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Space vehicle launch complex on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
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
.
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 on 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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]
1964
1968
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
Saturn
[
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]
All flights operated by NASA.
Apollo 5
at LC-37B in 1968
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]
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.
[9]
Photos
[
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]
-
Map of Launch Complex 37 of the 1960s, with original Mobile Service Structure
-
LC-37B in 2010, with the Mobile Service Tower
See also
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]
References
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]
External links
[
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]
28°31′55″N
80°34′01″W
/
28.531986°N 80.566821°W
/
28.531986; -80.566821
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