beaulieu Presley, who was as we know was married to Elvis Presley.
The Seychelles islands and the time spent by the Beaulieu’s here was well appreciated we are certain, that at their dinner table back home, the tracking station and memories of the islands was fondly discussed.
For many years even before golf was played on the islands, and well before the world class course at Lemuria on Praslin, or the well played golf course at the Reef Golf club @ Anse Aux Pins, the ‘golf’ balls of the US Tracking Station dominated the views of island life on Mahe. Perhaps golf became popular because of it?
Sitting high above in the clouds the tracking station set among the tropical mountains, and well before the ‘blast off’ of tourism on the islands, the men and women who worked at the sites, both local and foreign, provided a technical link to the stars that until then could only appreciated from our tranquil shorelines during the clear evening nights.
The ‘space’ tracking station is now longed closed. Joining other programmes and like the closure of the space shuttle missions, to the history pages. Yet what was done for many years lives on still and soon those who served for years working at the station, living among us, marrying and moving away, creating new families, will soon return to celebrate a reunion on our island shores.
5o years since the opening of the Indian Ocean Station (IOS) which was located East from Mombasa, Kenya, one fourth of the way into the Indian Ocean, 1,094 statute miles east of Mombasa, Kenya.
2,048 statute miles southwest of Bombay, India ( Now Mumbai), 2113 statute miles north east of Maputo, Mozambique., 2287 statute miles northeast of Pretoria, South Africa, Tech Site: 4 degrees – 40 minutes South Latitude / 55 degrees – 29 minutes East Longitude. Those who are surviving will return once again to share memories with us, this sometime in 2013 as it is currently understood. When they do return they will not be simply tourists visiting a tropical island, but rather they will be ‘family’ returning to their second home welcomed by old friends and associates, who stayed behind.
2,048 statute miles southwest of Bombay, India ( Now Mumbai), 2113 statute miles north east of Maputo, Mozambique., 2287 statute miles northeast of Pretoria, South Africa, Tech Site: 4 degrees – 40 minutes South Latitude / 55 degrees – 29 minutes East Longitude. Those who are surviving will return once again to share memories with us, this sometime in 2013 as it is currently understood. When they do return they will not be simply tourists visiting a tropical island, but rather they will be ‘family’ returning to their second home welcomed by old friends and associates, who stayed behind.
Many have not been back since, while others have stayed in touch and know of the changes. A Seychelles greatly changed will be here waiting for them. We will open our arms to these pioneers who worked and lived with us and shared good times and who helped to place the Seychelles islands on not only the world map but the interstellar one as well.
The past contributions of all those who boldly stepped into the ‘future’ with the opening of the US Tracking Station, to include the hard work and determination of the Seychellois work force, is one which is well appreciated by all Seychellois and is a point of our history which I am sure would be of great interest to all visitors to our shores!
So let us give a loud ‘shout’ out to this reunion of past workers to our shores and perhaps to others as well. Our islands are here and we welcome you with open arms for our future is cemented by the positive contributions of the past. The present Seychelles is here and open for business and eager to welcome you to our friendly and still beautiful shores!
· Raymond St. Ange is a director of a company based in the USA in the travel, promotions and trade fields. He is as well a physical security consultant and law enforcement specialist and is actively engaged in product and business development. For contacts please send an email to uniqueproductsseychelles@gmail.com or on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/managementservices
** The Above appeared in the daily newspaper in the Seychelles 'Today In Seychelles'. To learn more about this 'daily' visit them @ http://www.today.sc
As you can see I have been absent form the 'blog' for a bit now. No worries though as I have been working in the background on several projects. All will be mentioned and covered in detail once again as we gear up to launch. Currently still in the Seychelles islands. Good to be home! Need to contact me when on the islands? My number here is + 248 2 515 885. Cheers and thanks for the visit!
