Short name LC-31 Status Inactive Associated
rockets Minuteman
Pershing 1a | Launch pad(s) 2 (incl. silo) First launch February 1, 1960 Operator United States Air Force | |
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Launch site Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Similar Cape Canaveral Air Force, Cape Canaveral Air Force, Spaceport Florida Launch C, Cape Canaveral Air Force, Spaceport Florida Launch C | ||
Launch Complex 31 (LC-31) is a former launch complex at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
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 bee-hive-shaped blockhouse is 210 yards from the static pad and 330 yards from the silo.
The Air Force launched four Minuteman missiles from 31A; and 35 from the silo, 31B, between February 1, 1960 and September 23, 1969. Pad 31A was used later by the U.S. Army to test launch twelve Pershing 1a missiles.
The service tower has since been removed however the silo remains with recovered debris from the space shuttle orbiter Challenger.
2015 opening of the silo
Sometime in 2015, NASA opened the silo and removed several pieces of Challenger's debris to be placed on permanent display Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.