Protest challenges small biz joint venture's structure Ascension Island is practically in the middle of nowhere. Long under British control, the island sits in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean below the equator: 1,000 miles from the coast of Africa and 1,400 miles from the coast of Brazil. Discovered in 1501, it was barren and populated by seabirds and turtles. The Portuguese introduced goats as a food source for mariners who would stop at the island. The circle marks the location of Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean. During World War II, it served as an airbase for American and British planes crossing the ocean. The island's military and government usage has continued since. The British used it during the Falklands War and the airstrip was an emergency landing strip for the Space Shuttle.