Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 21

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 21
Launch Complex 21
MACE B.jpg
Mace launch from LC-21
Location 28°27′38″N 80°32′24″W / 28.46056°N 80.54°W / 28.46056; -80.54
Operator US Air Force
Total launches 41
Launch pad(s) 2
LC-21/1 launch history
Status Inactive
Launches 38
First launch 1958-07-24
Last launch 1963-07-17
Associated rockets XSM-73 Bull Goose
MGM-13 Mace
LC-21/2 launch history
Status Inactive
Launches 3
First launch 1962-12-04
Last launch 1963-06-28
Associated rockets MGM-13 Mace

Launch Complex 21 (LC-21) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida is a launch complex that was used for horizontal launches of cruise missiles between 1958 and 1963. It initially consisted of a single launch rail, from which XSM-73 Bull Goose missiles were tested. Between 1959 and 1960, the complex was rebuilt for the MGM-13 Mace, with a second rail added, and a large concrete structure erected around the launch rails, earning the pad the nickname of "the hardsite".

It shared a blockhouse with Launch Complex 22 was also used for Bull Goose and Mace launches. Unusual for a U.S. launch site, the individual pads in the complex have numerical designations, similar to those used by the Soviet Union, rather than alphabetical designations as used on most other U.S. complexes.

History

Construction at LC-21 started in 1956, leading to acceptance into military service on 26 February 1957, with Launch Complex 22. The first test of a Bull Goose rocket from LC-21 occurred on 24 July 1958. All Bull Goose launches from LC-21 used rail 1. The last Bull Goose launch from LC-21 was conducted on 5 December 1958.

Following the end of Bull Goose test flights, Complex 21 was renovated for the Mace rocket. This involved the addition of the second launch rail, and the construction of a concrete structure surrounding the complex. The first Mace launch from LC-21/1 occurred on 11 July 1960. This was followed on 4 December 1962 with the first launch from LC-21/2. LC-21/1 was used for 34 Mace launches, whilst LC-21/2 was used for three. The last launch from rail 2 occurred on 28 June 1963, followed by the final launch from the complex, using rail 21, on 17 July 1963.

After the last launch, the complex was retained as a backup site until the 1970s, in case a future missile needed to use it. As of 2009, the complex was still standing.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 34 — Launch Complex 34 LC 34 with Saturn I rocket SA 4 on 28 March 1963 Launch site Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Location 28.52182°N 80.561258°W Short name …   Wikipedia

  • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 19 — Launch Complex 19 A time lapse photograph of the configuration of Pad 19 up until the launch of Gemini 10. Launch site Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Location …   Wikipedia

  • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14 — Launch Complex 14 Aerial view of Mercury Atlas 9 at LC 14 in 1963 Launch site Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Location 28°29 29 N 8 …   Wikipedia

  • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 5 — (LC 5) was a Launch Site at Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral, Florida. The site was used for various Redstone and Jupiter launches.It is most well known as the launch site for NASAs Mercury Redstone 3 flight, which made Alan Shepard the first… …   Wikipedia

  • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 37 — Infobox Launch Pad name = Launch Complex 37 imsize = 250 caption =The launch of GOES N atop a Delta IV, from LC 37B in 2006 site = Cape Canaveral Air Force Station location =28.531986°N 80.566821°W short = LC 37 operator = US Air Force tlaunches …   Wikipedia

  • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17 — Infobox Launch Pad name = Launch Complex 17 caption =The first stage of the Boeing Delta II rocket, which launched NASA s Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO), is lifted into a vertical position for installation into the mobile… …   Wikipedia

  • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 40 — Infobox Launch Pad name = Launch Complex 40 caption =Launch Complex 40. The Titan IV awaiting launch contains the Cassini Huygens probe bound for Saturn. site = Cape Canaveral Air Force Station location =28°56 N 80°57 73 W short = LC 40 operator …   Wikipedia

  • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 36 — Infobox Launch Pad name = Launch Complex 36 caption =An Atlas III launches from LC 36B site = Cape Canaveral Air Force Station location =28.470417°N 80.539978°W short = LC 17 operator = US Air Force tlaunches = 145 pads = 2 inclination = 28° 57°… …   Wikipedia

  • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 41 — Infobox Launch Pad name = Launch Complex 41 caption =An aerial view of LC 41. The Atlas V on the pad is the one used to launch New Horizons to Pluto. site = Cape Canaveral Air Force Station location =28°35 N 80°34 58 W short = LC 41 operator = US …   Wikipedia

  • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 13 — Launch Complex 13 An Atlas Agena at LC 13 with Mariner 4 Launch site Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Location …   Wikipedia

  • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 15 — Launch Complex 15 Launch site Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Location 28°29′47″N 80°32′57″W /  …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”