Pine Gap has attracted its share of supporters and critics.

But unless you work at Pine Gap, or have spent decades researching what really goes on here, your knowledge about it is probably fairly limited.

And forget taking a tour to learn more about it because you’re not even getting close to seeing inside.

The facility, which marks its 50th anniversary this year and has conjured up its share of supporters and critics, maintains as big a presence in Central Australia as Uluru.

Except Uluru is open to tourism and Pine Gap only to a select 1000 or so workers.

But how much do we really know about this significant site?

According to Richard Tanter, a professor in the School of Political and Social Studies at the University of Melbourne, most Australians really don’t know all that much about it.

Prof Tanter, who has conducted years of research into the facility with ANU colleague and leading authority on Pine Gap, Desmond Ball, said it remains one of the most important intelligence facilities outside of the United States today.

This Google Earth image taken last year reveals the extent of the antenna systems at Pine Gap. Picture: NautilusSource:Supplied

As research and knowledge into the facility grows, we are starting to learn more about what goes on here, including:

WHAT AND WHERE IT IS

Run by both Australia and the United States, its official name is the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap.

Located about 20km from Alice Springs, the site is considered strategically vital by both the US and Australian governments.

It collects a wide range of signals intelligence as well as providing information on early warning of ballistic missile launches.

IT DOESN’T CONTROL UFOS

The site conjures up images of secrecy and power and has attracted the odd conspiracy theory or two.

But contrary to some ideas, it has nothing to do with flying saucers, nor does it contain dozens of elaborate tunnels.

In short, Pine Gap collects a huge amount of data from signals intelligence as well as providing information on early warning of ballistic missile launches.

Radomes, which protect the satellite dish inside, at Pine Gap. Picture: Kristian Laemmle-RuffSource:Supplied

It basically acts as a satellite tracking station and its remote location makes intercepting signals emitted from within more difficult to decipher.

Those radomes you see (the big white balls) aren’t for decoration, they protect the satellite dish inside.

IT HAS A HUGE AMOUNT OF COMPUTERS

The one thing researchers know does exist is the huge amount of PC power inside the facility.

According to Prof Tanter, a researcher with the Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainability, the floor space of the site’s computer room, or operations building, has grown massively since the 1970s and now takes up a room the size of the entire playing field of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

It has grown from 400sq m to 20,000 sq m in less than 50 years.

The size of the operations room is staggering. Picture: Nautilus InstituteSource:Supplied

AUSSIES DO WORK HERE

Pine Gap employs around 1000 people.

According to Nautilus report released this year, Australians are “completely enmeshed into the management structure at the station”.

Almost half of the workers are locals which includes government personnel, operations workers, AFP Protective Services officers, as well as Australian contractors.

OUR GOVERNMENT LOVES IT

While groups such as the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network argue Pine Gap and its value to the US makes us a target, the Australian Government maintains its presence here is crucial.

A Defence Department spokesman told news.com.au it made an important contribution to our national security.

“It provides intelligence on priorities such as terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and foreign military capability and weapons developments,” he said.

A Defence White Paper released earlier this year also detailed how important Pine Gap is to both the US and the Australian governments.

According to the paper, Pine Gap “makes a critical contribution to the security interests of Australia and the United States, delivering information on intelligence priorities such as terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and military and weapons developments, while contributing to the verification of arms control and disarmament agreements”.

YOU CAN’T GET NEAR IT

Unless you work at Pine Gap, or possess special invisible powers, you won’t even get too close to it.

But Melbourne-based photographer Kristian Laemmle-Ruff got closer than most people when he snapped a series of photos of the facility last year.

Speaking to news.com.au, he said security around the facility was very tight with police patrols taking place every 10 minutes.

He said the average person would be lucky to get within a kilometre of it.

Pine Gap has attracted its share of protesters over the years.Source:News Limited

KILLER DRONES AND SPY CLAIMS

Groups such as IPAN, which is holding its annual conference next weekend, claim the facility has a darker side.

The group said not only does Pine Gap allow access to satellites to spy on every continent except Antarctica and the Americas, but also question the role it plays in the use of drone technology.

Pine Gap contributes to and collects data used for US drones in the Middle East and Pakistan.

The amount of data collected by Pine Gap from across the globe is phenomenal. Picture: Luke Hambly​, ANUSource:Supplied

The idea of closing the drone warfare program will be one of the ideas discussed at the Alice Springs conference.

University of Melbourne drone researcher Alex Edney-Browne said Australians had no idea about the alarming rates of civilian casualties from drone strikes or the psychological effects caused by living under drone surveillance.

“Government and military spokespeople in the US and allied countries tell the public that drones are an ethical weapon — that drones stop civilians from being killed and limit the destructive effects of war,” she said.

“This is simply not the case.”

Ms Edney-Brown said laser guided drone weapons only hit their target radius half the time while the kill radius of drone strikes can be up to 90 metres.