Navaho Missiles, Hurricanes & The Cape Canaveral Lighthouse!
Launch Complex 9 and 10 – Biking through Space Ruins.
As mentioned in earlier posts, I usually started several of my bike rides from the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse. From this location I could head North towards several launch sites refereed to as “Rocket Row” in the 1960’s. Or head south towards other lesser known launch sites or due East out towards the pristine beaches of Cape Canaveral.
Over the years on my drives to work at The Cape I would usually detour out towards the lighthouse if a nice sunrise was appearing on the horizon. My path would usually take me out Lighthouse Road and past an old launch structure that I always wondered what launches it was used for.
So on this particular day I decided to bike to the old launch structure, take several photos and then do some research on what launches took place from this unusual launch structure.
Below is a photo of the Launch Structure as you approach it from the East heading West. This was part of Launch Complex 9 which would be the launching site of the Navaho XSM-64 (or G-26) test missiles.
Launch Pad 10 was a flat concrete pad that was designed to test and launch ground-based missiles – it did not launch any Navaho XSM-64 missiles but did launch Jason and Draco Launch vehicles. Launch Pad 10 is located behind a locked perimeter fence at the entrance to LC-31 and 32 which is no longer accessible or open to visitors. The silo’s of this complex contain the remains of Space Shuttle Challenger.
Back to the fixed concrete Launch pedestal that was served by a single mobile service tower. Until I did some further research, I was somewhat confused on how this launch pedestal functioned until I saw the Navaho missile erected on the launch site and tower.
A total of eleven Navaho Missiles were launched from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 9-10 between 6 November 1956 and 18 November 1958. Some of these launches took place after the Navaho program was canceled in July 1957 due to advancements in ballistic missile technology.
Launch Complex 9 – Launch Pedestal as seen in 2011.
Launch Complex 9 – This photo is from 1961. Not much has changed from the photo above. (USAF Photo)
Photo Gallery – Launch Complex 9 Photos and Surrounding Area – 2011
(Launch photos are courtesy of the Air Force)
Cape Canaveral Lighthouse
Many of my “Biking through Space Ruins” bike rides started at the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse (image below).
There was a great view of the Lighthouse from the top of the Launch Complex 9 Pedestal as seen below.
Views of Launch Complex 17 from the LC-9 Pedestal and Area
Another unique view from the top of the Launch Pedestal at LC-9 was of LC-17 – Home of the Delta Rocket. The Launch Structures were demolished several years after these photos were taken.
Hurricane Matthew – October 2016
One of the views entering the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station each morning was a monument of the Navaho Missile off to the left of gate. This display was the last surviving Navaho Missile that was put on display as you enter the gate,
Hurricane Mathew approached Cape Canaveral in the early morning with winds up to 120 mph – and skirted the coast coming within 25 miles. These winds did some damage to the Air Force Station and the Kennedy Space Center.
One of the casualties was the display of the Navaho Missile. And in 2021 the missile was fully restored and is back on display again.
About the Author and Photographer: Alden Pitard has over 40 years experience working in the Aerospace Industry at Cape Canaveral, The Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and Boeing locations throughout the country. He has supported the Space Shuttle Program, International Space Station, 787 Dreamliner and most recently the Artemis Program. During his time at "The Cape" he photographed a majority of the Launch Sites at KSC and Cape Canaveral. As the Space Shuttle program was coming to a close in 2011, the author decided to bike to all the Launch Complexes he could and capture the Space Center and Cape Canaveral as it was - thus "Biking through Space Ruins".