GEOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR PRECISION HIGHSPEED ROCKET TRACKS

Abstract

The relationship of orogenic (mountain building) forces to the high earthquake incidence in California is shown to be directly connected through the mechanism of strong movements on living faults, especially the San Andreas fault system. Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) is nearly surrounded by wrench fault zones, the loci of potentially destructive quakes. Air Force Missile Development Center (AFMDC) is bordered by gravity faults of essentially quiescent nature, which fact, along with a geologic history of relative stability as part of the continental nucleus, leads to the conclusion that destructive events of a tectonic nature are much less likely to affect the facilities established in central New Mexico, than would be the case in southern California. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 30, 1961
Accession Number
AD0259631

Entities

People

  • Kenneth R. Etter

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • California
  • Continents
  • Earthquakes
  • Geographic Regions
  • Mountains
  • New Mexico
  • North America
  • Precision
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Geology

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Seismology