Meeting assets for The Space Show Presents Kris Brown & Sue Mitchell re “Norther Lights & Rocket Flights: My Years at Poker Flat Research Range” Tuesday, Sept. 29, 206
Quick Summary:
The Space Show featured a discussion about the book “Northern Lights and Rocket Flights: My Years at Poker Flat Research Range,” edited by Sue Mitchell and brought to publication by Kris Brown, son of the late author Neil Brown. Kris and Sue shared the history and significance of the Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska, detailing its founding, unique location, and role in studying the aurora and upper atmosphere using sounding rockets. They explained the range’s origins, its connection to Cold War research, and its current operations, including its funding structure and public outreach. The conversation included personal anecdotes about life in Alaska, the challenges of working in extreme cold, and the improvisational engineering that characterized the early years of the facility. The guests also addressed the continued relevance of sounding rocket research in the context of modern satellite technology and space weather. The program concluded with reflections on Neil Brown’s legacy and the enduring frontier spirit of Alaska. During our discussion, Kris showed several photos from the book and from the history of he Poker Flat Range.
Detailed Summary:
Kris explained that the name “Poker Flat” originated from Bret Harte’s 1960’s story “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” and was later adopted for the Alaskan research facility due to its remote location and nuclear testing associations. David introduced the evening’s program and announced upcoming guests, including Eric Berger for Hotel Mars and an interview with Dr. Zeitelmann. Tonight’s main discussion focused on the book “Northern Lights and Rocket Flights: My Years at Poker Flat Research Range,” which was edited by Sue Brown and published by Kris Brown, son of Neal Brown who passed in 2021. Kris provided background on his father’s role as the first director of Poker Flat Research Range for 18 years, his early NASA career, and how he became interested in studying the Northern Lights after working in Greenland during the Cold War.
Kris discussed his book about the Northern Lights and sounding rocket site in Alaska, explaining that the facility was initially used for atmospheric studies during the Cold War due to its proximity to the Soviet Union. He clarified that while the site could theoretically launch orbital rockets, practical considerations like extreme cold temperatures in Fairbanks make it challenging for human spaceflight. The group discussed how sounding rockets were primarily used for data collection rather than requiring human presence, as the recovered payloads could be analyzed after the flight.
The Space Show Wisdom Team discussed the history of rocket launches and military presence at launch sites. Kris explained that while there was initially a military presence at rocket launch sites, there is not currently one. He also shared details about how sounding rockets were developed from Korean War-era missiles in the 1950s. The discussion revealed historical incidents involving nuclear weapons, including a B-52 crash in Greenland in 1968 that led to diplomatic issues and the relocation of nuclear activities to Alaska, as well as plans to build a deep water harbor in Alaska that were ultimately canceled due to environmental concerns raised by scientists.
The discussion focused on the University of Alaska’s Poker Flat Research Range, with both Kris and Sue explaining its history and operations. They described how the range is uniquely owned by the University of Alaska Fairbanks and operates as a rental facility for researchers funded by agencies like NASA and NOAA. The conversation covered the range’s origins under founder Neil Davis and its development under director Neal Brown, who led the facility for 18 years. The discussion ended with David asking about the current relevance of sounding rockets in today’s satellite launch environment, though this question was not completed in the transcript.
The group discussed the continued relevance of studying auroras and their impact on space weather, telecommunications, and satellite operations. Kris explained that Poker Flat, located 30 miles north of Fairbanks, hosts regular rocket launches and public tours during summer months, with upcoming launches planned for October. The discussion included historical context about early military rocket systems like Nike Ajax being used for aurora research, and how modern launches now combine different rocket stages for various experiments. The conversation also touched on Fairbanks’ role as a hub for aurora tourism and the economic benefits the facility brings to the local community during winter months.
Kris shared personal photos and stories about his father’s work at Poker Flat rocket range, including a photo of his father taking a barium gas release photo in freezing conditions. He described how his family lived in a trailer at the facility during a six-month custody arrangement after his parents’ divorce, and shared a photo from around 1974-75 of him and his siblings examining a rocket booster. Sue mentioned that the book contains human interest stories and anecdotes scattered throughout, including a humorous incident about a moose hanging from a rocket launcher.
The group discussed Kris’s childhood writing sample about Poker Flat that was recently published in the book. Sue shared details about early rocket disposal methods at Poker Flat, including burning excess solid fuel and using innovative techniques like railroad tracks for rocket storage and dynamite for demolishing an old A-frame building. The conversation concluded with David asking about family life at the rocket base in Alaska.
Kris shared experiences of growing up in rural Alaska, describing challenging winter conditions including extreme cold, transportation difficulties, and the need for special car heating procedures. He explained how distances to neighbors and activities were significant, leading to independent play and creativity with siblings. Sue added similar experiences from her Fairbanks childhood, including the unique challenge of trick-or-treating requiring costumes that fit over parkas and being transported by car due to cold distances.
Kris shared stories about his father’s work at Poker Flat and his post-retirement creation of the Alaska Space Academy, where he inspired students across the state through his ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to people of all ages. Sue confirmed this was her final book as she is retiring from writing, though she left open the possibility of writing her memoir in the future. The discussion concluded with David offering to share the archived show links with Kris and Sue for promotional use.
Attendees: David Livingston (Organizer), Marshall Martin (External), John Hunt (External), Kris Brown - Vector Sciences (External), Hanna Spencer (External), Sue Mitchell (External)
Special thanks to our sponsors:
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless Entertainment
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