Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40
Cape Canaveral AFS Launch Complex 40 (LC -40) is a launch pad for the U.S. Air Force ( USAF) and is part of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida (USA).
From here started the U.S. Air Force Titan IIIC, Titan 34D and Titan IV rockets. Martin Marietta also started before the introduction of the Titan IV of the Commercial Titan here. Since 2010, the ramp used to launch Falcon 9 rockets.
History
Complex 40 was built along with Complex 41 at the northern end of the CCAFS the beginning of 1963 to the start of Titan IIIC rocket.
The first launch from the launch pad was the maiden flight of the Titan IIIC on 18 June 1965 After many lesser-known missions flew a rocket with an unmanned Gemini capsule and a Raumstationsatrappe into space. It was a test flight for the U.S. military MOL space station. However, this flight on November 3, 1966, the only flight of this project, which was later discarded. On May 30 In 1974 out of here with a Titan 3C, the satellite ATS -6 tested the usefulness of satellite television for developing countries including India.
Between June 1990 and June 1993 were built to the Complex as part of a 425 million U.S. dollars expensive project, so the newer Titan IV was able to use the ramp. During construction, a Titan III Commercial with her last flight was able to transport to the red planet Mars Observer successful. Another important milestone in the interplanetary missions was the launch on 15 October 1997, which could be sent to Saturn, the Cassini -Huygens.
The final launch of a Titan rocket on April 30, 2005 in order to bring the U.S. surveillance satellites into space 176.
On 25 April 2007, the USAF gave the private company SpaceX permission to launch their Falcon 9 from LC - 40. As a first measure of the reconstruction for the Falcon 9 in late 2007/early 2008, the old launch tower was demolished. On 27 April 2008, the mobile service tower was blown up. End of 2008, the first components of the new starting system structure were then delivered and assembled. Place on June 4, 2010, the first launch of a Falcon 9 rocket.
Terms of Titan missile
The Titan rockets were similar to the space shuttle, not assembled on the ramp, but in a separate building. For this purpose, the Vertical Integration Building (VIB) was used. Here, the missile was mounted to the payload and the upper and down along with a small launch tower to the ramp and positioned in front of a larger lattice tower.
At the launch site, there was also a huge mobile service tower, which could enclose the rocket. With his final preparations have been made and placed the upper as well as the payload on the titanium. At the start, the tower was located some distance away from the rocket in a parked position.
Terms of Falcon 9
For the Falcon 9, only the fire pit and the tracks of the former complex was obtained. The complete assembly of the rocket takes place in a new hangar on the grounds of the complex in a horizontal position. A few hours before the start of the rocket is then raised by means of a steel framework over the fire pit.
Start list
Gallery
Thereafter, the second step is mounted on this.
Cassini Titan rolls out of the VIB
The particular for the Cassini Titan rolls to the start position
The Centaur upper stage mounted
The payload fairing is placed over Cassini -Huygens
The mobile tower moves to the park position
The Titan 4B before starting on the launch pad
Cassini's Titan IV -B will start from grid position 40
Launch Complex 40 after the conversion for the Falcon 9
A Falcon 9 lifts off with a Dragon capsule on December 8, 2010.
A Falcon 9 is being prepared for a test for the transport from the launch pad to the hangar
Start of the third Falcon 9 with a Dragon spacecraft to the ISS