LAUNCH COMPLEX 20

Overview

Systems

• Titan I
• Titan II
• Titan IIIA
• Starbird
• Aries
• Super Loki

Other Programs

• Joust-1
• Red Tigress
• Red Tigress II

Cost: $4,758,595

Launch Complex 20 Highlights

• 23 April 1956 – Contract awarded
• February 1957 – Construction underway
• 10 September 1959 – Construction completed
• 10 September 1959 – Air Force accepted the launch complex
• 1 July 1960 – First Titan I launch
• 13 December 1961 – Last Titan I launch
• 21 November 1961 – First “blue suit” (U.S. Air Force crew) Titan I launch from this pad
• Total Titan I launched – 16
• 1962 – Pad transferred for space missions
• September 1963 – Modified to accommodate a third stage
• 1 September 1964 – First Titan IIIA launch
• 6 May 1965 – Last Titan IIIA launch
• Total Titan IIIA launched – 4
• Following the last Titan IIIA launch, the launch complex was deactivated
• The complex was programmed to support the Air Force X-20 DYNA SOAR effort, but program was cancelled
• April 1967 – Complex deactivated
• 13 June 1967 – Sold for salvage
• 1 November 1988 – Began modification by Butler Construction Co. under a SDIO contract for 2 Starbird program Pads 20A and 20B
• December 1989 – Modification work completed and turned over to the Range. The facility consisted of two launch pads with 58′ rail launchers, two launch equipment buildings, a launch support center and a payload assembly building
• 18 December 1990 – First 4-stage Starbird launched from Pad 20A
• 18 June 1991 – University-sponsored sub-orbital Joust-1 launched with Castor solid motor; failed
• 20 August 1991 and 14 October 1991 – Strategic Defense Initiative Organization’s two-stage Aries solid rocket, Red Tigress 1A and 1B, launched
• 23 May 1991 and 28 May 1993 – Two Red Tigress II series, 2A and 2B, launched using the Starbird booster
• 1995 – Electronic equipment and launchers removed
• 21 January, 12 December and 13 December 2000 – Three Super Loki launched