From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 34
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Com-
plex 34
Launch Complex 34
History
Construction
Work began on LC-34 in 1960, and it was formally dedi-
cated on June 5, 1961. The complex consisted of a launch
platform, umbilical tower, mobile service tower, fueling
facilities, and a blockhouse. Two steel flame deflectors
were mounted on rails to allow placement beneath the
launch platform. The service tower was likewise mount-
ed 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,
LC-34 with Saturn I rocket SA-4 on 28 March 1963 was modeled after the domed reinforced concrete struc-
ture at LC-20. During a launch, it could accommodate 130
Launch site Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
people as well as test and instrumentation equipment.
Location 28.52182°N Periscopes afforded views outside of the windowless fa-
80.561258°W cility.
Short name LC-34
Saturn I series
Operator US Air Force
LC-34 saw its first launch on October 27, 1961. The first
Total launches 7 Saturn I, Block I, mission SA-1, lofted a dummy upper
Launch pad(s) 1 stage on a suborbital trajectory into the Atlantic. The
subsequent three Saturn I launches took place at LC-34,
Minimum / maximum 28° - 57°
ending with SA-4 on March 28, 1963. The six ensuing
orbital inclination
Saturn I, Block II launches were conducted at LC-37.
Launch history
Saturn IB series
Status Inactive LC-34 was extensively modified to support Saturn IB
First launch SA-1, 27 October 1961 launches, which began in February 1966. New anchor
points were built to fasten the service structure in place
Last launch Apollo 7, 11 October 1968
during high winds. Access arms on the umbilical tower
Associated rockets Saturn I were rebuilt to match the larger rocket. At the 67-meter
Saturn IB level, the swing arm was outfitted with a white room to
permit access to the command module at the top of a
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 34 rocket.
LC-34)
(LC-34 is a launch site on Cape Canaveral, Florida. LC-34 Two Saturn IBs (AS-201 and AS-202) were successfully
and its twin to the north, LC-37, were used by NASA launched from LC-34 before the Apollo 1 fire brought
as part of the Apollo Program to launch Saturn I and Apollo activities at the spaceport to an abrupt halt. After
IB rockets from 1961 through 1968. It was the site of the fire, extinguishing equipment was installed at the top
the Apollo 1 fire, which claimed the lives of astronauts of the umbilical tower, and a slide wire was set up to pro-
Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee on January 27, vide astronauts a quick escape in the event of an emer-
1967. gency.
The first manned Apollo launch—Apollo 7 on October
11, 1968—was the last time LC-34 was used. NASA consid-
ered reactivating both LC-34 and LC-37 for the Apollo Ap-
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 34
plications Program, but instead LC-39B was modified to
launch Saturn IBs.
Launch Complex 34 today
Small plaque on side of the right rear column
Another plaque (which was shown in the film Armaged-
don)[1] reads:
LC-34 today. The plaque (below) is on the rear of the right col- IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO MADE THE
umn. ULTIMATE SACRIFICE SO OTHERS COULD REACH
THE STARS
AD ASTRA PER ASPERA
(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 deflec-
tors and the blockhouse.
Gallery
Apollo 1 Plaque at LC-34
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 af-
fixed to the structure bears the inscription:
LAUNCH COMPLEX 34
Friday, 27 January 1967
1831 Hours • Saturn I and IB flame deflectors. Pad 37 is in the
background.
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
• Blockhouse
They gave their lives in service to their country in • Underside
the ongoing exploration of humankind’s final fron- • "Abandon in place", which means to abandon it "as
tier. Remember them not for how they died but for is", with no maintenance
those ideals for which they lived. • Astronaut memorial kiosk
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 34
Date Time Launch Mission Payload Remarks
GMT)
(GMT) Vehicle
October 27, 15:06 Saturn SA-1 (none) First use of LC-34, First flight of Saturn I.
1961 I
April 25, 1962 14:00 Saturn SA-2 Highwater Self-destruct detonated after completion of mission to test
I effects of water at high altitudes on communications.
November 16, 17:45 Saturn SA-3 Highwater Self-destruct detonated after completion of mission to test
1962 I effects of water at high altitudes on communications.
March 28, 1963 20:11 Saturn SA-4 (none) Dummy second stage
I
February 26, 15:06 Saturn AS-201 Apollo First flight of Saturn IB and Apollo Spacecraft
1966 IB CSM
August 25, 17:15 Saturn AS-202 Apollo Suborbital test of Saturn IB and CSM, informally called
1966 IB CSM Apollo 3
Planned for Fe- cancelled Saturn Apollo Manned precluded by a fire on January 27, which killed all three
bruary 27, 1967 IB 1 Apollo crew members
CSM
October 11, 15:02 Saturn Apollo Manned First manned Apollo flight, last use of LC-34
1968 IB 7 Apollo
CSM
See also
• List of spaceflights by year
• Granite memorial benches on the southern edge of • List of Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island launch sites
the launch pad • Project Apollo
• Saturn I
• Saturn IB
Launch history • Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch
This is a complete list of all launches made from LC-34. Complex 37
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 34
Apollo 7 launch, showing part of the blockhouse
A Saturn I at Pad 34, ready for mission SA-3
References External links
Coordinates: 28°31′19″N 80°33′41″W / 28.52182°N
• Moonport: A History of Apollo Launch Facilities and 80.561258°W / 28.52182; -80.561258
Operations
[1] CollectSpace
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Categories:
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• Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
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