Location
Located at China Lake. During World War II, known as Naval Ordnance Test Station China Lake (NOTS China Lake or NAS China Lake).

Construction
Established by the US Navy during November 1943, to research, develop and test new weapons. Known as Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) at Naval Air Weapons Station Inyokern (NAWS Inyokern).

Wartime History
Adequate facilities were needed by the California Institute of Technology for test and evaluation of rockets. At the same time, the Navy needed a new proving ground for aviation ordnance. Cal Tech's Dr. Charles C. Lauritsen and then Cmdr. Sherman E. Burroughs met and formed a pact to find a site that would meet both their needs.

Testing began within a month of the Station's formal establishment. The vast and sparsely populated desert with near perfect flying weather and practically unlimited visibility, proved an ideal location not only for test and evaluation activities, but also for a complete research and development establishment.

The US Navy-Cal Tech partnership established a pattern of cooperation and interaction between civilian scientists and engineers, experienced military personnel and defense contractors that has made China Lake one of the preeminent research, development, test and evaluation institutions in the world.

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Last Updated
April 19, 2021