Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 16
Encyclopedia
Launch Complex 16 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
, Florida is a launch complex built for use by LGM-25 Titan
missiles, and later used for NASA
operations before being transferred back to the US military and used for tests of MGM-31 Pershing missiles. Six Titan I
missiles were launched from the complex between December 1959 and May 1960. These were followed by seven Titan II missiles, starting with the type's maiden flight on 16 March 1962. The last Titan II launch from LC-16 was conducted on 29 May 1963.
Following the end of its involvement with the Titan missile, LC-16 was transferred to NASA, which used it for Gemini
crew processing, and static firing tests of the Apollo Service Module's propulsion engine. Following its return to the US Air Force in 1972, it was converted for use by the Pershing missile, which made its first flight from the complex on 7 May 1974. Seventy nine Pershing IA and 49 Pershing II missiles were launched from LC-16. The last Pershing launch from the facility was conducted on 21 March 1988. It was deactivated the next day and subsequently decommissioned under the Intermediate Nuclear Forces treaty.
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 launch complex built for use by LGM-25 Titan
LGM-25 Titan
The SM-68 Titan was the designation for two American intercontinental ballistic missiles, which were members of the Titan family of rockets...
missiles, and later used for NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
operations before being transferred back to the US military and used for tests of MGM-31 Pershing missiles. Six Titan I
Titan I
The Martin Marietta SM-68A/HGM-25A Titan I was the United States' first multistage ICBM . Incorporating the latest design technology when designed and manufactured, the Titan I provided an additional nuclear deterrent to complement the U.S. Air Force's SM-65 Atlas missile...
missiles were launched from the complex between December 1959 and May 1960. These were followed by seven Titan II missiles, starting with the type's maiden flight on 16 March 1962. The last Titan II launch from LC-16 was conducted on 29 May 1963.
Following the end of its involvement with the Titan missile, LC-16 was transferred to NASA, which used it for Gemini
Project Gemini
Project Gemini was the second human spaceflight program of NASA, the civilian space agency of the United States government. Project Gemini was conducted between projects Mercury and Apollo, with ten manned flights occurring in 1965 and 1966....
crew processing, and static firing tests of the Apollo Service Module's propulsion engine. Following its return to the US Air Force in 1972, it was converted for use by the Pershing missile, which made its first flight from the complex on 7 May 1974. Seventy nine Pershing IA and 49 Pershing II missiles were launched from LC-16. The last Pershing launch from the facility was conducted on 21 March 1988. It was deactivated the next day and subsequently decommissioned under the Intermediate Nuclear Forces treaty.