Cape Canaveral AFS Launch Complex 18
| CCAFS LC-18 | |
|---|---|
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| Vanguard missile on the LC-18A launch pad | |
| Coordinates | 28 ° 26 '57 " N , 80 ° 33' 44" W |
| Type | Orbital Launch Site |
| operator | NASA / Military (USA) |
| start of building | 1956 |
| Launch pads | 2 |
| Missiles |
Viking Vanguard Thor different scout types |
 
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Cape Canaveral AFS Launch Complex 18 (LC-18) is a disused launch site with two launch ramps at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Merritt Island , Cape Canaveral in Florida , USA .
history
Originally this launch site was built in 1956 for Vanguard missiles . After two Viking missions , the rocket for which the complex was built was launched on October 23, 1957 at 19:22 UTC. About two years later, on June 4, 1958, Pad-B was put into operation.
In the first half of the operation of this launch option, Pad-A was used exclusively for the Vanguard and the sister ramp for the Thor DM-18 . The last launch of a Vanguard by LC-18A took place on September 18, 1959. In the following months only Thor-DM 18 launches followed; Pad-A was out of service for almost a year. In the second half, Pad-A Blue Scout Junior and Pad B Blue Scout made 1 and 2 starts.
The complex
The complex consists of two launch ramps: 18A and 18B. Both are concrete surfaces on which the respective starting structures are located.
Launch Complex 18-A
The rocket starts on a five-meter-high metal frame through which the smoke is directed during take-off. Next to the LC-18A's tool shed is the launch tower, which can be compared to a short transmission mast . There are also mobile service towers at these launch ramps. Pad A's service tower, which was used for the Vanguard missile, can completely encompass the missile in several levels. A crane is mounted on the “roof” of the tower.
Launch Complex 18-B
The service tower on this launch pad is similar to the Pad 17 service towers . Here, too, you can use a crane mounted on the side of the wide tower to carry loads such as B. move satellites or upper levels.
Start list
| date | Time ( UTC ) | Pad | Missile type | Payload / mission | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 8, 1956 | 06:03 | A. | Viking | Test flight | |
| May 1, 1957 | 06:29 | A. | Viking | Test flight | Last Viking flight |
| October 23, 1957 | 19:22 | A. | Vanguard | Test flight | |
| December 6, 1957 | A. | Vanguard | Test flight | False start (rocket exploded after 2 seconds) | |
| 5th February 1958 | A. | Vanguard | False start (rocket breaks after 58 seconds) | ||
| March 17, 1958 | A. | Vanguard | |||
| April 29, 1958 | A. | Vanguard | False start (3rd stage did not ignite) | ||
| May 28, 1958 | A. | Vanguard | False start (problems with the 3rd stage) | ||
| June 4th 1958 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Test flight | First launch of a Thor from LC-18 | |
| June 26, 1958 | A. | Vanguard | False start (2nd stage switched off too early) | ||
| August 6, 1958 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Test flight | ||
| September 26, 1958 | A. | Vanguard | False start (problems with the 2nd stage) | ||
| 5th December 1958 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Research flight | ||
| December 30, 1958 | B. | Thoth DM-18 | Research flight | False start | |
| 17th February 1959 | A. | Vanguard | |||
| March 21, 1959 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Research flight | ||
| April 14, 1959 | A. | Vanguard | False start (2nd stage was damaged) | ||
| April 25, 1959 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Research flight | ||
| May 22, 1959 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Research flight | ||
| June 22, 1959 | A. | Vanguard | False start (2nd stage did not work properly) | ||
| June 25, 1959 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Research flight | ||
| July 24, 1959 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Research flight | ||
| August 14, 1959 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Research flight | ||
| September 12, 1959 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Research flight | ||
| September 18, 1959 | A. | Vanguard | Partial success (3rd stage did not separate from the payload) | ||
| October 6, 1959 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Research flight | Meteorite exploration | |
| October 28, 1959 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Research flight | Meteorite exploration | |
| December 1, 1959 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Research flight | Meteorite exploration | |
| January 14, 1960 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Special test flight | ||
| February 9, 1960 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Special test flight | ||
| February 29, 1960 | B. | Thor DM-18 | Special test flight | ||
| September 21, 1960 | A. | Blue Scout Junior | Research flight HETS | First Blue Scout flight | |
| November 8, 1960 | A. | Blue Scout Junior | Research flight HETS | False start | |
| January 7, 1961 | B. | Blue Scout 1 | Research flight HETS A1-1 | ||
| March 3, 1961 | B. | Blue Scout 2 | Research flight HETS A2-1 | ||
| April 12, 1961 | B. | Blue Scout 2 | Research flight HETS A2-2 | ||
| May 9, 1960 | B. | Blue Scout 1 | Research flight HETS A1-2 | ||
| September 21, 1960 | B. | Blue Scout 1 | Research flight HETS A1-1 | ||
| 17th August 1961 | A. | Blue Scout Junior | Research flight HETS | ||
| November 1, 1961 | B. | Blue Scout 2 | Mercury Scout 1st | False start | |
| April 12, 1962 | B. | Blue Scout 1 | Test mission | False start | |
| July 30, 1963 | A. | Blue Scout Junior | Space radio project | ||
| March 13, 1964 | A. | Blue Scout Junior | Exploration of the magnetosphere | False start | |
| January 28, 1965 | A. | Blue Scout Junior | Exploration of the magnetosphere | False start | |
| March 30, 1965 | A. | Blue Scout Junior | Exploration of the magnetosphere | ||
| April 9, 1965 | A. | Blue Scout Junior | Exploring different rays | ||
| May 12, 1965 | A. | Blue Scout Junior | Exploration of the magnetosphere | ||
| June 9, 1965 | A. | Blue Scout Junior | Exploring different rays |
Web links
- Launch Complex 18 in the CCAFS tour (English)
- Cape Canaveral LC18A and LC18B in the Encyclopedia Astronautica (English)