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==Matagorda Island AFB==
 
==Matagorda Island AFB==
'''Matagorda Island AFB''', Matagorda Island, TX (28.33N 96.46W) is a surface base that comes with the default Orbiter installation (although no structures, pads or runways are included).
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'''Matagorda Island AFB''', Matagorda Island, TX (28.33N 96.46W) is a surface base that comes with the default Orbiter installation.
  
 
===History===
 
===History===
 
Built during WW2 and know as '''Matagorda Island AFB'''.  
 
Built during WW2 and know as '''Matagorda Island AFB'''.  
 
The site was one of the early NASA considerations for a launch site before they settled on [[Cape Canaveral]].
 
The site was one of the early NASA considerations for a launch site before they settled on [[Cape Canaveral]].
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After that it was used by [[Deke Slayton]] and other former astronauts in a private space venture in the late 1960s/1970s.
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Several attempts to launch kerosene/liquid oxygen vehicles failed.
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Matagorda Island AFB was deactivated in 1975.
 
Matagorda Island AFB was deactivated in 1975.
  
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When in use, the base had 6 paved runways, control tower, VOR (116.4) and NDB beacons.
 
When in use, the base had 6 paved runways, control tower, VOR (116.4) and NDB beacons.
 
It had one 15,000 ft runway, two 10,000 ft, and numerous shorter runways (at least 5000 ft).
 
It had one 15,000 ft runway, two 10,000 ft, and numerous shorter runways (at least 5000 ft).
 
===Maps and charts===
 
*[http://skyvector.com/?ll=28.33,-96.46&chart=301&zoom=1 http://skyvector.com/?ll=28.33,-96.46&chart=301&zoom=1]
 
  
 
==Pierce Field==
 
==Pierce Field==
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===History===
 
===History===
 
Built during WW2 to support the ''Matagorda Bombing Range'' to the west. The airfield had a total of 5 paved runways.
 
Built during WW2 to support the ''Matagorda Bombing Range'' to the west. The airfield had a total of 5 paved runways.
It was used by [[Deke Slayton]] and other former astronauts in a private space venture in the late 1960s/1970s.
 
Several attempts to launch kerosene/liquid oxygen vehicles failed.
 
  
 
===Pads and runways===
 
===Pads and runways===
 
*Runway 6/24, 1829 x 23 m, concrete
 
*Runway 6/24, 1829 x 23 m, concrete
 
*Runway 18/36,  1524 x 23 m, concrete
 
*Runway 18/36,  1524 x 23 m, concrete
 
===Maps and charts===
 
*[http://skyvector.com/?ll=28.459596448208437,-96.29608154599606&chart=301&zoom=1 http://skyvector.com/?ll=28.459596448208437,-96.29608154599606&chart=301&zoom=1]
 
 
==In science fiction==
 
Matagorda is used in the [[Ben Bova]] books as a space base.
 
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matagorda_Island_Air_Force_Base http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matagorda_Island_Air_Force_Base]
 
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matagorda_Island_Air_Force_Base http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matagorda_Island_Air_Force_Base]
  
[[Category: Articles]]
 
 
[[Category:Real spaceports]]
 
[[Category:Real spaceports]]
[[Category:Surface bases]]
 
[[Category:USA]]
 

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