Biking through Space Ruins – Space Launch Complex 11 (SLC-11) at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Many of my bike rides through the Space Launch Complexes started at the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse, just a short distance from Missile Row and Complex 11.
Space Launch Complex 11 (SLC-11) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, is a launch complex used by Atlas missiles between 1958 and 1964, I was fortunate enough to bike through the complex in 2011 before the demolition of the Block House and the launch pad.
A Total of 32 Atlas missiles were launch from the site and on December 18th, 1958 the worlds first communication satellite was launched from Complex 11.
Following the end of Atlas testing at Cape Canaveral, SLC-11 was the only one of the four Atlas pads to not be used for space launches, and hence was first of the four pads to be deactivate
In 2017 Blue Origin leased the site to redevelop it for their use. On March 29, 2017, it was reported that Blue Origin has chosen LC-11 to conduct test firings of the BE-4 engine.
Enjoy these photos as I took a bike ride through the ruins of Space Launch Complex 11.
Biking around what was left of Space Launch Complex 11.
We will finish with a couple historic photos of Space Launch Complex compliments of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum.
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".