Space Launch Complex 13 – Biking through Space Ruins

As mentioned in earlier posts, my goal was to visit and photograph a majority of the Launch Sites at CCAFS (Cape Canaveral Air Force Station) which is now Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and KSC before the end of the Space Shuttle Program and to do this on my mountain bike.

One of the few launch sites I did not get to visit before 2011 was Launch Complex 13 located on “Rocket Row” on the Cape. But I was able to get there in 2013, and discovered that the Blockhouse had already been demolished. But the concrete Launch Pad was still in place and the gate was open for my investigation on my mountain bike.

Space Launch Complex 13 (SLC-13) sign at the entrance to the Launch Site as seen in 2013.

Site of Launch Site 13 Cape Canaveral — Photo courtesy of Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum.

The History of Launch Complex 13 is quite amazing and as I dug into the research of the site I was unaware of all the launches that took place at the site. The launch site was active from 1958 with the first launch of Atlas B and ending in 1978 and supported 51 Atlas and Atlas-Agena launches. In 2005 the Mobile Service Tower was demolished and in 2012 the Blockhouse was demolished.

Some important and interesting launches included:

• 1958 – First Atlas B Launch
• 1960 – Atlas Able exploded during static test firing
• 1962 – 1963 – Pad was converted into an Atlas-Agena D complex for space launches. a new larger tower was constructed.
• 1964 – NASA Mariner 3 mission launched by an Atlas-Agena.
• 1966 – Launch Complex turned over to NASA – Six Atlas-Agena D Launches were conducted.
• 1968 Turned back over to the Air Force – 11 classified Atlas-Agena launches were completed.
• 1978 – Site was deactivated.
• 2012 – Blockhouse demolished
• 2015 – Site leased to SpaceX for Landing Zone for Falcon 1st Stage.

(Thanks to the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum and Wikipedia for some of the historical content).

As you approach the entrance to the Launch Complex, you were greeted by the sign in the photo above, SLC (Space Launch Complex) 13 (Photo taken in 2013). Today there is a new sign as seen below, SpaceX has now taken over the Launch Site for it’s Landing Zone1 and 2 for Boosters that are returned back to the Cape after certain SpaceX launches.

Launch Complex 13 SpaceX entrance sign as seen today.

Lets return back to 2013 and my bike ride into Launch Complex 13. After passing the entrance sign we enter the access road that leads to the Blockhouse and the Launch site. See image below.

The access road that leads to Launch Complex 13.

Arriving at the Site, the open area to the left was once where the SLC-13 Blockhouse used to be located.

Parking lot and previous location of the SLC-13 Blockhouse.

SLC-13 Blockhouse – As seen in 1961. (Photo Credit: CC Space Force Museum).

Blockhouse Demolition – 2012 (Photo Credit: CC Space Force Museum).

The gated entrance to the Launch Pad – 2013.

A Panoramic view of the Launch Site as seen in 2013.

Looking at the Launch Site where the Launch Towers used to be located.

Doors falling off to the entrance to the Launch Pad.

Drain canals leading from the Launch Site looking back at where the Launch Towers used to be located.

Looking at the Launch Pad from the drain canal perspective – Left in 2013 and on the Right – 1958 Atlas B KC-11 (Photo: NASA).

Biking around Launch Complex 13.

View of the Launch Ramp in 2013 and the Launch Structure at the end of the ramp in 2004 – shortly before demolition (Photo Credit: Justin Ray/Spaceflight Now)

Looking up the Launch Ramp in 2013 – side-by-side with a photo from 1961 (Photo on left courtesy of CCSF Museum).

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List of launches that was located on the entrance to the Blockhouse (Photo credit: Calvin Fowler-Chronopoints).

Atlas E Launch – 1961 – (Photo Credit: CCSF Museum).

Today, things are quite different at the Launch Site as SpaceX uses the site as a Landing Zone for Falcon 1st Stages Photo:SpaceX).