Ascension Island is a remote volcanic island in the South Atlantic, governed as part of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Possibly discovered by João da Nova in 1501 and officially named by Alphonse de Albuquerque in 1503 on Ascension Day, the island was garrisoned by the British from 1815.
Historically, it served as an essential refuelling stop for ships and flying boats, playing a vital role as a naval and air station during World War II, particularly in anti-submarine warfare. Today, Ascension Island remains strategically important, hosting RAF Ascension Island, a European Space Agency rocket tracking station, a British-American signals intelligence facility, and one of only four crucial ground antennas for the Global Positioning System (GPS). It was also a key staging point for the British military during the Falklands War.