Easter Islandīs Mataveri Airport serves as an emergency landing site
for the Space Shuttle.
The runway at the Mataveri International Airport (Chile's longest) is
an alternative landing site for the Space Shuttle (the US Space
Program paid for an extension to the existing runway to make it
suitable for the Shuttle).
http://www.muellerworld.com/easter_island/
Mataveri airport - Easter Island
"The strip, which extends across the island, was lengthened by 300
metres to allow for the emergency landing of the American space
shuttle. A 7 million dollar investment, wholly financed by the United
States."
http://www.netaxs.com/~trance/jean.html
"Without turning heads" refers to the Moai in Easter Island.
Easter Island is perhaps most famous for the giant stone monoliths,
known as Moai, that have been placed along the coastline.
http://gosouthamerica.about.com/library/blEasspacepix1.htm
See images of Moai here:
http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2005-18,GGLD:en&q=moai&sa=N&tab=wi
Naval of the World: Easter Island
"In the midst of the Pacific Ocean, 2000 miles from the nearest
landmass (Chile to the east and Tahiti to the west) lies the most
remote inhabited island in the world - Easter Island, or Rapa Nui."
"These early settlers called the island Te Pito O Te Henua or 'Navel of The World."
Pilot Guides
http://www.pilotguides.com/destination_guide/south_america/chile/easter_island.php
Search criteria:
Easter Island emergency landing space shuttle
I hope this information is helpful!
Best regards,
Bobbie7 |
