FREE SUMMER WALKING TOURS ARE BACK ! Please see our Facebook page for dates and information.

Welcome to Poker Flat Research Range – the largest land-based rocket research range in the world and the only high-latitude rocket range in the United States.

Poker Flat Research Range is perfectly located in Interior Alaska. From this site, rockets can launch and fly over the sparsely populated tundra hundreds of miles north of the range with special permission from federal, state and tribal landowners. Additionally, the range is situated beneath the auroral oval – a ring across the circumpolar north where auroras typically occur – providing ample opportunities to continue scientists’ examination of the aurora. Most sounding rocket launches occur between January and March and scientists come from around the world to use the facility for their research projects. Subscribe to launch updates: Text PFRRLAUNCHES to 33222. Follow current activities on Facebook and watch live broadcasts dring the launch window on YouTube @ PokerFlatRR

General Information

Poker Flat Research Range is the world's only scientific rocket launching facility owned by a university. Poker Flat is operated by the University of Alaska's Geophysical Institute under contract to NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, which is part of the Goddard Space Flight Center. In addition to launching sounding rockets, Poker Flat is home to many scientific instruments designed to study the arctic atmosphere and ionosphere.

Contact Us

Physical Address

Poker Flat Research Range 30 Mile Steese Hwy Fairbanks, AK 99712

Geophysical Institute

Poker Flat Research Range Geophysical Institute 2156 Koyukuk Drive P.O. Box 757320 Fairbanks, AK 99775-7320

Phone Numbers

Our hours are from 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, Alaska time. Office: (907) 455-2110 Fax: (907) 455-2120

Staff

The following staff are located at Poker Flat and may be reached at (907) 455-2110.

Kathe Rich
Range Manager
ksrich@alaska.edu
907-455-2103

Bob Valdez
Assistant Range Manager
rvaldez2@alaska.edu
907-455-2111

Charlotte Conley
Admin Assistant
cconley2@alaska.edu
907-455-2110

Tony Tyree
Facilities Maintenance Lead
tjtyree@alaska.edu
907-455-2105

Dave Hill
Senior Telecommunications Specialist
dwhill@alaska.edu
907-455-2104

Gary Taube
Facilities Maintenance
tlgary@alaska.edu
907-455-2150

Dr. Don Hampton
Chief Scientist - Optical Science Manager
dhampton@alaska.edu
907-455-2256

Dr. Rich Collins
Poker Flat Research Range
rlcollins@alaska.edu
907-455-2204

Peter Elstner
Recovery Operations Specialist
pelstner@alaska.edu
907-347-8589

Contractors

Kevin Abnett, Contractor
Optics & Communications Engineer
kcabnett@gmail.com
907-455-2251