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.
Remains of Challenger lowered into silo at LC-31
The service tower has since been removed; the silo remains, and contains recovered debris from the Space Shuttle orbiter vehicle Challenger.[1][2]
2015 opening of the siloedit
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]
Notesedit
^"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.
^"Space shuttle Challenger, Columbia wreckage on display for 1st time".
External linksedit
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cape, canaveral, launch, complex, launch, complex, former, launch, complex, cape, canaveral, space, force, station, florida, launch, complex, 31launch, sitecape, canaveral, space, force, stationlocation28, 45250, 55611, 45250, 55611short, namelc, 31operatorus,. Launch Complex 31 LC 31 is a former launch complex at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Florida Launch Complex 31Launch siteCape Canaveral Space Force StationLocation28 27 09 N 80 33 22 W 28 45250 N 80 55611 W 28 45250 80 55611Short nameLC 31OperatorUS Space ForceLaunch pad s 2 incl silo Launch historyStatusInactiveFirst launchFebruary 1 1960AssociatedrocketsMinutemanPershing 1aIt 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 Remains of Challenger lowered into silo at LC 31The service tower has since been removed the silo remains and contains recovered debris from the Space Shuttle orbiter vehicle Challenger 1 2 2015 opening of the silo editIn 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 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 Space shuttle Challenger Columbia wreckage on display for 1st time External links editWired4Space LC 31 nbsp This space or spaceflight related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 31 amp oldid 1178597771, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
