Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 13
Encyclopedia
Launch Complex 13 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
, Florida is a deactivated launch complex used by Atlas
rockets and missiles between 1958 and 1978. It is the third-most southern of the complexes known as missile row, between LC-12 and LC-14. With Complexes 11
, 12
and 14
, it featured a more robust design than many contemporary pads, due to the greater power of the Atlas compared to other rockets of the time. It was larger, and featured a 6 metres (19.7 ft) tall concrete launch pedestal, and a reinforced blockhouse
. The rockets were delivered to the launch pad by a ramp on the southwest side of the launch pedestal.
LC-13 was originally used for development test launches of the Atlas ICBM. Atlas B
, D
, E
and F
missiles were tested from the complex.Between February 1962 and October 1963 the pad was converted for use by the Atlas-Agena
. The modifications were more extensive than the conversions of LC-12 and LC-14, with the mobile service tower being demolished and replaced with a new, larger tower.
LC-13 was originally controlled by the United States Air Force
. It was later transferred to NASA and then back to the US Air Force.
On 10 August 1966, Lunar Orbiter 1
was launched from LC-13. It photographed proposed landing sites for Apollo and Surveyor
spacecraft on the Moon
, and returned the first pictures of the Earth from lunar orbit.
Several classified payloads, believed to include Canyon
and Rhyolite
satellites, were launched from LC-13 for the National Reconnaissance Office
. The last launch from LC-13 was conducted on 7 April 1978, using an Atlas-Agena.
It was the most-used and longest-serving of the original four Atlas pads. On 16 April 1984, Launch Complex 13 was added to the US National Register of Historic Places
; however it was not maintained, and gradually deteriorated. On 6 August 2005 the mobile service tower was demolished as a safety precaution, due to structural damage by corrosion
. The structure was so unstable that it could not be safely dismantled, and had to be toppled by a controlled explosion
before it could be taken apart while horizontal. This has since become the standard method of dismantling launch complexes at Cape Canaveral, and was used in the demolition of SLC-41, SLC-36 and SLC-40.
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is an installation of the United States Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing, headquartered at nearby Patrick Air Force Base. Located on Cape Canaveral in the state of Florida, CCAFS is the primary launch head of America's Eastern Range with four launch pads...
, Florida is a deactivated launch complex used by Atlas
Atlas (rocket family)
Atlas is a family of U.S. space launch vehicles. The original Atlas missile was designed in the late 1950s and produced by the Convair Division of General Dynamics, to be used as an intercontinental ballistic missile...
rockets and missiles between 1958 and 1978. It is the third-most southern of the complexes known as missile row, between LC-12 and LC-14. With Complexes 11
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 11
Launch Complex 11 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, is a launch complex used by Atlas missiles between 1958 and 1964. It is the southernmost of the launch pads known as missile row...
, 12
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 12
Launch Complex 12 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida is a launch pad used by Atlas rockets and missiles between 1958 and 1967. It is the second-most southern of the pads known as missile row, between LC-11 to the south and LC-13 to the north...
and 14
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 14
Launch Complex 14 is a launch site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. LC-14 was used for various manned and unmanned Atlas launches, including the Friendship 7 flight aboard which John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth....
, it featured a more robust design than many contemporary pads, due to the greater power of the Atlas compared to other rockets of the time. It was larger, and featured a 6 metres (19.7 ft) tall concrete launch pedestal, and a reinforced blockhouse
Blockhouse
In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. It serves as a defensive strong point against any enemy that does not possess siege equipment or, in modern times, artillery...
. The rockets were delivered to the launch pad by a ramp on the southwest side of the launch pedestal.
LC-13 was originally used for development test launches of the Atlas ICBM. Atlas B
SM-65B Atlas
The SM-65B Atlas, or Atlas B, also designated X-12 was a prototype of the Atlas missile. First flown on 19 July 1958, the Atlas B was the first version of the Atlas rocket to use the stage and a half design....
, D
SM-65D Atlas
The SM-65D Atlas, or Atlas D, was the first operational version of the U.S. Atlas missile. It first flew on April 14, 1959. Atlas D missiles were also used for orbital launches, both with upper stages and on their own as a stage-and-a-half vehicle....
, E
SM-65E Atlas
The SM-65E Atlas, or Atlas-E, was an operational variant of the Atlas missile. It first flew on 11 October 1960, and was deployed as an operational ICBM from September 1961 until April 1966. Following retirement as an ICBM, the Atlas-E, along with the Atlas-F, was refurbished for orbital launches...
and F
SM-65F Atlas
The SM-65F Atlas, or Atlas-F, was the final operational variant of the Atlas missile. It first flew on 8 August 1961, and was deployed as an operational ICBM between 1961 and 1966. Following retirement as an ICBM, the Atlas-F, along with the Atlas-E, was refurbished for orbital launches as the...
missiles were tested from the complex.Between February 1962 and October 1963 the pad was converted for use by the Atlas-Agena
Atlas-Agena
The Atlas-Agena was an American expendable launch system derived from the SM-65 Atlas missile. It was a member of the Atlas family of rockets, and was used for 119 orbital launches between 1960 and 1978....
. The modifications were more extensive than the conversions of LC-12 and LC-14, with the mobile service tower being demolished and replaced with a new, larger tower.
LC-13 was originally controlled by the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. It was later transferred to NASA and then back to the US Air Force.
On 10 August 1966, Lunar Orbiter 1
Lunar Orbiter 1
The Lunar Orbiter 1 robotic spacecraft, part of the Lunar Orbiter Program, was designed primarily to photograph smooth areas of the lunar surface for selection and verification of safe landing sites for the Surveyor and Apollo missions...
was launched from LC-13. It photographed proposed landing sites for Apollo and Surveyor
Surveyor program
The Surveyor Program was a NASA program that, from 1966 through 1968, sent seven robotic spacecraft to the surface of the Moon. Its primary goal was to demonstrate the feasibility of soft landings on the Moon...
spacecraft on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
, and returned the first pictures of the Earth from lunar orbit.
Several classified payloads, believed to include Canyon
Canyon (satellite)
CANYON refers to a series of seven United States spy satellites launched between 1968 and 1977. Also known as AFP-827 , the satellites were developed with the participation of the Air Force...
and Rhyolite
Rhyolite/Aquacade
Rhyolite and later, Aquacade are reportedly code names for a class of SIGINT spy satellites operated by the National Reconnaissance Office for the United States Central Intelligence Agency. The National Security Agency was also reportedly involved...
satellites, were launched from LC-13 for the National Reconnaissance Office
National Reconnaissance Office
The National Reconnaissance Office , located in Chantilly, Virginia, is one of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies. It designs, builds, and operates the spy satellites of the United States government.-Mission:...
. The last launch from LC-13 was conducted on 7 April 1978, using an Atlas-Agena.
It was the most-used and longest-serving of the original four Atlas pads. On 16 April 1984, Launch Complex 13 was added to the US National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
; however it was not maintained, and gradually deteriorated. On 6 August 2005 the mobile service tower was demolished as a safety precaution, due to structural damage by corrosion
Corrosion
Corrosion is the disintegration of an engineered material into its constituent atoms due to chemical reactions with its surroundings. In the most common use of the word, this means electrochemical oxidation of metals in reaction with an oxidant such as oxygen...
. The structure was so unstable that it could not be safely dismantled, and had to be toppled by a controlled explosion
Controlled explosion
A controlled explosion is a method for detonating or disabling a suspected explosive device.Methods which are used to set off a controlled explosion include emptying out the area and moving the package into a confined space such as a telephone booth.Another classic method of controlled explosion...
before it could be taken apart while horizontal. This has since become the standard method of dismantling launch complexes at Cape Canaveral, and was used in the demolition of SLC-41, SLC-36 and SLC-40.