THE NASA SUPER CONNIES

Super Constellation NASA 20 (note the earlier two digit number) at Sydney,
date unknown but possibly March 1965. (Picture: Eric Allen)

Super Constellation NASA 420 taxys past the Perth control tower on 29 June 1968.
(Picture: Geoff Goodall)

Super Constellation NASA 421 at the Qantas Jet Base at Sydney on 16 December 1966.
(Picture: Eric Allen)

As a result of Australia's participation in the Apollo space programme there were regular visits by two NASA Lockheed C-121G Super Constellations in the late sixties and early seventies. These aircraft were operated by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and were specially instrumented for the purpose of testing ground tracking stations. They were also equipped to conduct simulations to prepare ground station operators for forthcoming space missions. The NASA aircraft were unusual in that for a time they carried neither military serial numbers nor civil registrations.

The NASA Super Constellations that Visited Australia

Identity	Type	MSN	Remarks
NASA 420	C-121G	4143	SEP63	Leased to NASA as NASA 20.
			66	Renumbered NASA 420.
			25JUN69	Registered N420NA.
			23JAN73	Withdrawn by NASA.
			23AUG78	Sold by Dept of Defense and scrapped.

NASA 421	C-121G	4159	SEP63	Leased to NASA as NASA 21.
			66	Renumbered NASA 421.
			25JUN69	Registered N421NA.
			02FEB73	Withdrawn by NASA.
			23MAR77	Sold by Dept of Defense and scrapped.

(Source: 1)

Australian Visits by the NASA Super Constellations
NASA 20	10MAR65	Arrived at Adelaide from Perth. Departed for Woomera on 12MAR65.
NASA 421	16DEC66	Photographed at Sydney.
NASA 421	30DEC66	Photographed at Sydney.
NASA 421	09JAN67	First flight on engineering tests with Honeysuckle Creek tracking station. Subsequent flights occurred on 10, 11, 12, 17 & 23 JAN67 with the aircraft based at Sydney.
NASA 421	03JUL67	Tests at Honeysuckle Creek until 08JUL67.
NASA 420	11SEP67	Tests at Honeysuckle Creek until 29SEP67.
NASA 421	02MAY68	Delivered priority cargo for Honeysuckle Creek and Orroral Valley stations.
NASA 420	29JUN68	Photographed at Perth.
NASA 421	02JUL68	Arrived for tests at Honeysuckle Creek. Only flights were 05 & 06JUL68.
NASA 421	14NOV68	Conducted simulations at Honeysuckle Creek for the Apollo 8 mission until 28NOV68. Apollo 8 launched on 21DEC68.
NASA 421	26NOV68	The power recovery turbine on #1 engine failed. A replacement engine was flown to Sydney on NASA C-54G NASA 427.
NASA 420	12APR69	Arrived via Alaska, Japan and Philippines for Apollo 10/11 tests at Honeysuckle Creek until 20APR69. Apollo 10 launched on 18MAY69. Apollo 11 launched on 16JUL69.
Note: With effect from 25JUN69 the aircraft were registered N420NA and N421NA but the source document continues to identify the aircraft by their NASA numbers.
NASA 421	01DEC70	Conducted simulations at Honeysuckle Creek for the Apollo 14 mission until 07DEC70. Apollo 14 launched on 31JAN71.
NASA 421	18JUN71	Arrived to support Honeysuckle Creek for the Apollo 15 mission until 23JUN71. Apollo 15 launched on 26JUL71. (Note: The aircraft is not identified in the source document but see 24JUN71).
NASA 421	24JUN71	N421NA Departed Sydney for Pago Pago. (Source: 4)
NASA 421	05MAR72	Arrived to support Honeysuckle Creek for the Apollo 16 mission until 28APR72. Apollo 16 launched on 16APR72.
NASA 421	13MAR72	After the conclusion of Carnarvon simulations, #4 engine failed. A replacement engine was flown out from the USA and fitted at Perth. The unserviceable engine was donated to what was then the Air Force Association Museum. At the time of writing. the engine is still on display at the Aviation Heritage Museum at Bull Creek, WA. (See picture below)
NASA 421	11NOV72	N421NA arrived Perth from Darwin. (Source: 7)
NASA 421	20NOV72	N421NA departed Perth for Canberra. (Source: 7)
NASA 421	23NOV72	The aircraft arrived for the final tests at Honeysuckle Creek until 26NOV72. While the aircraft was en route from its base at Baltimore, the crew had been informed that the aircraft would be withdrawn from service on completion of this mission. (See schedule below)

(Source: 2 unless shown otherwise)

The unserviceable Wright R-3350 engine which was removed from NASA 421 at Perth in March 1972 and donated to the Aviation Heritage Museum at Bull Creek, WA where it is displayed as the only tangible reminder of NASA's Super Constellation operations in Australia. (Picture: Aviation Heritage Museum, WA)

The Schedule of the Final Visit to Australia by a NASA Super Constellation

Note that this document was issued on 02OCT72 and is therefore subject to change.
RON indicates Remain Over Night - not the compiler!

(Source: 6)

AUSTRALIAN TRACKING STATIONS SUPPORTED BY THE NASA CONNIES
Carnarvon, WA	Built in 1963 for the Gemini program. Closed in 1974.
Honeysuckle Creek, ACT	Built in 1966 for the Apollo program. Closed in December 1981. Antenna moved to Tidbinbilla.
Orroral Valley, ACT	Built in May 1965 for tracking earth orbiting satellites. Closed in December 1985.
Tidbinbilla, ACT	Commenced operations in December 1964. Tidbinbilla is now the only NASA tracking station operating in Australia.

(Source: 5 & 6)

SOURCES
1	Peter J. Marson, The Lockheed Constellation Series, Air-Britain, 1982.
2	Bob Burns, Instrumented Aircraft Visits to Honeysuckle Creek for Apollo.
3	Apollo launch dates are sourced from Wikipedia.
4	Gordon Reid, Essendon Newsletter No. 54 Aug/Sep 71.
5	https://www.cdscc.nasa.gov/Pages/other_history.html
6	https://www.honeysucklecreek.net/ (An excellent source of more information on NASA ops)
7	Geoff Goodall. Personal observation.