Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 37 Explained

Space Launch Complex 37
Site:Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Location:28.532°N -80.5668°W
Short:SLC-37
Utc Offset:−05:00
Time Zone:EST
Utc Offset Dst:−04:00
Time Zone Dst:EDT
Operator:United States Space Force
Tlaunches:43
Inclination:28° - 57°
Paddetails:
Designation:LC-37A
Status:Demolished
Launches:None
First:Unused
Designation:SLC-37B
Status:Inactive
Launches:43
First:29 January 1964
First Details:Saturn I (SA-5)
Last:9 April 2024
Last Details:Delta IV Heavy (NROL-70)

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). 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 330feet tall, and fitted to service all Delta IV configurations, including the Delta IV Heavy.[4] Plans are being proposed for SpaceX Starship operations from LC-37 in near future, as the Delta family's last rocket, i.e., Delta IV Heavy retired on April 2024.[5] The draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) by the Federal Aviation Administration is due in December 2024, with a final study by September 2025.[6]

Launch history

Saturn

All flights operated by NASA.

Date Vehicle Mission Payload Remarks
Jan. 29, 1964 Saturn I none First live S-IV second stage
May 28, 1964 Saturn I First boilerplate CSM
Sept. 18, 1964 Saturn I BP-15 boilerplate CSM
Feb. 16, 1965 Saturn I Pegasus 1 and BP-16 boilerplate CSM Pegasus satellites studied micrometeoroid impacts
May 25, 1965 Saturn I Pegasus 2 and BP-26 boilerplate CSM
July 30, 1965 Saturn I Pegasus 3 and BP-9A boilerplate CSM
July 5, 1966 Saturn IB none Test of S-IVB second stage; informally called Apollo 3
Jan. 22, 1968 Saturn IB LM-1 First uncrewed orbital test of the 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,[7] and the Delta IV Heavy had been launched from SLC-37 from 2004 to 2024.[8]

Date (UTC)VehiclePayload[9] Launch outcome
20 November 2002 [10]
11 March 2003 USA-167 (DSCS-3 A3) [11]
29 August 2003 USA-170 (DSCS-3 B6) [12]
21 December 2004
24 May 2006 GOES-N (GOES-13) [13]
11 November 2007 DSP-23 Defense Support Program
18 January 2009 Orion 6 / Mentor 4 (USA-202 / NROL-26)
27 June 2009 GOES-O (GOES-14) [14]
6 December 2009 USA-211 (WGS-3) [15]
4 March 2010 GOES-P (GOES-15) [16]
28 May 2010 USA-213 (GPS IIF SV-1) [17]
21 November 2010 Orion 7 / Mentor 5 (USA-223 / NROL-32)
11 March 2011 USA-227 (NROL-27)
16 July 2011 USA-232 (GPS IIF-2) [18]
20 January 2012 USA-233 (WGS-4) [19]
29 June 2012 Orion 8 / Mentor 6 (USA-237 / NROL-15)
4 October 2012 USA-239 (GPS IIF-3) [20]
25 May 2013 USA-243 (WGS-5) [21]
8 August 2013 USA-244 (WGS-6) [22]
21 February 2014 USA-248 (GPS IIF-5) [23]
17 May 2014 USA-251 (GPS IIF-6) [24]
28 July 2014 USA 253-255 (AFSPC-4 (GSSAP #1/#2/ANGELS)) [25]
5 December 2014 Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1)
25 March 2015 USA-260 (GPS IIF-9) [26]
24 July 2015 USA-263 (WGS-7) [27]
11 June 2016 Orion 9 / Mentor 7 (USA-268 / NROL-37)
19 August 2016 USA-270/271 (AFSPC-6 (GSSAP #3/#4)) [28]
7 December 2016 USA-272 (WGS-8) [29]
19 March 2017 USA-275 (WGS-9) [30]
12 August 2018 Parker Solar Probe
16 March 2019 USA-291 (WGS-10) [31]
22 August 2019 USA-293 (GPS III-2) [32]
11 December 2020 Orion 10 / Mentor 8 (USA-268 / NROL-44)[33] [34]
22 June 2023 Orion 11 / Mentor 9 (NROL-68)
9 April 2024 Orion 12 / Mentor 10 (NROL-70)

Starship

In 2024, after the retirement of the Delta IV Heavy, the FAA initiated an Environmental Impact Statement for potential Starship launch activity from the complex. The draft is set to be released by December 2024.[35]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Issue 350. McDowell. Jonathan. 1998-02-22. Jonathan's Space Report. Jonathan's Space Page. 2009-07-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20100503232748/http://planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.350. 2010-05-03. dead.
  2. Web site: Delta-IV Heavy to launch last DSP satellite. https://web.archive.org/web/20110930065914/http://www.afspc.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123074967. dead. September 30, 2011. www.afspc.af.mil.
  3. Web site: Complex 37 -- Cape Canaveral Air Station . 2008-05-28 . Federation of American Scientists (www.fas.org) . 2000-06-16 . 2008-04-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080420093207/http://www.fas.org/spp/military/facility/ccas-lc-37.htm . dead.
  4. Web site: Boeing, Raytheon Top Off Nation's Newest Launch Tower . March 2, 2000 . Boeing . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081202004817/http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2000/news_release_000302h.html . 2008-12-02 .
  5. Web site: Space Force Starship EIS – Environmental Impact Statement for SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station . 2024-02-16 . en-US.
  6. Web site: Stone . Mark . 2024-03-17 . Starship Coming to Florida . 2024-04-14 . Hernando Sun . en-US.
  7. Web site: Delta IV Medium’s well-earned retirement with GPS finale. September 30, 2023 . NASASpaceflight.
  8. Web site: Launch Complex 37 . September 30, 2023 . Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum.
  9. Web site: Krebs . Gunter . Delta-4 . 15 March 2018 . Gunter's Space Page.
  10. Web site: Boeing's Delta 4 rocket debuts successfully. November 20, 2002. Spaceflight Now.
  11. Web site: Delta 4 rocket successfully begins military service. March 10, 2003. Spaceflight Now.
  12. Web site: Delta 4 rocket delivers last Air Force DSCS satellite. August 29, 2003. Spaceflight Now.
  13. Web site: Weather observatory for Americas ascends to space. May 24, 2006. Spaceflight Now.
  14. Web site: NASA and NOAA's GOES-O Satellite Successfully Launched . 2009-06-27 . NASA KSC.
  15. Web site: New communications craft launched for U.S. military. Ray. Justin. 2009-12-05. Spaceflight Now. 2009-12-06.
  16. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NASA/NOAA Weather Satellite Mission. United Launch Alliance. 3 February 2013. 4 March 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/47. 7 December 2013. dead.
  17. Web site: ULA Marks Delta 50th Anniversary with Successful Delta IV GPS IIF SV-1 Launch. United Launch Alliance. 3 February 2013. 27 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/50. 7 December 2013. dead.
  18. Web site: United Launch Alliance Marks the 50th Successful GPS Launch for the Air Force with the Delivery of the GPS IIF-2 Mission to orbit. United Launch Alliance. 16 July 2011. 16 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/73/. 7 December 2013. dead.
  19. Web site: United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Successfully Launches US Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM-4 (WGS-4) Satellite. United Launch Alliance. 2 February 2013. 19 January 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/93/. 7 December 2013. dead.
  20. Web site: United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Successfully Launches Global Positioning System Satellite for the U.S. Air Force. United Launch Alliance. 4 October 2012. 4 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/121/. 7 December 2013. dead.
  21. Web site: United Launch Alliance Launches Second Successful Mission for U.S. Air Force in Just Nine Days. United Launch Alliance. 25 May 2013. 24 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/141/. 7 December 2013. dead.
  22. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Wideband Global SATCOM Mission for U.S. Air Force in Less Than Three Months . United Launch Alliance. 8 August 2013. 8 August 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/150/. 7 December 2013. dead.
  23. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches 25th Delta IV Mission Carrying Global Positioning System Satellite for the U.S. Air Force. United Launch Alliance. 21 February 2014. 21 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20131207160150/http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/News.shtml#/167/. 7 December 2013. dead.
  24. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Global Positioning System Satellite for the U.S. Air Force in Less Than Three Months. United Launch Alliance. 18 May 2014. 16 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140517151604/http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-successfully-launches-second-global.aspx?title=United+Launch+Alliance+Successfully+Launches+Second+Global+Positioning+System+Satellite+for+the+U.S.+Air+Force+in+Less+Than+Three+Months. 17 May 2014. dead.
  25. Web site: United Launch Alliance Marks 85th Successful Launch by Delivering Three Satellites into Orbit for the U.S. Air Force. United Launch Alliance. 29 July 2014. 29 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140805021058/http://www.ulalaunch.com/ULA-Delta-IV-Launches-AFSPC-4.aspx?title=United+Launch+Alliance+Marks+85th+Successful+Launch+by+Delivering+Three+Satellites+into+Orbit+for+the+U.S.+Air+Force+. 5 August 2014. dead.
  26. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Mission in Less than Two Weeks. United Launch Alliance. 26 March 2015. 26 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20180112160114/http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-launches-gpsiif9-for-US-Air-Force.aspx?title=United+Launch+Alliance+Successfully+Launches+Second+Mission+in+Less+than+Two+Weeks. 12 January 2018. dead.
  27. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS-7. United Launch Alliance. 25 July 2015. 23 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20180112160116/http://www.ulalaunch.com/ula-successfully-launches-wgs7.aspx. 12 January 2018. dead.
  28. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches AFSPC6 Mission for the U.S. Air Force. 19 August 2016. United Launch Alliance. 19 August 2016.
  29. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS8 Mission for the U.S. Air Force. 7 December 2016. United Launch Alliance. 7 December 2016.
  30. Web site: Delta IV to Launch WGS-9 for the U.S. Air Force. 18 March 2017. United Launch Alliance. 18 November 2017.
  31. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS-10 Mission. 16 March 2019. United Launch Alliance. 16 March 2019.
  32. Web site: United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches GPS III Satellite for U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. 22 August 2019. United Launch Alliance. 22 August 2019.
  33. Web site: 27 October 2020 . Launch Schedule . 31 October 2020 . Spaceflight Now.
  34. Web site: 30 October 2020 . Launch Mission Execution Forecast . 31 October 2020 . 45th Weather Squadron – Patrick Air Force Base.
  35. Web site: Stone . Mark . 2024-03-17 . Starship Coming to Florida . 2024-04-14 . Hernando Sun . en-US.

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