USNS Redstone, designated T‑AGM‑20, was a tracking ship assigned to Apollo space mission support under the control of the Eastern Range.

Mission De Pala was laid down on 26 November 1943 under a Maritime Commission contract by Marinship Corporation,[note 1] Sausalito, California.

NTS was merged into the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and on 1 October 1949 the ship was designated USNS Mission De Pala (T-AO-114).

[2] The Navy reactivated Mission De Pala on 21 July 1950 for service with MSTS when the Korean War created an urgent need for logistics support vessels, especially tankers.

The tanker spent most of the war shuttling between Korea, Pearl Harbor, and the west coast of the United States carrying fuel overseas.

[2] The Navy reactivated the ship, taking custody on 6 July 1956, for service with MSTS to be operated, under charter, by Marine Transport Lines, Incorporated.