This massive antenna field in Alaska can create auroras on command with radio waves

HAARP Research Facility

HAARP sits in remote Alaska, north of Gakona. The site houses 180 radio antennas on 33 acres of land. These antennas form the Ionospheric Research Instrument that sends 3.6 million watts of radio energy into the upper atmosphere.

The facility studies the ionosphere, a layer 50 to 400 miles above Earth where solar radiation turns thin air into electrically charged particles. Work on the project began in 1990, with actual building starting in 1993.

Senator Ted Stevens Champions the Project

Alaska Senator Ted Stevens fought for HAARP in the early 1990s. He secured money from several federal agencies to fund this major scientific project.

The Cold War had just ended, sparking interest in new ways to communicate and monitor across great distances. Congress supported the plan to learn more about Earth’s upper air.

Stevens convinced other lawmakers that Alaska offered the best natural setting to study the aurora. His political influence turned the idea into reality.

How the Military Selected the Remote Location

Military planners bought 5,408 acres near Gakona from the Ahtna Native corporation in 1989. They picked this spot because it sits in the auroral zone where the northern lights appear.

The Air Force first planned to build a long-range radar system there. When the Cold War ended in 1991, the plan changed.

Gakona checked all the boxes: flat land, a nearby highway, and few neighbors. The remote setting prevented electrical noise from disrupting sensitive measurements.

Breaking Ground in the Alaskan Wilderness

Work crews arrived in 1993, changing forest into a research station. They laid gravel pads and built roads across the wet ground.

An Environmental Impact Study in 1992-1993 cleared the way by addressing concerns about local wildlife. The project brought jobs to this empty region.

Workers pushed ahead despite Alaska’s harsh weather and short summer building season. They installed huge diesel generators to power the facility’s massive energy needs.

The First 18 Antennas Begin Operations

By winter 1994, the first phase stood complete with 18 antenna towers. These initial antennas produced 360 kilowatts of power, enough to start basic tests.

Three measuring tools came with these first antennas. These instruments detected changes in the ionosphere when the antennas turned on.

Early tests proved radio waves could reach the ionosphere and create measurable effects. These successes helped secure money to build more antennas.

The Massive Expansion to 180 Antennas

Between 1994 and 2007, the antenna field grew ten times larger. Workers installed 180 antennas in a 12×15 grid pattern covering 33 acres.

Each antenna rises 72 feet with crossed metal elements on top. This cross design lets scientists control the radio signal direction and strength.

The antennas work together as a phased array, meaning operators can aim the radio beam without moving any physical parts. This ability allows targeting specific spots in the ionosphere.

The Powerful Transmitter System Takes Shape

Engineers built 30 small buildings around the antenna field. Each building contains six pairs of 10-kilowatt radio transmitters.

Together, these transmitters generate 3.6 megawatts of power. The system operates on frequencies between 2.7 and 10 megahertz, just above AM radio.

Five diesel engines from locomotives power the entire system. Each generator makes 2,500 kilowatts of electricity, enough for a small town.

BAE Systems Completes the Final Facility

Defense contractor BAE Systems finished the facility in 2007. This completed the main research instrument after 14 years of work.

The project cost grew to $290 million, far more than first planned. This high price reflected the challenges of building such a powerful radio system in Alaska.

The completed HAARP included not just antennas but tools to measure magnetic fields, radar systems, and instruments that track ionosphere conditions. It became the most powerful facility of its kind worldwide.

Creating the First Artificial Aurora

In 2005, HAARP created the first human-made aurora. The facility excited electrons high above Earth, making them glow like natural northern lights.

This artificial aurora appeared much fainter than natural displays. Special cameras captured the weak light, proving HAARP could change the ionosphere in planned ways.

The test helped scientists understand how the sun creates natural auroras. It showed that radio waves from the ground could copy effects normally caused by solar energy.

The Birth of Wild Conspiracy Theories

HAARP’s secret-looking site and complex science sparked wild rumors. Internet sites claimed it controlled weather or even people’s thoughts.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez blamed HAARP for the 2010 Haiti earthquake. People linked the facility to floods, droughts, and storms around the world.

Scientists repeatedly explained that HAARP lacks the power for such effects. The energy it sends into the ionosphere is thousands of times weaker than what comes from the sun.

From Military Project to University Research Facility

In May 2014, the Air Force announced plans to close HAARP. The old generators needed costly upgrades to meet pollution rules.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks took ownership in August 2015. The university now runs the facility through a research agreement.

This change saved HAARP from being torn down. University researchers now use the site for open science studies instead of secret military work.

Visiting HAARP Research Facility

You’ll find HAARP at Mile 11.3 Tok Cutoff Highway near Gakona, Alaska. The University of Alaska Fairbanks hosts annual open houses during summer, typically in June or August.

Registration in advance is required. During tours, you can walk among the 180 antenna towers and see the powerful transmitters up close.

The main research building houses interactive displays explaining how scientists create artificial auroras.

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