Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-36076411
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Very interesting as to be expected from the BBC, one might almost be tempted to start collecting Ascension.
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I have truly enjoyed the read....Thankyou......
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During the Apollo moon landing program, there was a tracking station located there which tracked the rocket after launch.
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Thanks for posting this Michael.
I knew nothing about Ascension Island. Spent a while reading about it yesterday. Fascinating place, the history, geography and ecology.
-Ernie
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Ascension Island is part of the Eastern Tracking Range -- at the very down range end. I live about 20 minutes from the beginning of the range which is Cape Canaveral, AFS. Makes more sense to fire missiles over water than over populated ground areas. Still very much a going concern -- missiles and tracking in Ascension that is.
Eric
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Thanks for the link, Michael; a most interesting read!
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I just took a tour via google earth. It's almost like being there - many photos of various spots.
Tad
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It was also a staging post for the UK in the Falklands War
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands_War
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Thanks, Michael! Ascension was one of my favorites when I was collecting. A fascinating place. I had Ascension mint through 1937, but most have been sold. Nice stamps with only a couple of not-very-well-centered clunkers. I miss them all! I think I've already uploaded my experimental digitally-designed print of Ascension stamps. So I won't bore everyone with that!
I also remember when the BBC first inaugurated their shortwave service via Ascension many years ago. I don't recall if they were broadcasting directly to NA as well as SA and Africa, but they were easy to hear from that location. I heard them often.
Both the shortwave radio listening hobby and stamp collecting have seen big changes in the past couple of decades. Neither hobby has thrived as a result of the changes.
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Add my thanks as well.
Maybe we should have a topic focused on this type of info about countries we collect. I still find it amazing that even places with almost no inhabitants issue (sometimes beautiful) stamps. This was one of the aspects that drew me to the hobby when I was a kid and fueled my lifelong interest in the world with its variety of people, history, geography and ... yes ... even politics (sorry vinman).
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Very interesting story!
I've always enjoyed learning about the odd corners of the Earth. One of my favorite shows is Yukon Men, about the inhabitants of a small town in Alaska. As far as Ascension Island, I haven't looked but I can bypass pretty stamps (that probably never actually were in the place of issue) from uninhabited places, but would be interested in postal usage by the various temporary occupants who worked the many communications projects. What exists?
What is the current situation? It seems that technology should have made this place obsolete as a way station for transmission?
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Here are a couple of pages from my Ascension collection with more modern stamps. The miniature sheet shows the importance of Ascension as a tracking station for outer space exploration.
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"What is the current situation? It seems that technology should have made this place obsolete as a way station for transmission?"
Ground stations for tracking are very much part of present day technology for Tracking -- especially for "real time" tracking. It is the combination of GPS satellites and ground (acting as another satellite if needed (a very complicated triangulation)) that give the full picture. So Ascension will not be obsolete for a while. Especially as it is almost directly under the flight path of many, many launches.
Cheers,
Eric
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http://www.the-islander.org.ac/oldsite/1656.htm
Here's the local newspaper.
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Cool! Thanks for that!
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Sounds like a good old-fashion town on the prairie, from yesteryear. Maybe a great place to live. Not for me though, since my next home will be in Ft. Myers Memorial Gardens at about six feet above ground.
Mike
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07:03:07pm
" .... I still find it amazing that even places with almost no inhabitants issue (sometimes beautiful) stamps. This was one of the aspects that drew me to the hobby when I was a kid and fueled my lifelong interest in the world with its variety of people, history, geography and ... yes ... even politics (sorry vinman). ..."
A similar small remote isolated place played an important role in my return to this hobby 50 years ago.
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Charlie, enjoyed your link to the Tokelau islands & your first years collecting.
Cheers,
Eric
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Charlie, I am curious about the trip on the Coast Guard cutter to Tokelau. Granted that at the time the Coast Guard was not part of the US Armed Services (it was tied to the US Transportation Department). Anyway, the Coast Guard does have military implications. The captain didn't simply sail the ship to the islands, did he? Was there some advance clearance required from the Tokelau government for the ship to enter port, or was this all covered under a post WWII treaty?
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"http://www.les-smith.com/Ascension-Island/index.html"
Here's a very cool web page about Ascension Island. The writer's brother in law lives there, so he's visited a couple of times, the last ones with a daily photo blog. Very interesting. It kept me busy for awhile.
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03:19:56am
" .... I am curious about the trip on the Coast Guard cutter to Tokelau. Granted that at the time the Coast Guard was not part of the US Armed Services (it was tied to the US Transportation Department). ...."
Almost, Mike, at the time of that trip the USCG, (by the way, the oldest US military service.), was a part of the US Treasury Department, since it had been founded by Alexander Hamilton in 1790 as the Revenue Cutter Service. In the late 1960s it was transferred to the Transportation Department and then after 9/11 again moved to the newly created Homeland Security
" .... Anyway, the Coast Guard does have military implications. The captain didn't simply sail the ship to the islands, did he? Was there some advance clearance required from the Tokelau government for the ship to enter port, or was this all covered under a post WWII treaty? ...."
The Tokelau Islands are administered by the government of New Zealand as is Western Samoa and a half dozen other Pacific Ocean territories. The trip south took about five or six months and we stopped at several islands under the administration of other friendly nations, so I am quite sure that s few simple radio messages were all it took to arrange a visit (Actually three stops as the Tokelaus are far out of sight of one another,)whereever it was beneficial to 'Show the Flag.'
I would not have been personally involved in making such arrangements.
Very few non Coasties are aware that the USCG operates bases and offices all over the world. When I was in the CG we had a facility in the Eastern Mediterranean in Greenland, plus one in Italy, others in Canada, as well as one on Greenland, in many Caribbean Islands, throughout Micronesia, in Japan, the Ryukus, the Philippine Islands, Korea, Panama , Columbia and other places that I do not recall. There was a sizeable Coast Guard contingent and some 20-30 cutters in Viet Nam during the war and to this day the Coast Guard operates a facility in Kuwait City.
During wartime the Coast Guard can be transferred to operate with the US Navy, one of those executive Order things no on pays attention to.
Many Navy vessels carry a Coast Guard contingent so that when performing smuggling interdictions the Coast Guard senior officer can legally relieve the ship's captain put the vessel and crew under USCG control so that a boarding and legal arrest under US Laws can be made if warranted.
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Very interesting. Thanks, Charlie.
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Keesindy-
I have fond memories of he BBC Ascension relay, I think it was usually on 7420 MHZ evenings in North America. I was upset some years ago when they discontinued service to the US and Canada. I understand the reasons why however.
I still maintain some interest in Short Wave listening but if you want to listen to foreign broadcasts you pretty much have to do that on line, I have a Grace internet radio on constantly.
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Snick, The shortwave radio world (broadcast and utility) was changing and I lost interest about 20 years ago. Sold my Drake R8 and took down the antennas. I bought a small Grundig back then. Checked it out when I got it and haven't listened to it since. I've listened to broadcasts online a couple of times in recent years, but don't have time to focus on them and find them distracting when I'm working at the computer. If I have anything on in the background, it's music.
I looked back through a few pages of my log. Didn't find any of the Ascension entries, but found Lesotho, Seychelles, Hong Kong and Singapore BBC relay station entries. Also, a special broadcast from "nearby" St. Helena on 11092.5 khz, October 15, 1994. Fond memories!
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01:13:46am
For collectors of British Commonwealth, or just those who collect stamps from there, here is a BBC report on the island of Ascension. It is located in the mid-Atlantic about half-way between Africa and South America. Always interesting to learn about the lands whose stamps we collect.
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-36076411
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re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
Very interesting as to be expected from the BBC, one might almost be tempted to start collecting Ascension.
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07:32:42am
re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
I have truly enjoyed the read....Thankyou......
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re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
During the Apollo moon landing program, there was a tracking station located there which tracked the rocket after launch.
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08:19:21am
re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
Thanks for posting this Michael.
I knew nothing about Ascension Island. Spent a while reading about it yesterday. Fascinating place, the history, geography and ecology.
-Ernie
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re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
Ascension Island is part of the Eastern Tracking Range -- at the very down range end. I live about 20 minutes from the beginning of the range which is Cape Canaveral, AFS. Makes more sense to fire missiles over water than over populated ground areas. Still very much a going concern -- missiles and tracking in Ascension that is.
Eric
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re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
Thanks for the link, Michael; a most interesting read!
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re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
I just took a tour via google earth. It's almost like being there - many photos of various spots.
Tad
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re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
It was also a staging post for the UK in the Falklands War
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands_War
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re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
Thanks, Michael! Ascension was one of my favorites when I was collecting. A fascinating place. I had Ascension mint through 1937, but most have been sold. Nice stamps with only a couple of not-very-well-centered clunkers. I miss them all! I think I've already uploaded my experimental digitally-designed print of Ascension stamps. So I won't bore everyone with that!
I also remember when the BBC first inaugurated their shortwave service via Ascension many years ago. I don't recall if they were broadcasting directly to NA as well as SA and Africa, but they were easy to hear from that location. I heard them often.
Both the shortwave radio listening hobby and stamp collecting have seen big changes in the past couple of decades. Neither hobby has thrived as a result of the changes.
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re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
Add my thanks as well.
Maybe we should have a topic focused on this type of info about countries we collect. I still find it amazing that even places with almost no inhabitants issue (sometimes beautiful) stamps. This was one of the aspects that drew me to the hobby when I was a kid and fueled my lifelong interest in the world with its variety of people, history, geography and ... yes ... even politics (sorry vinman).
Login to Like
this post
re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
Very interesting story!
I've always enjoyed learning about the odd corners of the Earth. One of my favorite shows is Yukon Men, about the inhabitants of a small town in Alaska. As far as Ascension Island, I haven't looked but I can bypass pretty stamps (that probably never actually were in the place of issue) from uninhabited places, but would be interested in postal usage by the various temporary occupants who worked the many communications projects. What exists?
What is the current situation? It seems that technology should have made this place obsolete as a way station for transmission?
Login to Like
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09:56:12pm
re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
Here are a couple of pages from my Ascension collection with more modern stamps. The miniature sheet shows the importance of Ascension as a tracking station for outer space exploration.
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re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
"What is the current situation? It seems that technology should have made this place obsolete as a way station for transmission?"
Ground stations for tracking are very much part of present day technology for Tracking -- especially for "real time" tracking. It is the combination of GPS satellites and ground (acting as another satellite if needed (a very complicated triangulation)) that give the full picture. So Ascension will not be obsolete for a while. Especially as it is almost directly under the flight path of many, many launches.
Cheers,
Eric
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re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
http://www.the-islander.org.ac/oldsite/1656.htm
Here's the local newspaper.
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11:11:17am
re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
Cool! Thanks for that!
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re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
Sounds like a good old-fashion town on the prairie, from yesteryear. Maybe a great place to live. Not for me though, since my next home will be in Ft. Myers Memorial Gardens at about six feet above ground.
Mike
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
21 Apr 2016
07:03:07pm
re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
" .... I still find it amazing that even places with almost no inhabitants issue (sometimes beautiful) stamps. This was one of the aspects that drew me to the hobby when I was a kid and fueled my lifelong interest in the world with its variety of people, history, geography and ... yes ... even politics (sorry vinman). ..."
A similar small remote isolated place played an important role in my return to this hobby 50 years ago.
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re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
Charlie, enjoyed your link to the Tokelau islands & your first years collecting.
Cheers,
Eric
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06:19:39pm
re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
Charlie, I am curious about the trip on the Coast Guard cutter to Tokelau. Granted that at the time the Coast Guard was not part of the US Armed Services (it was tied to the US Transportation Department). Anyway, the Coast Guard does have military implications. The captain didn't simply sail the ship to the islands, did he? Was there some advance clearance required from the Tokelau government for the ship to enter port, or was this all covered under a post WWII treaty?
Login to Like
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re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
"http://www.les-smith.com/Ascension-Island/index.html"
Here's a very cool web page about Ascension Island. The writer's brother in law lives there, so he's visited a couple of times, the last ones with a daily photo blog. Very interesting. It kept me busy for awhile.
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
26 Apr 2016
03:19:56am
re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
" .... I am curious about the trip on the Coast Guard cutter to Tokelau. Granted that at the time the Coast Guard was not part of the US Armed Services (it was tied to the US Transportation Department). ...."
Almost, Mike, at the time of that trip the USCG, (by the way, the oldest US military service.), was a part of the US Treasury Department, since it had been founded by Alexander Hamilton in 1790 as the Revenue Cutter Service. In the late 1960s it was transferred to the Transportation Department and then after 9/11 again moved to the newly created Homeland Security
" .... Anyway, the Coast Guard does have military implications. The captain didn't simply sail the ship to the islands, did he? Was there some advance clearance required from the Tokelau government for the ship to enter port, or was this all covered under a post WWII treaty? ...."
The Tokelau Islands are administered by the government of New Zealand as is Western Samoa and a half dozen other Pacific Ocean territories. The trip south took about five or six months and we stopped at several islands under the administration of other friendly nations, so I am quite sure that s few simple radio messages were all it took to arrange a visit (Actually three stops as the Tokelaus are far out of sight of one another,)whereever it was beneficial to 'Show the Flag.'
I would not have been personally involved in making such arrangements.
Very few non Coasties are aware that the USCG operates bases and offices all over the world. When I was in the CG we had a facility in the Eastern Mediterranean in Greenland, plus one in Italy, others in Canada, as well as one on Greenland, in many Caribbean Islands, throughout Micronesia, in Japan, the Ryukus, the Philippine Islands, Korea, Panama , Columbia and other places that I do not recall. There was a sizeable Coast Guard contingent and some 20-30 cutters in Viet Nam during the war and to this day the Coast Guard operates a facility in Kuwait City.
During wartime the Coast Guard can be transferred to operate with the US Navy, one of those executive Order things no on pays attention to.
Many Navy vessels carry a Coast Guard contingent so that when performing smuggling interdictions the Coast Guard senior officer can legally relieve the ship's captain put the vessel and crew under USCG control so that a boarding and legal arrest under US Laws can be made if warranted.
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11:18:26am
re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
Very interesting. Thanks, Charlie.
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re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
Keesindy-
I have fond memories of he BBC Ascension relay, I think it was usually on 7420 MHZ evenings in North America. I was upset some years ago when they discontinued service to the US and Canada. I understand the reasons why however.
I still maintain some interest in Short Wave listening but if you want to listen to foreign broadcasts you pretty much have to do that on line, I have a Grace internet radio on constantly.
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re: The Island Where Nothing Makes Sense
Snick, The shortwave radio world (broadcast and utility) was changing and I lost interest about 20 years ago. Sold my Drake R8 and took down the antennas. I bought a small Grundig back then. Checked it out when I got it and haven't listened to it since. I've listened to broadcasts online a couple of times in recent years, but don't have time to focus on them and find them distracting when I'm working at the computer. If I have anything on in the background, it's music.
I looked back through a few pages of my log. Didn't find any of the Ascension entries, but found Lesotho, Seychelles, Hong Kong and Singapore BBC relay station entries. Also, a special broadcast from "nearby" St. Helena on 11092.5 khz, October 15, 1994. Fond memories!
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