Launch Complexes 21-22

Overview

Systems

Other Programs

  • None

Cost: $1,199,603

Launch Complex 21-22 Highlights

  • 1956 – Construction started by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • 26 February 1957 – Air Force accepted Launch Complex 21/22 (soft pads)
  • Van parking behind the sandbag revetment was used to launch the missiles. A periscope behind the revetment provided a visual check of the pad
  • 1958 – The blockhouse, underground utility room and underground cable trenches from the blockhouse to utility room and on to the Pads completed
  • 13 March 1957 to 5 December 1958 – Total of 5 dummy and 15 live Bull Goose launched
  • 13 March 1957 – First dummy Bull Goose launched from Launch Complex 22
  • 5 December 1958 Last dummy Bull Goose launched from Launch Complex 21
  • Total of 5 dummy Bull Goose were launched, 2 from Launch Complexes 21 and 3 and from Launch Complex 22
  • 27 June 1957 to 28 November 1958 – Total of 13 live Bull Goose launched from Pad 22 (soft pad)
  • Two live Bull Goose were launched from Launch Complex 21
  • 1959 to 1960 – Launch Complex 21 rebuilt. Facilities included two hardened launch pads, new control building next to the pads and support facilities. Control building was the launch control center for the Mace
  • 12 February 1960 – Pad 21-1 (southern cell) and 21-2 northern cell (hard pads)completed for Mace
  • 29 October 1959 to 24 June 1960 – Total of 7 Mace A launched from Pad 22. No Mace was launched from Launch Complex 21 soft pad
  • 11 July 1960 – First Mace A launched from Pad 21-1 (hard site)
  • 21 October 1960 – First Mace A launched from Pad 21-2
  • 7 March 1961 – First Mace B launched from Pad 21-1 (hard site)
  • 16 March 1961 – First Mace B launched from Pad 21-2
  • A total of 44 Mace A and Mace B winged cruise missile launched from Launch Complexes 21 and 22
  • 8 November 1962 – Last Mace A launched from Pad 21-1
  • 17 July 1963 – Last Mace B launched from Pad 21-1
  • 1964 – Complex vacated
  • 2 November 1970 – Reassigned to U.S. Army for use as a Dragon missile range. Two launchers were proposed. Army dropped the idea and returned complex to Air Force on 23 July 1971
  • Early 1970’s – Launch complex deactivated
  • Blockhouse served as a storage building for the Delta program equipment. Later as a storage/armory for the U.S. Coast Guard
  • Computer Science Raytheon utilized the Control Building for storage
More Cape Canaveral Facilities
History Center Storyboard – Launch Complexes 21-22