In this second series of pictures, JPL continued to expand its use of the mountain for various scientific programs, and long-range plans for the future site development. The picture above, an aerial view, shows the 16-inch telescope building in the upper right center, and the solar panel testing site in the lower left foreground.

Solar panels for various JPL unmanned spacecraft were tested and developed here in the early to mid '60s. Later, a site specific for panel testing was developed at a slightly lower site to the south, so as not to interfere with any of the optical astronomy programs.

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One of the requirements after a heavy snowstorm, but usually only for wet snow, was the tedious task of snow removal from the dome. J. Young is pictured on the left, and Jack Lyon, the caretaker and maintenance man, is shoveling the snow toward the photographer, Mr. Capen, the new Resident Astronomer. Young was Capen's assistant and darkroom technician, having come to the facility in November, 1962.

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This original garage now houses the 4-wheel drive utility vehicle and snow plow, plus the various site utility equipment and water pump.

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This older residence was converted into the new operations building for a small radio-science 8-foot dish for radio astronomy.

In the fall of 1963, one of the most beautiful scenes on the short 6 mile drive from Wrightwood to Table Mountain was the beautiful setting of the Big Pines Ranger Station. (below) To the left is an old recreational hall used as a restaurant and dance hall in the 1930's, but unused now. The 1936 winter Olympic trials were held just 1000 feet south of this station at the Blue Ridge Ski Area (now called Mountain High). The restaurant /dance hall was a booming operation way back then! Part of the ranger station burned to the ground in 1983.

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The following picture is another aerial view showing the site in 1964. To the lower left is the old tennis court for the Smithsonian facility. This was the area later developed for the modern headquarters building. In the lower center is the in-progress construction of a 240,000 gallon water tank for us and the surrounding Forestry use facilities. The site had been relying upon two 1200 gallon water tanks, filled by a very antiquated model-T Ford engine pumping station off the site. In the winter, getting to the pumping station, let alone starting the pump (engine) in cold weather, proved too difficult for the greater needs of the expanding site.

The new water tank would have its own automated pumping facility (still in use today, 1998). In the upper right side is a new Butler building, TM-2, housing solar test instruments, such as the Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor II (ACRIM II). Below this picture is a close-up view of the new water tank construction.

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In April 1965, the Butler building (TM-2) has been removed and moved to a newly developed solar test site, about 1/2 mile to the east and only 100 feet lower in elevation. This additional aerial shot shows TM-1, the 16-inch telescope building in the center, the radio astronomy dish in the upper right center, and its operational buildings just behind TM-1.

In front of TM-1 are the two original bunkers used by Smithsonian. In the upper left are the office building and resident quarters for Mr. Capen. In the lower left center is the area being readied for the 24-inch telescope building, which was finished in the fall. The new and larger telescope was delivered and placed into operation in March 1966.

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