Astronomy:Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 37
_after_its_launch_tower.jpg) The launch of GOES-N atop a Delta IV, from SLC-37B in 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 28.531986°N 80.566821°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short name | SLC-37 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | United States Space Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total launches | 42 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch pad(s) | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orbital inclination range | 28° - 57° | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Space Launch Complex 37[1][2] (SLC-37), previously Launch Complex 37 (LC-37), is a launch complex on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Construction began in 1959 and the site was accepted by NASA to support the Saturn I program in 1963.[3] The complex consists of two launch pads. LC-37A has never been used, but LC-37B launched uncrewed Saturn I flights (1964 to 1965) and was modified and launched Saturn IB flights (1966 to 1968), including the first (uncrewed) test of the Apollo Lunar Module in space (Apollo 5).[3] It was deactivated in 1972. In 2001 it was modified as the launch site for Delta IV, a launch system operated by United Launch Alliance.
The original layout of the launch complex featured one Mobile Service Structure which could be used to service or mate a rocket on either LC-37A or 37B, but not on both simultaneously. The Delta IV Mobile Service Tower is 330 ft (100 m) tall, and fitted to service all Delta IV configurations, including the Delta IV Heavy.[4]
Launch history
Rocket configuration
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Saturn
All flights operated by NASA.
| Date | Launch vehicle | Payload | Mission/function | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 29, 1964 | Saturn I | none | SA-5 | First live S-IV second stage |
| May 28, 1964 | Saturn I | BP-13 boilerplate CSM | A-101 (SA-6) | First boilerplate CSM |
| Sept. 18, 1964 | Saturn I | BP-15 boilerplate CSM | A-102 (SA-7) | |
| Feb. 16, 1965 | Saturn I | Pegasus A and BP-16 boilerplate CSM | A-103 (SA-9) | Pegasus studied micrometeoroid impacts |
| May 25, 1965 | Saturn I | Pegasus B and BP-26 boilerplate CSM | A-104 (SA-8) | |
| July 30, 1965 | Saturn I | Pegasus C and BP-9A boilerplate CSM | A-105 (SA-10) | |
| July 5, 1966 | Saturn IB | none | AS-203 | Test of S-IVB; informally called Apollo 3 |
| Jan. 22, 1968 | Saturn IB | LM-1 | Apollo 5 | Test of the first lunar module |
Delta
IN 1998, Boeing secured the right to use SLC-37 for launch of the Delta IV rocket family. Facility modifications were made to SLC-37B and the first launch occurred in 2002. The Delta IV Medium was launched from SLC-37 from 2002 until 2022,[5] and the Delta IV Heavy has been launched from SLC-37 since 2004.[6]
Photos
Map of Launch Complex 37 of the 1960s, with original Mobile Service Structure
LC-37B in 2010, with current Mobile Service Tower
See also
- List of spaceflights by year
- List of Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island launch sites
- Project Apollo
- Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 34
References
- ↑ McDowell, Jonathan (1998-02-22). "Issue 350". Jonathan's Space Report. Jonathan's Space Page. http://planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.350.
- ↑ "Delta-IV Heavy to launch last DSP satellite". Archived from the original on September 30, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930065914/http://www.afspc.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123074967.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Complex 37 -- Cape Canaveral Air Station". Federation of American Scientists (www.fas.org). 2000-06-16. https://fas.org/spp/military/facility/ccas-lc-37.htm.
- ↑ "Boeing, Raytheon Top Off Nation's Newest Launch Tower". Boeing. March 2, 2000. http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2000/news_release_000302h.html.
- ↑ "Delta IV Medium’s well-earned retirement with GPS finale". NASASpaceflight. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/08/delta-iv-medium-retirement-gps-finale/.
- ↑ "Launch Complex 37". Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum. https://ccspacemuseum.org/facilities/launch-complex-37/.
External links
[ ⚑ ] 28°31′55″N 80°34′01″W / 28.531986°N 80.566821°W
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