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Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 31

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station launch site From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 31map
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Launch Complex 31 (LC-31) is a former launch complex at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

Quick Facts Launch site, Location ...
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4km
2.5miles
28
28 LC-29
28 LC-29
27
27 LC-25
27 LC-25
26
26 LC-30
26 LC-30
25
25 LC-5 and LC-6
25 LC-5 and LC-6
24
24 LC-26
24 LC-26
23
23 SLC-17
23 SLC-17
22
22 LC-18
22 LC-18
21
21 LC-31 and LC-32
21 LC-31 and LC-32
20
20 LC-21 and LC-22
20 LC-21 and LC-22
19
19 SLC-46
19 SLC-46
18
18 LC-1, LC-2, LC-3, and LC-4
18 LC-1, LC-2, LC-3, and LC-4
17
17 LC-36
17 LC-36
16
16 LC-11
16 LC-11
15
15 LC-12
15 LC-12
14
14 LC-13 (LZ-2)
14 LC-13 (LZ-2)
13
13 LC-14
13 LC-14
12
12 LC-15
12 LC-15
11
11 LC-16
11 LC-16
10
10 LC-19
10 LC-19
9
9 SLC-20
9 SLC-20
8
8 LC-34
8 LC-34
7
7 SLC-37
7 SLC-37
6
6 LC-47
6 LC-47
5
5 SLC-40
5 SLC-40
4
4 SLC-41
4 SLC-41
3
3 LC-48
3 LC-48
2
2 LC-39A
2 LC-39A
1
1 LC-39B
1 LC-39B

  Active pads
  Active pads not used for launches
  Inactive leased pads
  Inactive unleased pads

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 beehive-shaped blockhouse is 210 yards from the static pad and 330 yards from the silo.

Between February 1, 1960 and September 23, 1969 the Air Force launched a total of four Minuteman missiles from pad 31A and 35 from silo 31B. Pad 31A was used later by the U.S. Army to test launch twelve Pershing 1a missiles.

The service tower has since been removed; the silo remains, and contains recovered debris from the Space Shuttle orbiter vehicle Challenger.[1][2]

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2015 opening of the silo

In 2015, NASA opened the silo and removed several pieces of Challenger's debris, so they could be placed on permanent display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.[3]

Notes

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