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    Recommended Reviews - Mothership

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    Onizuka AFS, aka 'The Blue Cube' - the end of the pole is really locked down

    Onizuka AFS, aka 'The Blue Cube'

    5.0(1 review)
    0.5 mi

    Update: I was biking buy the old site and noticed that one fo the old gates was open to park Google…read moreBuses. I headed on in and and took some pictures which I have posted up. I was marveling at the huge slabs of concrete that are rumored to 6 feet thick and were simply left in place when the demolished the base when I stumbled across something unexpected I was poking around and found hidden behind some bushes, a previously unknown memorial to the Astronauts of STS-107 aka The Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster. Markers for Brown, Chawla, and Husband were still visible, and 4 missing one were clearly for McCool, Ramon, Anderson and Clark. Its a kind of a cool little find. The monument is is really bad shape and I'm hoping to contact the community collage that now controls the land and see if either they or The Moffett Field Museum are interested in preserving the remaining markers. Previous review included below: One of the things people tend to forget with all of our Silicon Valley and dot com hype is that this area also was host to huge advances in aviation and space exploration. From the first spy satellites to submarine launched ballistic missiles it covers a lot of territory. While Southern California rightfully gets most of the spotlight in aviation, the Bay remains an unheralded pioneer. Onizuka AFS, is one such hub. Named after Air Force Lt. Colonel Ellison S. Onizuka, who died in the Challenger disaster, the base served as a primary control station for military satellites. In aviation circles (and conspiracy circles too) the station was simply known as 'The Blue Cube' The Blue Cube using its 3 satellite dishes controlled vast areas of space and served as an NSA downlink node as well. Its windowless walls and mysterious function was the stuff of legends. Multiple power sources, super thick concrete walls (To prevent electronic eavesdropping) , limited access all added to its lore. Even my father who was a navy engineer, had to be re-cleared to provide engineering services there and was always escorted such was the nature of the goings on there. The base closed in 2010 as part of BRAC and its functions were swapped over to Vandenberg AFB and the structure was subsequently demolished. However, it remains part of the Bay Area's link to Space.

    Photos
    Onizuka AFS, aka 'The Blue Cube' - Old base exchange

    Old base exchange

    Onizuka AFS, aka 'The Blue Cube' - Old base exchange

    Old base exchange

    Onizuka AFS, aka 'The Blue Cube' - Old access point for some of the downlink dishes

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    Old access point for some of the downlink dishes

    Moffett Field

    Moffett Field

    4.8(14 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Located in heart of Silicon Valley, Moffett Field is a catchall for a variety of business and…read moregovernment facilities. Its more notable residents are NASA Ames, Moffett Federal Airfield, The Moffett Field Historical Society, and a burgeoning Google presence. The field was founded in 1931 when residents of Santa Clara Country raised just under a half a million dollars to purchase the farmland to then sell it to the U.S. Government for the princely sum of $1 dollar in order to build what was then known as NAS Sunnyvale in 1933. The US navy wanted to use the base for Airship operations. Upon the death of Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, who was a huge proponent of Airship operations, the base was changed to NAS Moffett Field on 1 September 1933. To support airship operations the massive Hanger One was built. The Hanger which at the time was one of the largest freestanding building in the world covered a whopping 8 acres. After the tragic los of the Airship USS Macon, the navy turned control over the base to the US Army. Following WWII the navy regained control of the base and during the Cold War was one of the primary West Coast bases for anti submarine aircraft such as the P-2V and the P-3 Orion. In 1939 NACA the precursor to NASA opened up research facilities on the base including the ARC Unitary Plan Wind Tunnel, and the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex. Following the military drawdown during the post Cold War period the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) identified the base as unneeded and thus was decommissioned and turned over to NASA) The base now is run by NASA and they have actively rented out space to a variety of companies like Google etc. Lockheed martin Space Systems is collocated on the base as well as the 129th Air national Guard Squadron. There is also housing and other projects. In a nod to its Navy roots a Navy Commissary remains on the site and is open. Visitors are allowed on base with government issued ID if they have business there. In addition there is a museum on site that you can visit as well. Its hours are limited so check the website for more information. Also as a note traffic laws are STRICTLY enforced by the NASA police and that goes for bikes and vehicles so behave yourselves.

    This review is based on the experience of my boyfriend being sworn in at Moffett Field to join The…read moreNational Air Guard/Air Force branch. Not to be sappy and cheesy but I am humbled to say that I am a very proud Air Force girlfriend :) It's crazy because you may just be passing by Moffett Field casually when you are driving the freeway. However, actually being on the Field itself is just a whole new experience. You will honestly never look at it the same during your casual drive, (in an AMAZING great way) once you experience being out on the Field. So many of the Airmen/women were very nice, respectful, and very informative with the process of joining the branch. They all definitely treat each other like family whether you are a new or old member. It's funny in a great way how many of them try to convince you to join Air Force as well haha! It truly was an honor being able to be out on the field and meet many Airmen/women who are serving our country. It makes me so happy knowing my boyfriend is following his dreams and now a part of such a strong/passionate branch. Shoutout and many thanks to them all for serving our country.

    Photos
    Moffett Field
    Moffett Field
    Moffett Field

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    Libby’s Water Tower - Vegetation around water tower

    Libby’s Water Tower

    4.5(2 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    This giant fruit cocktail can is certainly unique, and a little weird to have in the middle of a…read morebusiness park. But hey, that's what replaced the former site of the factory that was once the world's largest cannery... can't change history. There are lovely trees and vegetation and some grass surrounding the water tower, as well as several benches and picnic tables around the border of the monument and along random pathways between the office buildings. Google maps leads you to a small parking lot right in from of Libby's Water Tower, but there are several larger parking lots around the entire business park. Signs say the parking is restricted, but the lots are so large and so empty, with just a handful of cars altogether (at least after 7pm on a weekday), that I don't think it's a problem to park here. Besides, it only takes like 10 minutes to check the place out (too quick to get towed), and if you choose to have lunch here, probably an hour at most. There's also free unrestricted parking on California Ave. I went for a run in the area, taking laps around the business park, and found a good number of couples, individuals, and families taking laps as well... jogging, skating, going for a stroll, walking their dogs, some just making use of the wide open space in the lots. I saw families with the parents on skates and skateboards and their kids on little toddler bikes (even though there's a sign that says skateboarding is prohibited)... So apparently, this business park is really used as a "park"!!?! Though there's nothing too fancy or exciting about this historical landmark, the area is clean and inviting and not run down. It's peaceful and not crowded. It's certainly something out of the ordinary to see and learn about. Most of all, it made me hungry for sliced peaches! :D

    Sing it with me!! This is Libby's, Libby's, Libby's I the label, label, label you will like it,…read morelike it, like it on the Tower,Tower,Tower! The original tower supplied water to the Cannery, it was replaced in 1965 by this present structure. Around the structure are benches and a couple tables as well as a lawn to sit on and have a picnic there is also beautiful "and I mean beautiful" landscaping all around it. Wifey and I visited on a Saturday and it was so peaceful here as there was nobody else around.

    Photos
    Libby’s Water Tower - Water tower

    Water tower

    Libby’s Water Tower - Water tower area

    Water tower area

    Libby’s Water Tower - Plaque about Libby's Water Tower

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    Plaque about Libby's Water Tower

    Mothership - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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