Back to Launch Complex 14 – Biking through Space Ruins (Part 4)
As mentioned before Launch Complex 14 is well known as the complex to launch John Glenn into space as the first American to orbit the earth. It was also the launch site of the remaining three Mercury-Atlas flights and various uncrewed Atlas launches.
Later, it was the site for Atlas-Agena launches for the Atlas-Agena Vhicles for Project Gemini, the two manned astronaut program.
With the proximity ti the Atlantic Ocean the Launch site soon fell into disarray and the metal launch structures started corroding quickly and the launch tower was dismantled in the 1970’s, long before I started riding my bike to the launch sites and taking photographs.
Below are some photographs from the launch site back in the 1960’s (Photos courtesy of NASA) and photos I took around 2010 and 2011. I will post another story with additional photos in Part 5.
Launch Complex 14 (Photo courtesy of NASA)
Launch Complex 14 as seen from the top of the Blockhouse in 2011.
Launch Complex 14 with the Blockhouse in the foreground (Photo courtesy of NASA).
Looking West from the back of the launch pad with the Blockhouse in the background (Photo from 2011).
Atlas 4A on Complex 14 (Photo courtesy of NASA).
The ramp up to where the Launch Complex 14 Structure used to be located.
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".