Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 31
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral Air Force Station |
|---|---|
| Location | 28°27′09″N 80°33′22″W / 28.45250°N 80.55611°WCoordinates: 28°27′09″N 80°33′22″W / 28.45250°N 80.55611°W |
| Short name | LC-31 |
| Operator | US Air Force |
| Launch pad(s) | 2 (incl. silo) |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Inactive |
| First launch | February 1, 1960 |
| Associated rockets | Minuteman Pershing |
Launch Complex 31 (LC-31) is a former launch complex at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
It was built in 1959 with LC-32 for the U.S. Air Force to conduct test launches of the first LGM-30 Minuteman missiles. LC-31 was built next to Navaho complex LC-9, requiring LC-10 to be demolished. These complexes were the first to feature dual launch pads, one of which was subterranean. LC 31 consisted of a blockhouse, static launch pad (31A) and missile silo (31B). The bee-hive-shaped blockhouse is 210 yards from the static pad and 330 yards from the silo.
The Air Force launched four Minuteman missiles from 31A; and 35 from the silo, 31B, between February 1, 1960 and September 23, 1969. Pad 31A was used later by the U.S. Army to test launch ten MGM-31 Pershing missiles.
The service tower has since been removed and silo filled in, although recovered debris from the space shuttle orbiter Challenger were buried in the silo.[1][2]
Notes[edit]
- ^ "Shuttle Debris Moved for Burial". Los Angeles Times. Jan 8, 1987. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
- ^ Ritter, Jim (1986-11-30). "Challenger debris to be buried". Chicago Sun-Times.
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