Reagan Test Site, Kwajalein Atoll

Orbital Science Corp.'s L-1011 aircraft "Stargazer" flies over the runway on Kwajalein Atoll with the company's Pegasus rocket slung underneath. Kwajalein is part of the Marshall Islands chain in the Pacific Ocean. It's also part of the Reagan Test Site and used for launches of NASA, commercial and military missions. Photo credit: NASA

The U.S. Army's Reagan Test Site (RTS), located in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, is a premier launch facility based upon its strategic geographical location, unique instrumentation, and unsurpassed capability to support missile testing and space operations.

Kwajalein Atoll consists of just fewer than 100 islands, and the largest is Kwajalein. The Army operates several missile launch sites throughout the atoll. Most test launches support ballistic missile defense programs. The site is attractive not only for its isolation, but also because of its equatorial location, ideal for launches to geosynchronous Earth orbit. With nearly 40 years of successful support, RTS provides a vital role in the research, development, test and evaluation effort of America's missile defense and space program.