{"id":715,"date":"2023-06-17T12:11:31","date_gmt":"2023-06-17T16:11:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/caperockets.com\/?p=715"},"modified":"2023-10-12T11:41:02","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T15:41:02","slug":"space-launch-complex-13-biking-through-space-ruins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/caperockets.com\/?p=715","title":{"rendered":"Space Launch Complex 13 &#8211; Biking through Space Ruins"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the few launch sites I did not get to visit before 2011 was Launch Complex 13 located on \\&#8221;Rocket Row\\&#8221; 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-large\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02013.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02013-1024x827.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-698\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\\\"has-text-align-center\\\"><strong><em>Space Launch Complex 13 (SLC-13) sign at the entrance to the Launch Site as seen in 2013.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-full\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/CX13-1.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/CX13-1.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-656\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Site of Launch Site 13 Cape Canaveral &#8212; Photo courtesy of Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some important and interesting launches included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>1958 &#8211; First Atlas B Launch<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1960 &#8211; Atlas Able exploded during static test firing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1962 &#8211; 1963 &#8211; Pad was converted into an Atlas-Agena D complex for space launches. a new larger tower was constructed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1964 &#8211; NASA Mariner 3 mission launched by an Atlas-Agena.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1966 &#8211; Launch Complex turned over to NASA &#8211; Six Atlas-Agena D Launches were conducted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1968  Turned back over to the Air Force &#8211; 11 classified Atlas-Agena launches were completed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1978 &#8211; Site was deactivated.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2012 &#8211; Blockhouse demolished<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2015 &#8211; Site leased to SpaceX for Landing Zone for Falcon 1st Stage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>(Thanks to the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum and Wikipedia for some of the historical content).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\\&#8217;s Landing Zone1 and 2 for Boosters that are returned back to the Cape after certain SpaceX launches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/word-image-90-1.jpeg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/word-image-90-1-1024x576.jpeg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-655\\\" style=\\\"width:840px;height:472px\\\" width=\\\"840\\\" height=\\\"472\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\\\"has-text-align-center\\\"><strong><em>Launch Complex 13 SpaceX entrance sign as seen today.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-large\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02014-scaled.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02014-1024x768.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-699\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\\\"has-text-align-center\\\"><strong><em>The access road that leads to Launch Complex 13. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-large\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02022-scaled.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02022-1024x768.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-700\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\\\"has-text-align-center\\\"><strong><em>Arriving at the Site, the open area to the left was once where the SLC-13 Blockhouse used to be located. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02023-scaled.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02023-1024x768.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-701\\\" style=\\\"width:840px;height:630px\\\" width=\\\"840\\\" height=\\\"630\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\\\"has-text-align-center\\\"><em><strong>Parking lot and previous location of the SLC-13 Blockhouse.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-full\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Complex_13_610123_0009-3.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Complex_13_610123_0009-3.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-686\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>SLC-13 Blockhouse &#8211; As seen in 1961. (Photo Credit: CC Space Force Museum).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-full\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Blockhouse-Demo-June-2012-2.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Blockhouse-Demo-June-2012-2.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-674\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\\\"has-text-align-center\\\"><strong><em>Blockhouse Demolition &#8211; 2012 (Photo Credit: CC Space Force Museum).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-large\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02028-scaled.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02028-1024x614.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-702\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\\\"has-text-align-center\\\"><strong><em>The gated entrance to the Launch Pad &#8211; 2013.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-large\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02039-scaled.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02039-1024x768.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-704\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\\\"has-text-align-center\\\"><strong><em>A Panoramic view of the Launch Site as seen in 2013. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-large\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02061-scaled.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02061-1024x768.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-709\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\\\"has-text-align-center\\\"><strong><em>Looking at the Launch Site where the Launch Towers used to be located.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-large\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02052-scaled.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02052-768x1024.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-707\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\\\"has-text-align-center\\\"><strong><em>Doors falling off to the entrance to the Launch Pad.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-large\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02058-scaled.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02058-1024x768.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-708\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-large\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02068-scaled.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02068-1024x768.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-711\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\\\"has-text-align-center\\\"><strong><em>Drain canals leading from the Launch Site looking back at where the Launch Towers used to be located.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/LC13-Launch-Drain-Old-and-New.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/LC13-Launch-Drain-Old-and-New-1024x558.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-742\\\" style=\\\"width:846px;height:460px\\\" width=\\\"846\\\" height=\\\"460\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Looking at the Launch Pad from the drain canal perspective &#8211; Left in 2013 and on the Right &#8211; 1958 Atlas B KC-11 (Photo: NASA).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-large\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02070-scaled.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/DSC02070-1024x768.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-712\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\\\"has-text-align-center\\\"><strong><em>Biking around Launch Complex 13.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Ramp-with-tower-now-and-then-color.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Ramp-with-tower-now-and-then-color.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-706\\\" style=\\\"width:779px;height:286px\\\" width=\\\"779\\\" height=\\\"286\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\\\"has-text-align-center\\\"><strong><em>View of the Launch Ramp in 2013 and the Launch Structure at the end of the ramp in 2004 &#8211; shortly before demolition (Photo Credit: Justin Ray\/Spaceflight Now)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-large\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/BandW-Ramp-and-Tower.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/BandW-Ramp-and-Tower-1024x547.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-705\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\\\"has-text-align-center\\\"><em><strong>Looking up the Launch Ramp in 2013 &#8211; side-by-side with a photo from 1961 (Photo on left courtesy of CCSF Museum). <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\\\\<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-full\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Calvin-Fowler-Chronopoints-Photo-LC13-Launches-3.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Calvin-Fowler-Chronopoints-Photo-LC13-Launches-3.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-685\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>List of launches that was located on the entrance to the Blockhouse (Photo credit: Calvin Fowler-Chronopoints).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-full\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Atlas-E-2-24-61-LC13-Air-Force-Photo-3.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Atlas-E-2-24-61-LC13-Air-Force-Photo-3.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-682\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Atlas E Launch &#8211; 1961 &#8211; (Photo Credit: CCSF Museum).<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\\\"wp-block-image size-large\\\"><a href=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Side-Boosters-Falcon-Heavy-LC-13-2018-SpaceX-Photo.jpg\\\"><img src=\\\"http:\/\/caperockets.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Side-Boosters-Falcon-Heavy-LC-13-2018-SpaceX-Photo-1024x576.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" class=\\\"wp-image-631\\\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\\\"has-text-align-center\\\"><strong><em>Today, things are quite different at the Launch Site as SpaceX uses the site as a Landing Zone for Falcon 1st Stages Photo:SpaceX).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,55],"tags":[44,23,57,21,39,22],"class_list":["post-715","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cape-canaveral-launch-complexes","category-launch-complex-13","tag-cape-canaveral-2","tag-history","tag-launch-complex-13","tag-launch-sites","tag-nasa","tag-space"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/caperockets.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/caperockets.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/caperockets.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caperockets.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caperockets.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=715"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/caperockets.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/715\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/caperockets.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caperockets.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/caperockets.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}