also a center for seasonal scientific activity. Following the fall of the Soviet Union and the abandonment of the DYE stations in 1991, the usefulness of the base was greatly diminished. The last US Air Force personnel left the base on 30 September 1992. It then became Kangerlussuaq airport: still the main hub for Greenland air travel. Rocket launches Since 1971, rockets such as the Nike Apache, Petrel, Nike Tomahawk, Black Brant, Terrier Malemute, Taurus Orion, and Taurus Nike Tomahawk TNT have been launched from a site close to Kangerlussuaq (specifically, at ) for examination of the upper atmosphere. Launch list {| class="wikitable" |- ! Date !! Vehicle !! Mission !! Results |- | style="text-align:right;"| 22 August 1971 || Nike-Apache || (DK) S (225 km) |- | style="text-align:right;"| 24 August 1971 || Nike-Apache || (DK) S (225 km) |- | style="text-align:right;"| 10 December 1972 || Nike-Tomahawk || (DK) S (300 km) |- | style="text-align:right;"| 2 July 1974 || Nike-Tomahawk || NASA 18.156IE/UE S (235 km) |- | style="text-align:right;"| 8 July 1974 || Nike-Tomahawk || NASA 18.157IE/UE S (235 km) |- | style="text-align:right;"| 17 December 1974 || Black Brant IV || (GER) MPI S (595 km) |- | style="text-align:right;"| 17 December 1974 || Petrel || (UK) P86G S (175 km) |- | style="text-align:right;"| 17 December 1974 || Petrel || (UK) P87G S (170 km) |- | style="text-align:right;"| 18 December 1974 || Black Brant IV || (GER) MPI S (550 km) |- | style="text-align:right;"| 18 December 1974 || Nike-Tomahawk || (DK) E (20 km) |- | style="text-align:right;"| 18 December 1974 || Petrel || (UK) P166G S (170 km) |- | style="text-align:right;"| 18 December 1974 || Petrel || (UK) P167G S (170 km) |- | style="text-align:right;"| 11 January 1975 || Black Brant IV || (GER) MPI S (610 km) |- | style="text-align:right;"| 22 August 1976 || Nike-Tomahawk || NASA 18.209IE CUSP II S |- | style="text-align:right;"| 27 August 1976 || Nike-Tomahawk || NASA 18.210IE SEC II S |- | style="text-align:right;"| 23 January 1985 || Terrier-Malemute || NASA 29.023UE S |- | style="text-align:right;"| 23 January 1985 || Black Brant X || NASA 35.009UE S |- | style="text-align:right;"| 10 February 1985 || Terrier-Malemute || NASA 29.015UE S |- | style="text-align:right;"| 10 February 1985 || Black Brant X || NASA 35.012UE TOPAZ S |- | style="text-align:right;"| 5 March 1985 || Taurus-Orion || NASA 33.044UE S |- | style="text-align:right;"| 15 March 1985 || Black Brant IX ||