History of Woomera Meteorological Office

The Woomera Meteorological Office was established in the late 1940s to support activities on the Woomera Instrumented Range, where various trials were conducted to determine, initially, the United Kingdom's capacity to develop nuclear-capable rocket-launched weapons. This was broadened to incorporate launches of upper atmospheric sounding rockets.

Since the general winding down of regular activities on the Range, trials of this nature have been more sporadic. The most recent series of launches have been conducted by an Australian group known as AUSROC, (who are attempting to display this country's capabilities in space launching), and an extensive series of launches conducted on behalf of the following universities by the space agency NASA: Pennsylvania State University, John Hopkins University, University of Colorado, University of Wisconsin, Columbia University.

The purpose of these launches (using Black Brant IX rockets), was to fly experiments designed to study stellar sources, typically in the Large Magellanic Cloud, in the ultra-violet and x-ray frequency spectrum. The payloads carried telescopes above the Earth's atmosphere, with viewing times of approximately five minute's duration; the payloads being recovered later.

Activities of this nature are infrequent. However, the Bureau's involvement in the latter NASA-coordinated experiments, was of considerable importance. Details of winds in the lower atmosphere were critical to launches. Most of these launches were conducted in the early morning hours. Four staff were deployed at our Range office. Two conducted the theodolite readings, (taken every twelve seconds! While one tracked the balloon, the other took down readings, then relayed them to another staff member in the office). The one in the office, calculated derived winds using a laptop computer, then relayed information through to the control centre, while another staff member continually inflated balloons, as releases were made at T-6H45M, T-4H45M, T-2H45M, T-1H15M, T-1H, T-30M and T-15M, making for a very busy schedule, particularly during the last hour and a quarter. Moreover, another staff member on duty in the airport office would lock onto each balloon being released once above the radar horizon, and would track it until burst. Generally, a very coordinated effort was required, and we received considerable kudos for our efforts.

During 1996, the office was involved in a Japanese project named ALFLEX, to test the viability of the automated landing systems of their experimental reusable space vehicle. The Japanese space agency NASDA conducted the project, with the assistance of their sister agency, the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL). A joint venture between the U.S. agency NASA, the European Space Agency and NASDA, plans to establish a permanent presence in space during the first decade of the 21st century. Each agency will have specific tasks to perform, and NASDA's is to provide a reusable vehicle to re-equip the station as required. The vehicle used was a 37% scale model of the eventual unit.

The project involved the vehicle being towed beneath a helicopter to a point distant from the airfield, at approximately 5000 ft, from where it was released. After an initial steep descent, the vehicle ultimately initiated its automated landing system, and on each occasion flared out to a perfect landing at the Woomera airport.

Our participation in the project, involved launching balloons at various scheduled times, using Omega and GPS radiosondes to gain high resolution, accurate wind and temperature data that was crucial to each experiment. The decision to go or not, was dependent upon our observations. Two scientists from NAL were in our office during these launches, to telephone through early results and opinions, then taking our calculated data back to their control centre on floppy disk to process. It was a very satisfying exercise for our office, as again, we were highly commended for our work, this no more so displayed, than in the respect we received from senior NASDA/NAL staff at functions held to celebrate the success of the project. Of interest, was that the data derived from the radiosondes was compared to that derived from readings taken by theodolite concurrently. These theodolite readings were proven to be of an extremely high standard, amply displaying the reliability of this instrument.

All the above projects were well supported by the active participation of Regional Forecasting Centre staff, with the provision of timely, accurate forecasts, and the dissemination of charts and satellite photographs as required. Head Office personnel were also instrumental in the success of the ALFLEX project, in particular the efforts of the SSU, and the Bureau's Networks and Measurements.

The future for the Woomera office's involvement in projects such as these, is always unknown. Just like the rest of the town, we hope too that more and consistent work of this nature surfaces. To this end, an American company, Kistler has come forward confidently with plans to utilize the Woomera Range to launch low-orbit reusable vehicles over the next ten to twenty years. Initial estimates suggest that up to one launch per day by 2001 is expected. If this is the case, then the Woomera office will have the opportunity to continue their fine tradition of support to space activities well into next century.