CALIFORNIA'S GOLD: VANDENBERG (TV)
Summary
One in this series of travel programs featuring host Huell Howser, who tours California, exploring the state's diversity. In this episode, Howser visits the state's central coast to explore the Vandenberg Air Force Base, which spans 98,000 acres and has seen close to 1,700 launches since 1958. He explores an old launch shelter with Jay Prichard of the Space & Missile Heritage Center, and Prichard explains how the rocket booster would be transported horizontally on rails and then lifted vertically for launch. He adds that the Discoverer reconnaissance project, really named "Corona," was housed there and was finally declassified in 1995 after over twenty years of secrecy. They visit another launch complex, which was declared a national landmark in 1986, and then stop by "the blockhouse," the control center building which was painted a distinct shade of bright blue, called "Fowler Blue" for the colonel who selected it. Inside, they observe the consoles, some of which are still turned on, and discuss the "early mishaps" which informed later successful launches.
Howser and Prichard head north along the nearby train tracks, and Prichard explains that Nikita Khrushchev once traveled on the train route and was allowed to observe the American missiles, falsely claiming in response that his country had far more advanced technology. The southern area of the base is home to the former Camp Cooke, which features a log cabin village used for infantry training, some of which is still standing. They venture out into "no-man's land" and visit "the portal," an underground launch silo now covered with rusting panels. Prichard explains that some of the material from the decommissioned site has been recycled into a weather satellite. In the more modern area of the base, Howser talks with Lt. Col. Richard Hornbeak about the preparations for the launch of a new Atlas rocket, and Hornbeak explains that the 24-story tower is currently the most technologically-advanced launch pad in the world. They climb to the top of the tower to admire the view of the entire base, and Hornbeak adds that they still give public tours of the new and old areas. Footage is then shown of Vandenberg's first missile launch on December 16, 1958. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: KCET-TV (Los Angeles, CA) / PBS
- DATE: November 30, 1997
- RUNNING TIME: 0:27:21
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:57303
- GENRE: Education/Information
- SUBJECT HEADING: Education/Information; Space exploration; History
- SERIES RUN: PBS KCET - TV series, 1991-2012
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Home Savings of America
- TV - Promos - "California's Gold" home video
CREDITS
- Huell Howser … Producer, Writer
- Harry Pallenberg … Associate Producer
- Phil Noyes … Segment Producer
- Huell Howser … Host
- Jay Prichard … Interviewee
- Richard Hornbeak … Interviewee
- Nikita Khrushchev