Cape Canaveral LC31A	home topic index
Launch Complex: LC31A. Cape Canaveral. Latitude: 28.4516 deg. Longitude: -80.5563 deg. Used by: M55E1, Minuteman 1, Pershing. First Launch: 1961-02-01. Last Launch: 1973-03-19. Number Launches: 16. Complexes 31 and 32 were built between July 1959 and July 1960 to support the Air Force's Minuteman missile program. Each complex had one blockhouse and two launch pads. The two "A" pads were constructed as conventional flat pads, and the two "B" pads were built as ballistic missile silos. The sites were modified subsequently to support later versions of the Minuteman missile. Pad 31A supported the first Minuteman I launch on 1 February 1961. In all, 92 Minuteman I, II and III missiles were launched from the complexes between 1 February 1961 and 15 December 1970. In 1973, Pad 31A was used briefly for the Army's Pershing 1A follow-on testing program. Batteries of the 84th and 41st Field Artillery, U.S, Seventh Army, fired 12 Pershing 1As in February and March 1973. LC31A Chronology 1961 February 1 - 15:59 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1. Minuteman 1A 401 Research and development launch Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi). 1961 May 19 - 14:18 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1. Minuteman 1A 402 FAILURE: Failure. Research and development launch Agency: USAF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). 1961 July 27 - 15:09 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 1. Minuteman 1A 403 Research and development launch Agency: USAF. Apogee: 1,300 km (800 mi). 1970 March 14 - 18:00 GMT - Launch Vehicle: M55E1. Sheltered Base research and development mission Agency: USAF AFSC. Apogee: 1.00 km (0.60 mi). 1973 February 21 - 15:05 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Pershing. Pershing 1A 101 X-240 US 7th Army 84th Field Artillery/3rd Battalion Battery A operational test launch Agency: USA 84thFA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi). 1973 February 21 - 15:37 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Pershing. Pershing 1A 102 X-241 US 7th Army 84th Field Artillery/3rd Battalion Battery A operational test launch Agency: USA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi). 1973 February 21 - 16:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Pershing. Pershing 1A 103 X-242 US 7th Army 84th Field Artillery/3rd Battalion Battery A operational test launch Agency: USA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi). 1973 February 21 - 17:06 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Pershing. Pershing 1A 104 X-243 US 7th Army 84th Field Artillery/3rd Battalion Battery A operational test launch Agency: USA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi). 1973 March 6 - 23:28 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Pershing. Pershing 1A 105 X-244 US 7th Army 41st Field Artillery /1st Battalion Battery C operational test launch Agency: USA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi). 1973 March 6 - 23:48 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Pershing. Pershing 1A 106 X-245 US 7th Army 41st Field Artillery /1st Battalion Battery C operational test launch Agency: USA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi). 1973 March 7 - 00:22 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Pershing. Pershing 1A 107 FAILURE: Failure. X-246 US 7th Army 41st Field Artillery /1st Battalion Battery C operational test launch Agency: USA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). 1973 March 7 - 00:50 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Pershing. Pershing 1A 108 X-247 US 7th Army 41st Field Artillery /1st Battalion Battery C operational test launch Agency: USA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi). 1973 March 19 - 16:02 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Pershing. Pershing 1A 111 X-248 US 7th Army 84th Field Artillery/3rd Battalion Battery C operational test launch Agency: USA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi). 1973 March 19 - 16:16 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Pershing. Pershing 1A 112 X-249 US 7th Army 84th Field Artillery/3rd Battalion Battery C operational test launch Agency: USA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi). 1973 March 19 - 17:20 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Pershing. Pershing 1A 109 X-250 US 7th Army 84th Field Artillery/3rd Battalion Battery C operational test launch Agency: USA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi). 1973 March 19 - 17:52 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Pershing. Pershing 1A 110 X-251 US 7th Army 84th Field Artillery/3rd Battalion Battery C operational test launch Agency: USA. Apogee: 250 km (150 mi). Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments. Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site.. To contact astronauts or cosmonauts. © Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.