Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 34
Encyclopedia
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 34 (LC-34) is a launch site on Cape Canaveral
, Florida
. LC-34 and its twin to the north, LC-37, were used by NASA
as part of the Apollo Program
to launch Saturn I and IB
rocket
s from 1961 through 1968. It was the site of the Apollo 1
fire, which claimed the lives of astronaut
s Gus Grissom
, Ed White
, and Roger Chaffee
on January 27, 1967.
. Two steel flame deflectors were mounted on rails to allow placement beneath the launch platform. The service tower was likewise mounted on rails, and it was towed to a position 185 meters west of the pad before launch. At 95 meters high, it was the tallest structure at LC-34.
The blockhouse, located 320 meters from the pad, was modeled after the domed reinforced concrete structure at LC-20
. During a launch, it could accommodate 130 people as well as test and instrumentation equipment. Periscopes afforded views outside of the windowless facility.
, lofted a dummy upper stage on a suborbital trajectory into the Atlantic. The subsequent three Saturn I launches took place at LC-34, ending with SA-4
on March 28, 1963. The six ensuing Saturn I, Block II launches were conducted at LC-37
.
launches, which began in February 1966. New anchor points were built to fasten the service structure in place during high winds. Access arms on the umbilical tower were rebuilt to match the larger rocket. At the 67-meter level, the swing arm was outfitted with a white room to permit access to the command module at the top of a rocket.
Two Saturn IBs (AS-201
and AS-202
) were successfully launched from LC-34 before the Apollo 1 fire brought Apollo activities at the spaceport to an abrupt halt. After the fire, extinguishing equipment was installed at the top of the umbilical tower, and a slide wire was set up to provide astronauts a quick escape in the event of an emergency.
The first manned Apollo launch—Apollo 7
on October 11, 1968—was the last time LC-34 was used. NASA considered reactivating both LC-34 and LC-37
for the Apollo Applications Program
, but instead LC-39B
was modified to launch Saturn IBs.
After the decommissioning of LC-34, the umbilical tower and service structure were razed, leaving only the launch platform standing at the center of the pad. It serves as a memorial to the crew of Apollo 1. A dedicatory plaque affixed to the structure bears the inscription:
Another plaque (which was shown in the film Armageddon) reads:
Also surviving at the LC-34 site are the two flame deflectors and the blockhouse.
Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral, from the Spanish Cabo Cañaveral, is a headland in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic coast. Known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated from it by the Banana River.It is part of a region known as the...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. LC-34 and its twin to the north, LC-37, were used by 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...
as part of the Apollo Program
Project Apollo
The Apollo program was the spaceflight effort carried out by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration , that landed the first humans on Earth's Moon. Conceived during the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Apollo began in earnest after President John F...
to launch Saturn I and IB
Saturn IB
The Saturn IB was an American launch vehicle commissioned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for use in the Apollo program...
rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
s from 1961 through 1968. It was the site of the Apollo 1
Apollo 1
Apollo 1 was scheduled to be the first manned mission of the Apollo manned lunar landing program, with a target launch date of February 21, 1967. A cabin fire during a launch pad test on January 27 at Launch Pad 34 at Cape Canaveral killed all three crew members: Command Pilot Virgil "Gus"...
fire, which claimed the lives of astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
s Gus Grissom
Gus Grissom
Virgil Ivan Grissom , , better known as Gus Grissom, was one of the original NASA Project Mercury astronauts and a United States Air Force pilot...
, Ed White
Edward Higgins White
Edward Higgins White, II was an engineer, United States Air Force officer and NASA astronaut. On June 3, 1965, he became the first American to "walk" in space. White died along with fellow astronauts Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee during a pre-launch test for the first manned Apollo mission at...
, and Roger Chaffee
Roger B. Chaffee
Roger Bruce Chaffee was an American aeronautical engineer and a NASA astronaut in the Apollo program. Chaffee died along with fellow astronauts Gus Grissom and Ed White during a pre-launch test for the Apollo 1 mission at Cape Kennedy...
on January 27, 1967.
Construction
Work began on LC-34 in 1960, and it was formally dedicated on June 5, 1961. The complex consisted of a launch platform, umbilical tower, mobile service tower, fueling facilities, and a blockhouseBlockhouse
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...
. Two steel flame deflectors were mounted on rails to allow placement beneath the launch platform. The service tower was likewise mounted on rails, and it was towed to a position 185 meters west of the pad before launch. At 95 meters high, it was the tallest structure at LC-34.
The blockhouse, located 320 meters from the pad, was modeled after the domed reinforced concrete structure at LC-20
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 20
Space Launch Complex 20 , previously designated Launch Complex 20 , is a launch site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida...
. During a launch, it could accommodate 130 people as well as test and instrumentation equipment. Periscopes afforded views outside of the windowless facility.
Saturn I series
LC-34 saw its first launch on October 27, 1961. The first Saturn I, Block I, mission SA-1SA-1 (Apollo)
SA-1 was the first Saturn I space launch vehicle, the first in the Saturn family, and was part of the American Apollo program. The rocket was launched on October 27, 1961 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.-Objectives:...
, lofted a dummy upper stage on a suborbital trajectory into the Atlantic. The subsequent three Saturn I launches took place at LC-34, ending with SA-4
SA-4 (Apollo)
SA-4 was the fourth launch of a Saturn I launch vehicle and the last of the initial test phase of the first stage. It was part of the Apollo Program.-Objectives:SA-4 was the last flight to test only the S-I first stage of the Saturn I rocket...
on March 28, 1963. The six ensuing Saturn I, Block II launches were conducted at LC-37
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 37
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 37 , previously Launch Complex 37 , is a launch complex on Cape Canaveral, Florida. Construction began in 1959 and the site was accepted by NASA to support the Saturn I program in 1963. The complex consists of two launch pads...
.
Saturn IB series
LC-34 was extensively modified to support Saturn IBSaturn IB
The Saturn IB was an American launch vehicle commissioned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for use in the Apollo program...
launches, which began in February 1966. New anchor points were built to fasten the service structure in place during high winds. Access arms on the umbilical tower were rebuilt to match the larger rocket. At the 67-meter level, the swing arm was outfitted with a white room to permit access to the command module at the top of a rocket.
Two Saturn IBs (AS-201
AS-201
AS-201 , flown February 26, 1966, was the first unmanned test flight of an entire production Block I Apollo Command/Service Module and the Saturn IB launch vehicle. The spacecraft consisted of the second Block I command module and the first Block I service module...
and AS-202
AS-202
AS-202 was the second unmanned, suborbital test flight of a production Block I Apollo Command/Service Module launched with the Saturn IB launch vehicle. It launched August 25, 1966 and was the first flight which included the spacecraft Guidance and Navigation Control system and fuel cells...
) were successfully launched from LC-34 before the Apollo 1 fire brought Apollo activities at the spaceport to an abrupt halt. After the fire, extinguishing equipment was installed at the top of the umbilical tower, and a slide wire was set up to provide astronauts a quick escape in the event of an emergency.
The first manned Apollo launch—Apollo 7
Apollo 7
Apollo 7 was the first manned mission in the American Apollo space program, and the first manned US space flight after a cabin fire killed the crew of what was to have been the first manned mission, AS-204 , during a launch pad test in 1967...
on October 11, 1968—was the last time LC-34 was used. NASA considered reactivating both LC-34 and LC-37
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 37
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 37 , previously Launch Complex 37 , is a launch complex on Cape Canaveral, Florida. Construction began in 1959 and the site was accepted by NASA to support the Saturn I program in 1963. The complex consists of two launch pads...
for the Apollo Applications Program
Apollo Applications program
The Apollo Applications Program was established by NASA headquarters in 1968 to develop science-based manned space missions using surplus material from the Apollo program...
, but instead LC-39B
Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39
Launch Complex 39 is a rocket launch site at the John F. Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island in Florida, USA. The site and its collection of facilities were originally built for the Apollo program, and later modified to support Space Shuttle operations. NASA began modifying LC-39 in 2007 to...
was modified to launch Saturn IBs.
Launch Complex 34 today
LAUNCH COMPLEX 34
Friday, 27 January 1967
1831 Hours
Dedicated to the living memory of the crew of the Apollo 1:
U.S.A.F. Lt. Colonel Virgil I. Grissom
U.S.A.F. Lt. Colonel Edward H. White, II
U.S.N. Lt. Commander Roger B. Chaffee
They gave their lives in service to their country in the ongoing exploration of humankind's final frontier. Remember them not for how they died but for those ideals for which they lived.
Another plaque (which was shown in the film Armageddon) reads:
IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE SO OTHERS COULD REACH THE STARS
AD ASTRA PER ASPERAPer Aspera Ad AstraPer aspera ad astra is a Latin phrase meaning "through hardships to the stars" and is the motto of many organizations. It may also refer to:* Per Aspera Ad Astra , a 1981 Soviet science fiction film...
(A ROUGH ROAD LEADS TO THE STARS)
GOD SPEED TO THE CREW OF APOLLO 1
Also surviving at the LC-34 site are the two flame deflectors and the blockhouse.
Launch history
This is a complete list of all launches made from LC-34.| Date | Time (GMT) |
Launch Vehicle Launch vehicle In spaceflight, a launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket used to carry a payload from the Earth's surface into outer space. A launch system includes the launch vehicle, the launch pad and other infrastructure.... |
Mission | Payload | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 27, 1961 | 15:06 | Saturn I | SA-1 SA-1 (Apollo) SA-1 was the first Saturn I space launch vehicle, the first in the Saturn family, and was part of the American Apollo program. The rocket was launched on October 27, 1961 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.-Objectives:... |
(none) | First use of LC-34, First flight of Saturn I. |
| April 25, 1962 | 14:00 | Saturn I | SA-2 SA-2 (Apollo) SA-2 was the second flight of the Saturn I launch vehicle, the first flight of Project Highwater, and was part of the American Apollo program. The rocket was launched on April 25, 1962 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.-Objectives:... |
Highwater Project Highwater Project Highwater was an experiment carried out as part of two of the test flights of NASA's Saturn I launch vehicle , successfully launched into a sub-orbital trajectory from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Highwater experiment sought to determine the effect of a large volume of water suddenly... |
Self-destruct detonated after completion of mission to test effects of water at high altitudes on communications. |
| November 16, 1962 | 17:45 | Saturn I | SA-3 SA-3 (Apollo) SA-3 was the third flight Saturn I launch vehicle, the second flight of Project Highwater and was part of the Apollo Program.-Objectives:... |
Highwater Project Highwater Project Highwater was an experiment carried out as part of two of the test flights of NASA's Saturn I launch vehicle , successfully launched into a sub-orbital trajectory from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Highwater experiment sought to determine the effect of a large volume of water suddenly... |
Self-destruct detonated after completion of mission to test effects of water at high altitudes on communications. |
| March 28, 1963 | 20:11 | Saturn I | SA-4 SA-4 (Apollo) SA-4 was the fourth launch of a Saturn I launch vehicle and the last of the initial test phase of the first stage. It was part of the Apollo Program.-Objectives:SA-4 was the last flight to test only the S-I first stage of the Saturn I rocket... |
(none) | Dummy second stage |
| February 26, 1966 | 15:06 | Saturn IB Saturn IB The Saturn IB was an American launch vehicle commissioned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for use in the Apollo program... |
AS-201 AS-201 AS-201 , flown February 26, 1966, was the first unmanned test flight of an entire production Block I Apollo Command/Service Module and the Saturn IB launch vehicle. The spacecraft consisted of the second Block I command module and the first Block I service module... |
Apollo CSM | First flight of Saturn IB and Apollo Spacecraft Apollo spacecraft The Apollo spacecraft was composed of five combined parts designed to accomplish the American Apollo program's goal of landing astronauts on the Moon by the end of the 1960s and returning them safely to Earth... |
| August 25, 1966 | 17:15 | Saturn IB Saturn IB The Saturn IB was an American launch vehicle commissioned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for use in the Apollo program... |
AS-202 AS-202 AS-202 was the second unmanned, suborbital test flight of a production Block I Apollo Command/Service Module launched with the Saturn IB launch vehicle. It launched August 25, 1966 and was the first flight which included the spacecraft Guidance and Navigation Control system and fuel cells... |
Apollo CSM | Suborbital test of Saturn IB and CSM, informally called Apollo 3 |
| Planned for February 27, 1967 | cancelled | Saturn IB Saturn IB The Saturn IB was an American launch vehicle commissioned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for use in the Apollo program... |
Apollo 1 Apollo 1 Apollo 1 was scheduled to be the first manned mission of the Apollo manned lunar landing program, with a target launch date of February 21, 1967. A cabin fire during a launch pad test on January 27 at Launch Pad 34 at Cape Canaveral killed all three crew members: Command Pilot Virgil "Gus"... |
Manned Apollo CSM | precluded by a fire Apollo 1 Apollo 1 was scheduled to be the first manned mission of the Apollo manned lunar landing program, with a target launch date of February 21, 1967. A cabin fire during a launch pad test on January 27 at Launch Pad 34 at Cape Canaveral killed all three crew members: Command Pilot Virgil "Gus"... on January 27, which killed all three crew members |
| October 11, 1968 | 15:02 | Saturn IB Saturn IB The Saturn IB was an American launch vehicle commissioned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for use in the Apollo program... |
Apollo 7 Apollo 7 Apollo 7 was the first manned mission in the American Apollo space program, and the first manned US space flight after a cabin fire killed the crew of what was to have been the first manned mission, AS-204 , during a launch pad test in 1967... |
Manned Apollo CSM | First manned Apollo flight, last use of LC-34 |
See also
- List of spaceflights by year
- List of Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island launch sites
- Project ApolloProject ApolloThe Apollo program was the spaceflight effort carried out by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration , that landed the first humans on Earth's Moon. Conceived during the Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Apollo began in earnest after President John F...
- Saturn ISaturn IThe Saturn I was the United States' first heavy-lift dedicated space launcher, a rocket designed specifically to launch large payloads into low Earth orbit. Most of the rocket's power came from a clustered lower stage consisting of tanks taken from older rocket designs and strapped together to make...
- Saturn IBSaturn IBThe Saturn IB was an American launch vehicle commissioned by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for use in the Apollo program...
- Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 37