American space agency Nasa opened its new tracking station yesterday.

The station, on Cooper’s Island in St David’s, will be used to monitor Nasa space missions as a predecessor did from the same site in the 1960s, when rockets from Cape Canaveral in Florida were tracked by radar from the island.

Constance Dierman, the US Consul General, said: “Now, as then, Bermuda is helping make possible new advances in space flight and in advancing science, engineering, technology and maths education objectives.

“We are delighted they are here to recognise and further our important US-Bermuda relationship,”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was watched by Walter Roban, the Deputy Premier, Sir John Swan, a former UBP premier, as well as representatives of Nasa.

These included Sam Scimemi, the director of Nasa’s international space station, Bill Wrobel, director of the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Mr Scimemi and Mr Wrobel will take part in a series of events organised by the US Consulate to highlight Nasa’s contribution to space exploration, science technology and aeronautics to schools and other groups,

Other Nasa officials will speak to civic leaders on how the station will support the agency’s work.