New Jersey, Morris County, Picatinny Arsenal
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The Naval Air Rocket Test Station (NARTS) was grouped into eight (8) test area located along Snake Hill and Lake Denmark Roads. Utilized by both the Navy and a private company, Reaction Motors, Inc., these areas were considered to be the Navy’s premier rocket-engine test facilities. Area D tested the Bell X-1 (XLR-11) rocket engine in which Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier on October 14, 1947; Area E tested the X-15 (XLR-99) rocket engine and was one of the largest static test stands on the east coast.
The Naval Air Rocket Test Station (NARTS) was grouped into eight (8) test area located along Snake Hill and Lake Denmark Roads. Utilized by both the Navy and a private company, Reaction Motors, Inc., these areas were considered to be the Navy’s premier rocket-engine test facilities. Area D tested the Bell X-1 (XLR-11) rocket engine in which Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier on October 14, 1947; Area E tested the X-15 (XLR-99) rocket engine and was one of the largest static test stands on the east coast.
Acknowledgements: Reaction Motors Founders- Lovell Lawrence, Jr., Hugh Franklin Pierce, John Shesta, James Hart Wyle and their employees.
(Air & Space • Military • War, Cold) Includes location, directions, 2 photos, GPS coordinates, map.
