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Johnston Island
Credit - © Mark Wade
Type: Suborbital Launch Site. Operator: USA. Country: USA. Latitude: 16.73294 deg. Longitude: -169.52980 deg.

US military base on this island in the Pacific Ocean. Used for rocket-launched nuclear tests in the 1950's. In the 1960's it was the site for the operational AFP-437 anti-satellite system. The system was retired in 1975. Several sounding rockets were also launched over the years, either in support of nuclear tests or in experiments related to anti-satellite technology. Known to have been used for 124 launches from 1958 to 1975, reaching up to 1158 kilometers altitude.

Launch Pads
  • HAD23 - Latitude: 16.7375 deg. Longitude: -169.5258 deg. Used by: Tomahawk Sandia. First Launch: 1967-09-29. Last Launch: 1967-09-29. Number Launches: 1. HAD Launcher 23
  • LC1 - Latitude: 16.7365 deg. Longitude: -169.5222 deg. Used by: Redstone. First Launch: 1958-08-01. Last Launch: 1958-08-01. Number Launches: 1. Pad 1
  • LC2 - Latitude: 16.7369 deg. Longitude: -169.5226 deg. Used by: Redstone. First Launch: 1958-08-12. Last Launch: 1958-08-12. Number Launches: 1. Pad 2
  • LE1 - Latitude: 16.7288 deg. Longitude: -169.5398 deg. Used by: Delta. First Launch: 1962-05-02. Last Launch: 1970-03-27. Number Launches: 13. Launch Emplacement 1
  • LE2 - Latitude: 16.7288 deg. Longitude: -169.5398 deg. Used by: Delta. First Launch: 1962-10-16. Last Launch: 1975-11-06. Number Launches: 13. Launch Emplacement 2
  • S - Latitude: 16.7248 deg. Longitude: -169.5327 deg. Johnston Island DOMINIC south launchers
  • UL6 - Latitude: 16.7374 deg. Longitude: -169.5257 deg. Used by: Sandhawk. First Launch: 1968-10-29. Last Launch: 1968-11-07. Number Launches: 2. Universal Launcher 6
General / Launch Complex Unknown Chronology

1958 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 1 - 09:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 2 . Doorknob-2 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

1958 August 1 - 09:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 1 . Doorknob-1 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 24 km (14 mi).

1958 August 1 - 09:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 1 . Doorknob-1 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 24 km (14 mi).

1958 August 1 - 09:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 1 . Doorknob-1 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 24 km (14 mi).

1958 August 1 - 09:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 2 . Doorknob-2 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

1958 August 1 - 09:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 1 . Doorknob-1 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 24 km (14 mi).

1958 August 1 - 09:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 2 . Doorknob-2 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

1958 August 1 - 09:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 2 . Doorknob-2 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

1958 August 11 - 09:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 2 . Doorknob-2 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

1958 August 11 - 09:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 2 . Doorknob-2 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

1958 August 11 - 09:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 2 . Doorknob-2 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

1958 August 11 - 09:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 2 . Doorknob-2 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

1958 August 11 - 09:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 2 . Doorknob-2 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

1958 August 11 - 09:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 2 . Doorknob-2 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

1958 August 11 - 09:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 1 . Doorknob-1 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 24 km (14 mi).

1958 August 11 - 09:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Doorknob. LV Model: Doorknob 2 . Doorknob-2 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 83 km (51 mi).

1958 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. FAILURE: Failure. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Asp. Hardtack Aeronomy mission Agency: LRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 June 1 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun FB-1 Aeronomy mission Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 June 19 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun FB-2 Aeronomy mission Agency: AFCRL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 July 1 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. 7-inch Sphere Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 July 8 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun FB-3 7-inch Sphere Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 July 9 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Ionosphere winds Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 July 9 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Ionosphere winds Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 July 9 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Mass spectrometer Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 July 9 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Mass spectrometer Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 July 9 - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Javelin J1 Thermal electrons Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

1962 July 9 - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Javelin J2 Thermal electrons Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

1962 July 9 - 08:59 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. HJ Nike X-3 FAILURE: Failure. Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1962 July 9 - 09:08 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. HJ Nike X-4 Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 July 19 - 08:40 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun FB-5 7-inch Sphere Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 July 23 - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Mass spectrometer Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

1962 July 23 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun FB-4 Sphere / Mass spectrometer Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 August 1 - Launch Vehicle: Nike Hercules. FAILURE: Failure. Certification Agency: USAF. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1962 September 1 - Launch Vehicle: Nike Hercules. FAILURE: Failure. Certification Agency: USAF. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1962 October 20 - 08:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Sergeant. CHECKMATE Nuclear test Agency: AEC. Apogee: 147 km (91 mi). Test of the Los Alamos XW-50X1 60 kiloton nuclear warhead. Launch vehicle was a solid propellant XM-33 Strypi rocket with a Recruit booster stage. The warhead detonated at an altitude of 147 km, 66 km from Johnston Island. Observers on the island saw a green and blue circular region surrounded by a red ring. This faded in less than a minute. Blue-green streamers and pink striations developed that lasted half an hour. At this yield, even with the high altitude, extensive disruption of communications were not reported.

1962 October 20 - 09:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun FB-7 Sphere Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 October 25 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Mass spectrometer Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 October 26 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Ionosphere winds Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 October 26 - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. Mass spectrometer Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

1962 October 26 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Sphere Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 October 26 - 09:58 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. HJ Nike X-11 Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 October 26 - 10:05 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. HJ Nike X-12 Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 October 26 - 10:11 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. HJ Nike X-14 Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 October 26 - 10:15 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun FB-6 Mass spectrometer Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 October 26 - 10:22 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. HJ Nike X-17 Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 October 27 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Sphere Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 November 1 - 12:08 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. HJ Nike X-20 Electron density Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 96 km (59 mi).

1962 November 1 - 12:16 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. HJ Nike X-24 Electron density Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 November 1 - 12:20 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun FB-8 Sphere Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 November 1 - 12:24 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. HJ Nike X-27 Electron density Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 November 1 - 12:40 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Honest John. HJ Nike X-28 Electron density Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 November 2 - 07:34 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Nike Cajun FB-9 FAILURE: Failure. Ionosphere winds Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 November 3 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Ionosphere winds Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 November 4 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Ionosphere winds Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 November 4 - Launch Vehicle: Cajun. Ionosphere winds Aeronomy mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1962 November 4 - 07:15 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike Hercules. DOMINIC TIGHTROPE Agency: USAF. Apogee: 24 km (14 mi).

1962 November 4 - 07:15 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Nike Hercules. DOMINIC TIGHTROPE Nuclear test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 24 km (14 mi). This was a DOD sponsored live test of the Nike Hercules air defense missile system. The low-kiloton range W-31 warhead detonated at 21 km altitude 3 km SSW of Johnston Atoll. This was the last U.S. atmospheric test. On Johnston Island an intense white flash was accompanied by a strong heat pulse. A yellow-orange disc formed, slowly changing to a purple toroid which faded from view after several minutes.

1962 November 27 - Launch Vehicle: Javelin. RPA Ionosphere mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

1966 September 19 - Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Nike Tomahawk-9 Sandia 152-25 Sampler (Camera) Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).

1966 September 20 - 15:34 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Nike Tomahawk-12 Sandia 152-99 LRL BOX-7 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 168 km (104 mi).

1966 September 22 - 17:10 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Nike Tomahawk-12 Sandia 152-98 LRL AXE-1 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 160 km (90 mi).

1967 September 21 - Launch Vehicle: Sandhawk. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-7 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 383 km (237 mi). AEC galactic astronomy payload - detected cosmic soft x-rays.

1967 September 25 - Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Tomahawk Sandia 152-61 Test / aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 80 km (49 mi).

1967 September 27 - Launch Vehicle: Sandhawk. Sandhawk Sandia 281-6 Dart Test / aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 104 km (64 mi).

1967 October 2 - 07:22 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. Nike Tomahawk-12 Sandia 152-106 LRL BOX-11 X-ray astronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 168 km (104 mi).

1967 October 3 - Launch Vehicle: Sandhawk. Terrier Sandhawk Sandia 281-8 Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 423 km (262 mi).

1968 October 1 - Launch Vehicle: Tomahawk Sandia. FAILURE: Failure. Aeronomy mission Agency: Sandia. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.