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Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 37

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Space Launch Complex 37[2][3] (SLC-37), previously Launch Complex 37 (LC-37), is a launch complex on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Construction began in 1959 and the site was accepted by NASA to support the Saturn I program in 1963.[4] The complex consists of two launch pads. LC-37A has never been used, but LC-37B launched uncrewed Saturn I flights (1964 to 1965) and was modified and launched Saturn IB flights (1966 to 1968), including the first (uncrewed) test of the Apollo Lunar Module in space (Apollo 5).[4] It was deactivated in 1972. In 2001 it was modified as the launch site for Delta IV, a launch system operated by United Launch Alliance.

Space Launch Complex 37
Delta IV Heavy lifts off from SLC-37B in June 2016 carrying NROL-37
Map
Launch siteCape Canaveral Space Force Station
Location28°31′55″N 80°34′01″W / 28.531986°N 80.566821°W / 28.531986; -80.566821
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (EST)
• Summer (DST)
UTC−04:00 (EDT)
Short nameSLC-37
OperatorUnited States Space Force
Total launches43
Orbital inclination
range		28° - 57°
LC-37A launch history
StatusDemolished
LaunchesNone
First launchUnused
Associated
rockets		Saturn I, Saturn IB
SLC-37B launch history
StatusInactive
Launches43
First launch29 January 1964
Saturn I (SA-5)
Last launch9 April 2024
Delta IV Heavy (NROL-70)
Associated
rockets		Proposed: Starship[1]
Retired: Saturn I, Saturn IB, Delta IV

The original layout of the launch complex featured one Mobile Service Structure which could be used to service or mate a rocket on either LC-37A or 37B, but not on both simultaneously. The Delta IV Mobile Service Tower is 330 ft (100 m) tall, and fitted to service all Delta IV configurations, including the Delta IV Heavy.[5] Plans are being proposed for SpaceX Starship operations from LC-37 in near future, as the Delta family's last rocket, i.e., Delta IV Heavy retired in April 2024.[1] The draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) by the Federal Aviation Administration is due in December 2024, with a final study by September 2025.[6]

Launch history

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Rocket configuration

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1
2
3
4
1964
1968
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020

Saturn

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Apollo 5 at LC-37B in 1968

All flights operated by NASA.

Date Vehicle Mission Payload Remarks
Jan. 29, 1964 Saturn I SA-5 none First live S-IV second stage
May 28, 1964 Saturn I AS-101 BP-13 boilerplate CSM First boilerplate CSM
Sept. 18, 1964 Saturn I AS-102 BP-15 boilerplate CSM
Feb. 16, 1965 Saturn I AS-103 Pegasus 1 and BP-16 boilerplate CSM Pegasus satellites studied micrometeoroid impacts
May 25, 1965 Saturn I AS-104 Pegasus 2 and BP-26 boilerplate CSM
July 30, 1965 Saturn I AS-105 Pegasus 3 and BP-9A boilerplate CSM
July 5, 1966 Saturn IB AS-203 none Test of S-IVB second stage; informally called Apollo 3
Jan. 22, 1968 Saturn IB Apollo 5 LM-1 First uncrewed orbital test of the lunar module

Delta

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In 1998, Boeing secured the right to use SLC-37 for launch of the Delta IV rocket family. Facility modifications were made to SLC-37B and the first launch occurred in 2002. The Delta IV Medium was launched from SLC-37 from 2002 until 2022,[7] and the Delta IV Heavy had been launched from SLC-37 from 2004 to 2024.[8]

Date (UTC) Vehicle Payload[9] Launch outcome[9]
20 November 2002 Delta IV Medium Eutelsat W5 Success[10]
11 March 2003 Delta IV Medium USA-167 (DSCS-3 A3) Success[11]
29 August 2003 Delta IV Medium USA-170 (DSCS-3 B6) Success[12]
21 December 2004 Delta IV Heavy DemoSat, Sparkie / 3CS-1 and Ralphie / 3CS-2 Partial failure[a]
24 May 2006 Delta IV Medium GOES-N (GOES-13) Success[13]
11 November 2007 Delta IV Heavy DSP-23 Defense Support Program Success
18 January 2009 Delta IV Heavy Orion 6 / Mentor 4 (USA-202 / NROL-26) Success
27 June 2009 Delta IV Medium GOES-O (GOES-14) Success[14]
6 December 2009 Delta IV Medium USA-211 (WGS-3) Success[15]
4 March 2010 Delta IV Medium GOES-P (GOES-15) Success[16]
28 May 2010 Delta IV Medium USA-213 (GPS IIF SV-1) Success[17]
21 November 2010 Delta IV Heavy Orion 7 / Mentor 5 (USA-223 / NROL-32) Success
11 March 2011 Delta IV Medium USA-227 (NROL-27) Success
16 July 2011 Delta IV Medium USA-232 (GPS IIF-2) Success[18]
20 January 2012 Delta IV Medium USA-233 (WGS-4) Success[19]
29 June 2012 Delta IV Heavy Orion 8 / Mentor 6 (USA-237 / NROL-15) Success
4 October 2012 Delta IV Medium USA-239 (GPS IIF-3) Success[20]
25 May 2013 Delta IV Medium USA-243 (WGS-5) Success[21]
8 August 2013 Delta IV Medium USA-244 (WGS-6) Success[22]
21 February 2014 Delta IV Medium USA-248 (GPS IIF-5) Success[23]
17 May 2014 Delta IV Medium USA-251 (GPS IIF-6) Success[24]
28 July 2014 Delta IV Medium USA 253-255 (AFSPC-4 (GSSAP #1/#2/ANGELS)) Success[25]
5 December 2014 Delta IV Heavy Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1) Success
25 March 2015 Delta IV Medium USA-260 (GPS IIF-9) Success[26]
24 July 2015 Delta IV Medium USA-263 (WGS-7) Success[27]
11 June 2016 Delta IV Heavy Orion 9 / Mentor 7 (USA-268 / NROL-37) Success
19 August 2016 Delta IV Medium USA-270/271 (AFSPC-6 (GSSAP #3/#4)) Success[28]
7 December 2016 Delta IV Medium USA-272 (WGS-8) Success[29]
19 March 2017 Delta IV Medium USA-275 (WGS-9) Success[30]
12 August 2018 Delta IV Heavy Parker Solar Probe Success
16 March 2019 Delta IV Medium USA-291 (WGS-10) Success[31]
22 August 2019 Delta IV Medium USA-293 (GPS III-2) Success[32]
11 December 2020 Delta IV Heavy Orion 10 / Mentor 8 (USA-268 / NROL-44)[33][34] Success
22 June 2023 Delta IV Heavy Orion 11 / Mentor 9 (NROL-68) Success
9 April 2024 Delta IV Heavy Orion 12 / Mentor 10 (NROL-70) Success

Starship

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In 2024, after the retirement of the Delta IV Heavy, the FAA initiated an Environmental Impact Statement for potential Starship launch activity from the complex. The draft is set to be released by December 2024.[35]

Photos

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  •  
    Map of Launch Complex 37 of the 1960s, with original Mobile Service Structure
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    The launch of AS-103 with the Pegasus 1 satellite atop a Saturn I, from LC-37B in 1965
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    LC-37B in 2010, with the Mobile Service Tower
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    The launch of GOES-N atop a Delta IV, from SLC-37B in 2006

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 37.

Notes

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  1. ^ CBCs underperformed, lower orbit than planned

References

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  1. ^ a b "Space Force Starship EIS – Environmental Impact Statement for SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station". Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  2. ^ McDowell, Jonathan (1998-02-22). "Issue 350". Jonathan's Space Report. Jonathan's Space Page. Archived from the original on 2010-05-03. Retrieved 2009-07-09.
  3. ^ "Delta-IV Heavy to launch last DSP satellite". www.afspc.af.mil. Archived from the original on September 30, 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Complex 37 -- Cape Canaveral Air Station". Federation of American Scientists (www.fas.org). 2000-06-16. Archived from the original on 2008-04-20. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
  5. ^ "Boeing, Raytheon Top Off Nation's Newest Launch Tower". Boeing. March 2, 2000. Archived from the original on 2008-12-02.
  6. ^ Stone, Mark (2024-03-17). "Starship Coming to Florida". Hernando Sun. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
  7. ^ "Delta IV Medium's well-earned retirement with GPS finale". NASASpaceflight. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  8. ^ "Launch Complex 37". Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Krebs, Gunter. "Delta-4". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  10. ^ "Boeing's Delta 4 rocket debuts successfully". Spaceflight Now. November 20, 2002.
  11. ^ "Delta 4 rocket successfully begins military service". Spaceflight Now. March 10, 2003.
  12. ^ "Delta 4 rocket delivers last Air Force DSCS satellite". Spaceflight Now. August 29, 2003.
  13. ^ "Weather observatory for Americas ascends to space". Spaceflight Now. May 24, 2006.
  14. ^ "NASA and NOAA's GOES-O Satellite Successfully Launched". NASA KSC. 2009-06-27.
  15. ^ Ray, Justin (2009-12-05). "New communications craft launched for U.S. military". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
  16. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NASA/NOAA Weather Satellite Mission". United Launch Alliance. 4 March 2010. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  17. ^ "ULA Marks Delta 50th Anniversary with Successful Delta IV GPS IIF SV-1 Launch". United Launch Alliance. 27 May 2010. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  18. ^ "United Launch Alliance Marks the 50th Successful GPS Launch for the Air Force with the Delivery of the GPS IIF-2 Mission to orbit". United Launch Alliance. 16 July 2011. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  19. ^ "United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Successfully Launches US Air Force's Wideband Global SATCOM-4 (WGS-4) Satellite". United Launch Alliance. 19 January 2012. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  20. ^ "United Launch Alliance Delta IV Rocket Successfully Launches Global Positioning System Satellite for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 4 October 2012. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  21. ^ "United Launch Alliance Launches Second Successful Mission for U.S. Air Force in Just Nine Days". United Launch Alliance. 24 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  22. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Wideband Global SATCOM Mission for U.S. Air Force in Less Than Three Months". United Launch Alliance. 8 August 2013. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  23. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches 25th Delta IV Mission Carrying Global Positioning System Satellite for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 21 February 2014. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  24. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Global Positioning System Satellite for the U.S. Air Force in Less Than Three Months". United Launch Alliance. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  25. ^ "United Launch Alliance Marks 85th Successful Launch by Delivering Three Satellites into Orbit for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 29 July 2014. Archived from the original on 5 August 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  26. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Second Mission in Less than Two Weeks". United Launch Alliance. 26 March 2015. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  27. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS-7". United Launch Alliance. 23 July 2015. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  28. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches AFSPC6 Mission for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  29. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS8 Mission for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  30. ^ "Delta IV to Launch WGS-9 for the U.S. Air Force". United Launch Alliance. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  31. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches WGS-10 Mission". United Launch Alliance. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  32. ^ "United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches GPS III Satellite for U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center". United Launch Alliance. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  33. ^ "Launch Schedule". Spaceflight Now. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  34. ^ "Launch Mission Execution Forecast". 45th Weather Squadron – Patrick Air Force Base. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  35. ^ Stone, Mark (2024-03-17). "Starship Coming to Florida". Hernando Sun. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
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