Jump to content
 







Main menu
    


Navigation  


●Main page
 ●Contents
 ●Current events
 ●Random article
 ●About Wikipedia
 ●Contact us
 ●Donate
  



Contribute  


●Help
 ●Learn to edit
 ●Community portal
 ●Recent changes
 ●Upload file
  







Search  

































●Create account

●Log in
 









●Create account
 ● Log in
  



Pages for logged out editors learn more  


●Contributions
 ●Talk
  


















Contents

   



(Top)
  


1 History  


1.1  Apollo program  




1.2  Space Shuttle  




1.3  Constellation program  




1.4  Artemis program  






2 Current status  




3 Launch statistics  




4 See also  




5 References  




6 External links  













Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B: Difference between revisions






●বাংলা
 ●Čeština
 ●Español
 ●Français
 ●Bahasa Indonesia
 ●Italiano
 ●Magyar
  
Edit links
  








●Article
 ●Talk
  
















●Read
 ●Edit
 ●View history
  







Tools
    


Actions  


●Read
 ●Edit
 ●View history
  



General  


●What links here
 ●Related changes
 ●Upload file
 ●Special pages
 ●Permanent link
 ●Page information
 ●Cite this page
 ●Get shortened URL
 ●Download QR code
 ●Wikidata item
  



Print/export  


●Download as PDF
 ●Printable version
  



In other projects  


●Wikimedia Commons
  















Appearance
    

 




Coordinates: 28°37′38″N 80°37′15″W / 28.62722°N 80.62083°W / 28.62722; -80.62083
Help
  
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  

Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→‎List: Added missing URL from UPI citation
 
(75 intermediate revisions by 34 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:

{{short description|Historic launch pad operated by NASA}}

{{Short description|Second of two launch pads at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, to be used for Space Launch System and OmegA launches}}

{{Use American English|date=May 2020}}

{{Use American English|date=May 2020}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}

{{Under construction|date=May 2020}}

{{Infobox launch pad

{{Infobox launch pad

| name = Launch Complex 39B

| name = Launch Complex 39B

| image = Kennedy LC-39B, June 2019.jpg

| image = Artemis I Arrives at Pad 39B (Cropped).jpg

| caption = Aerial view in June 2019, with Mobile Launcher-1onthe pad for testing

| caption = Space Launch System atop LC-39BonMarch 18, 2022

| site = [[Kennedy Space Center]]

| site = [[Kennedy Space Center]]

| location = [[Merritt Island]], [[Florida]]

| location = [[Merritt Island]], [[Florida]]

| coordinates = {{Coord|28|37|37.82|N|80|37|15.24|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=title, inline}}

| coordinates = {{Coord|28|37|38|N|80|37|15|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=title, inline}}

| operator = [[NASA]]

| operator = [[NASA]] (1967–present)

| inclination = 28–62°

| inclination = 28–62°

| paddetails = {{Infobox launch pad/pad

| paddetails = {{Infobox launch pad/pad

| status = Active

| status = Active

| launches = 57

| launches = 60

| first_launch = {{Start-date|May 18, 1969}}

| first_launch = {{Start-date|May 18, 1969}} |first_details = [[Saturn V]] / [[Apollo 10]]

| last_launch = {{Start-date|November 16, 2022}} |last_details = [[Space Launch System]] / [[Artemis 1]]

| first_details = [[Saturn V]] [[Apollo 10|SA-505]]

| rockets = {{Hlist|[[Saturn V]] (retired)|[[Saturn IB]] (retired)|[[Space Shuttle]] (retired)|[[Ares I]] (plans canceled)|[[OmegA]] (plans canceled)|[[Space Launch System|SLS]] (current)}}

| last_launch = {{Start-date|October 28, 2009}}

| last_details = [[Ares I-X|Prototype Ares I]]

| rockets = {{Hlist|[[Saturn V]]|[[Saturn IB]]|[[Space Shuttle]]|[[Ares I]]|[[OmegA]]|[[Space Launch System|SLS]]}}

}}

}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Launch Complex 39--Pad B

| embed = yes

| location = John F. Kennedy Space Center, [[Titusville, Florida]]

| locmapin = Florida#USA

| built = 1967-1968

| added = January 21, 2000

| area = {{convert|160|acre}}

| mpsub = {{NRHP url|id=64500111|title=John F. Kennedy Space Center MPS}}

| refnum = 99001639<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

}}

}}

}}


'''Launch Complex 39B''' is the second of [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39|Launch Complex 39]]'s two [[launch pad]]s, located at [[NASA]]'s [[Kennedy Space Center]] in [[Merritt Island]], [[Florida]]. The pad, along with [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|Launch Complex 39A]], were first designed for the [[Saturn V]] launch vehicle, which at the time was the United States' most powerful rocket. Typically used to launch NASA's [[Human spaceflight|crewed spaceflight missions]] since the late 1960s, the pad is currently being reconfigured for use by the agency's [[Space Launch System]] rocket, a [[Shuttle-Derived Vehicle|Shuttle-derived launch vehicle]] which will be used in the [[Artemis program]] and subsequent Moon to Mars campaigns. The pad has also been leased for use by NASA to aerospace company [[Northrup Grumman]], for use as a launch site for their Shuttle-derived [[OmegA]] launch vehicle, for [[National Security Space Launch]] flights and commercial launches.

'''Launch Complex 39B''' ('''LC-39B''') is the second of [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39|Launch Complex 39]]'s three [[launch pad]]s, located at [[NASA]]'s [[Kennedy Space Center]] in [[Merritt Island]], Florida. The pad, along with [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|Launch Complex 39A]], was first designed for the [[Saturn V]] launch vehicle, which at the time was the United States' most powerful rocket. Typically used to launch NASA's [[Human spaceflight|crewed spaceflight missions]] since the late 1960s, the pad is currently configured for use by the agency's [[Space Launch System]] rocket, a [[Shuttle-Derived Vehicle|Shuttle-derived launch vehicle]] which is currently used in the [[Artemis program]] and subsequent Moon to Mars campaigns. The pad had also been leased by NASA to aerospace company [[Northrop Grumman]], for use as a launch site for their Shuttle-derived [[OmegA]] launch vehicle, for [[National Security Space Launch]] flights and commercial launches, before the OmegA program was cancelled.


==History==

Launch Complex 39B's inaugural launch in May 1969 was also that of the only Saturn V to launch from the pad; SA-505, used to launch the [[Apollo 10]] mission. It eventually saw more use as the pad for all three [[Saturn IB]] launches of the [[Skylab|Skylab program]] in the 1970s. With the advent of the [[Space Shuttle program]] in the early 1980s, pad 39A hosted all Space Shuttle launches until January 1986, when [[Space Shuttle Challenger|Space Shuttle ''Challenger'']] would become the first to launch from pad 39B during the ill-fated [[STS-51-L]] mission, which would end with [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|the destruction of ''Challenger'' and the death of the mission's crew]] a minute into the flight. The program would restart in October 1988 with the launch of [[Space Shuttle Discovery|Space Shuttle ''Discovery'']] from pad 39B during the [[STS-26]] mission, with six subsequent missions launching from pad 39B. It would host 53 Space Shuttle launches until December 2006, when ''Discovery'' launched from the pad for the final time during the [[STS-116]] mission; the program's remaining flights would all launch from pad 39A. Launch Complex 39B would subsequently be reconfigured for crewed [[Ares I]] launches as part of the [[Constellation program]]; the [[Ares I-X]] mission launched a prototype Ares I from 39B in October 2009, prior to the program's cancellation the following year. Since then, no launches from pad 39B have occurred.

===Apollo program===

In 1961, President Kennedy proposed to Congress the goal of landing a man on the Moon by the end of the decade. Congressional approval led to the launch of the [[Apollo program]], which required a massive expansion of NASA operations, including an expansion of launch operations from the Cape to adjacent Merritt Island to the north and west.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceline.org/capehistory/3a.html|title=The History of Cape Canaveral, Chapter 3: NASA Arrives (1959–Present)|publisher=Spaceline.org|access-date=July 6, 2009|archive-date=February 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204064853/http://www.spaceline.org/capehistory/3a.html|url-status=live}}</ref>


Launch Complex 39B was designed to handle launches of the [[Saturn&nbsp;V]] rocket, the largest and most powerful launch vehicle, which would propel Apollo spacecraft to the Moon. Launch Complex 39B's inaugural launch in May 1969 was also that of the only Saturn V to launch from the pad; SA-505, used to launch the [[Apollo 10]] mission.

== Launches ==

=== List ===

After the [[Apollo 17]] mission in 1972, Pad 39B was used for [[Saturn IB]] launches. The [[Mobile launcher platform#Saturn V and Space Shuttle|Mobile Launcher]]s were then modified for the Saturn IB rocket, by adding a "milk-stool" extension platform to the launch pedestal, so that the [[S-IVB]] upper stage and Apollo spacecraft swing arms would reach their targets. These were used for three crewed [[Skylab]] flights and the [[Apollo–Soyuz]], since the Saturn IB pads 34 and 37 at Cape Canaveral had been decommissioned.<ref>{{cite web

{| class="wikitable sortable"

| url = http://afspacemuseum.org/ccafs/CX34/

|-

| title = Launch Complex 34

! scope="col" | {{Abbr|No.|Number}}

| access-date = February 11, 2017

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Date

| archive-date = February 12, 2017

! scope="col" | Launch vehicle

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170212093022/http://afspacemuseum.org/ccafs/CX34/

! scope="col" | Serial

| url-status = dead

! scope="col" | Mission

}}</ref><ref>{{cite web

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Primary payload

| url = http://afspacemuseum.org/ccafs/CX37/

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|References}}

| title = Launch Complex 37

|-

| access-date = February 11, 2017

| 1

| archive-date = March 2, 2017

| May 18, 1969, 16:49 [[Universal Coordinated Time|UTC]]

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170302234203/http://afspacemuseum.org/ccafs/CX37/

| [[Saturn V]]

| url-status = dead

| SA-505

}}</ref>

| [[Apollo 10]]

| {{Hlist|[[Apollo command and service module#CSMs produced|Apollo CSM-106 ''Charlie Brown'']]|[[Apollo Lunar Module#Lunar modules produced|Apollo LM-4 ''Snoopy'']]}}

===Space Shuttle===

| <ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Bergin|2017|loc="The first launch from 39B was Apollo 10 on May 18, 1969. It also was the first real use of the pad’s water deluge system, used to cool the flame deflector in the flame trench after rocket ignition."}}</ref><ref>{{Harvard citation no brackets|Ward|2015|loc=page 386, "Mission Apollo 10/AS-505; Launch pad LC-39B; Launch time 1969-May-18 16:49:00 UTC; First launch from LC-39B and only Saturn V launch from this pad."}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Apollo 10: Dress rehearsal for the Moon landing|url=https://www.planetary.org/explore/space-topics/space-missions/apollo10.html|website=[[The Planetary Society]]|accessdate=May 20, 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520045250/https://www.planetary.org/explore/space-topics/space-missions/apollo10.html|archivedate=May 20, 2020|date=May 2019|quote=The mission began on 18 May 1969 with the first and only Saturn V launch from Kennedy Space Center's pad 39B, as preparations were already underway at pad 39A to launch Apollo 11 in 2 months.|url-status=live}}</ref>

With the advent of the [[Space Shuttle program]] in the early 1980s, the original structure of the launch pads were remodeled for the needs of the [[Space Shuttle]]. Pad 39A hosted all Space Shuttle launches until January 1986, when {{OV|99|full=nolink}} would become the first to launch from pad 39B during the ill-fated [[STS-51-L]] mission, which ended with [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|the destruction of ''Challenger'' and the death of the mission's crew]] a minute into the flight.

|-

| 2

Launch Complex 39B hosted 53 Space Shuttle launches until December 2006, when ''Discovery'' launched from the pad for the final time during the [[STS-116]] mission. The program's remaining flights launched from pad 39A. To support the final Shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope [[STS-125]] launched from pad 39A in May 2009, ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]'' was placed on 39B if needed to launch the [[STS-400]] rescue mission.

| May 25, 1973, 13:00 UTC

| [[Saturn IB]]

===Constellation program===

| SA-206

Launch Complex 39B would subsequently be reconfigured for crewed [[Ares I]] launches as part of the [[Constellation program]]; the [[Ares I-X]] mission launched a prototype Ares I from 39B in October 2009, prior to the program's cancellation the following year.

| [[Skylab 2]]

| Apollo CSM-116

===Artemis program===

|

On November 16, 2022, at 06:47:44 UTC, the [[Space Launch System]] (SLS) was launched from Complex 39B as part of the [[Artemis 1]] mission.<ref>{{Citation |title=Artemis I Launch to the Moon (Official NASA Broadcast) - Nov. 16, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMLD0Lp0JBg |language=en |access-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116093027/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMLD0Lp0JBg |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nasa-20221108">{{cite web |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2022/11/08/nasa-prepares-rocket-spacecraft-ahead-of-tropical-storm-nicole-re-targets-launch/ |title=NASA Prepares Rocket, Spacecraft Ahead of Tropical Storm Nicole, Re-targets Launch |work=[[NASA]] |date=November 8, 2022 |access-date=November 8, 2022 |archive-date=November 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108231240/https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2022/11/08/nasa-prepares-rocket-spacecraft-ahead-of-tropical-storm-nicole-re-targets-launch/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

|-

| 3

== Current status ==

| July 28, 1973, 11:10 UTC

After the Ares I-X test flight in 2009, NASA removed the Fixed Service Structure (FSS) from Pad 39B, returning the location to an Apollo-like "clean pad" design for the first time since 1977. This approach is intended to make the pad available to multiple types of vehicles that will arrive at the pad with service structures on the [[mobile launcher platform]], as opposed to using fixed structures on the pad.<ref>{{cite news|title=Historic space shuttle pad soon to be scrap|url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2011-03-23-shuttle-launch-pad_N.htm|newspaper=USA Today|date=March 23, 2011|access-date=July 14, 2020|archive-date=July 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726192453/http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/2011-03-23-shuttle-launch-pad_N.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The LH<sub>2</sub>, LOX, and water tanks used for the sound suppression system are the only structures left from the Space Shuttle era.<ref name=nsf20150322>{{cite news |last1=Bergin |first1=Chris |title=KSC Pads continue preparations for future vehicles |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/03/ksc-pads-preparations-future-vehicles/ |access-date=March 24, 2015 |work=NASASpaceFlight.com |date=March 22, 2015 |archive-date=March 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324225630/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/03/ksc-pads-preparations-future-vehicles/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="sound">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/sound-suppression-system.html|title=Sound Suppression System|access-date=September 30, 2007|publisher=NASA|year=2006|author=NASA|archive-date=June 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629143632/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/sound-suppression-system.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts127/status.html |title=STS-127 Rollaround starts |access-date=May 31, 2009 |publisher=Space Flight Now |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227120211/https://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts127/status.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

| Saturn IB

| SA-207

In 2014, NASA announced that it would make LC-39B available to commercial users during times when it is not needed by the Space Launch System.<ref name=sfn20140415>{{cite news |last=Clark |first=Stephen |title=SpaceX's mega-rocket to debut next year at pad 39A |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1404/15pad39a/#.U06Y5VfTnhN |access-date=April 16, 2014 |newspaper=SpaceflightNow |date=April 15, 2014 |archive-date=March 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308004405/https://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1404/15pad39a/#.U06Y5VfTnhN |url-status=live }}</ref> NASA subsequently agreed to allow Orbital ATK to use LC-39B for their [[OmegA]] launch vehicle.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/04/06/orbital-atk-optimistic-proposed-ksc-rocket/100091308/|title=Orbital ATK optimistic about proposed KSC rocket|website=floridatoday.com|access-date=November 20, 2021|archive-date=November 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120055859/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/04/06/orbital-atk-optimistic-proposed-ksc-rocket/100091308/|url-status=live}}</ref> However Northrop Grumman, who absorbed Orbital ATK in June 2018,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/northrop-grumman-completes-acquisition-of-orbital-atk-for-92-billion/128410.article|title=Northrop Grumman completes acquisition of Orbital ATK for $9.2 billion|website=flightglobal.com|date=June 7, 2018|access-date=November 20, 2021|archive-date=December 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208190013/https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/northrop-grumman-completes-acquisition-of-orbital-atk-for-92-billion/128410.article|url-status=live}}</ref> cancelled the development of OmegA in September 2020 before any launches had taken place; SLS will therefore remain the only user of LC-39B for the foreseeable future.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/09/14/northrop-grumman-ends-omega-rocket-program-after-losing-military-launch-competition/|title=Northrop Grumman ends OmegA rocket program|website=spaceflightnow.com|date=September 14, 2020|access-date=November 20, 2021|archive-date=November 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120055859/https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/09/14/northrop-grumman-ends-omega-rocket-program-after-losing-military-launch-competition/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/09/omega-mlp-ksc-39b-multi-user-pad/|title=OmegA Launch Tower to be demolished as KSC 39B fails to become a multi-user pad|website=nasaspaceflight.com|date=September 11, 2020|access-date=November 20, 2021|archive-date=January 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106153055/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/09/omega-mlp-ksc-39b-multi-user-pad/|url-status=live}}</ref>

| [[Skylab 3]]

| Apollo CSM-117

{{As of|2022|11}}, LC-39B manages the [[Space Launch System]] (SLS)'s processing and launch operations, as part of the first phase of a five-phase project, were being completed. The second phase of this project is currently budgeted for $89.2 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/632670main_NASA_FY13_Budget_CECR-508.pdf |title=NASA FY13 Budget |publisher=NASA |access-date=February 23, 2016 |archive-date=February 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217015915/https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/632670main_NASA_FY13_Budget_CECR-508.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Artemis I Launch to the Moon (Official NASA Broadcast) - Nov. 16, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMLD0Lp0JBg |language=en |access-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-date=November 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116093027/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMLD0Lp0JBg |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="nasa-20221108"/>

|

{{Clear}}

|-

| 4

| November 16, 1973, 14:01 UTC

| Saturn IB

| SA-208

| [[Skylab 4]]

| Apollo CSM-118

|

|-

| 5

| January 28, 1986, 16:38 UTC

| [[Space Shuttle]]

| [[Space Shuttle Challenger|OV-099 ''Challenger'']]

| [[STS-51-L]]

| {{Hlist|[[Tracking and data relay satellite|TDRS-B]]|SPARTAN-203}}

|

|-

| 6

| September 29, 1988, 15:37 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| [[Space Shuttle Discovery|OV-103 ''Discovery'']]

| [[STS-26]]

| [[Tracking and data relay satellite|TDRS-C]]

|

|-

| 7

| December 2, 1988, 14:30 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| [[Space Shuttle Atlantis|OV-104 ''Atlantis'']]

| [[STS-27]]

| [[Lacrosse (satellite)|Lacrosse 1]]

| <ref>{{Cite web|title=Lacrosse 1 (NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1988-106B)|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1988-106B|website=[[NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive]]|accessdate=May 24, 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524071729/https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1988-106B|archivedate=May 24, 2020|quote=USA 34 [...] Lacrosse 1 was a side-looking radar, all weather surveillance satellite launched from the shuttle mission STS-27 for the US National Reconnaisance Office and the CIA.|url-status=live}}</ref>

|-

| 8

| March 13, 1989, 14:57 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-103 ''Discovery''

| [[STS-29]]

| [[Tracking and data relay satellite|TDRS-D]]

|

|-

| 9

| May 4, 1989, 18:46 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-105 ''Atlantis''

| [[STS-30]]

| ''[[Magellan (spacecraft)|Magellan]]''

|

|-

| 10

| August 8, 1989, 12:37 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| [[Space Shuttle Columbia|OV-102 ''Columbia'']]

| [[STS-28]]

| {{Hlist|[[List of USA satellites|USA-40]]|USA-41}}

|

|-

| 11

| October 18, 1989, 16:53 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-104 ''Atlantis''

| [[STS-34]]

| ''[[Galileo (spacecraft)|Galileo]]''

|

|-

| 12

| November 22, 1989, 24:23 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-103 ''Discovery''

| [[STS-33]]

| USA-48

|

|-

| 13

| April 24, 1990, 12:33 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-103 ''Discovery''

| [[STS-31]]

| [[Hubble Space Telescope|''Hubble'']]

|

|-

| 14

| October 6, 1990, 11:47 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-103 ''Discovery''

| [[STS-41]]

| ''[[Ulysses (spacecraft)|Ulysses]]''

|

|-

| 15

| December 2, 1990, 06:49 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-102 ''Columbia''

| [[STS-35]]

| ASTRO-1

|

|-

| 16

| April 5, 1991, 14:22 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-104 ''Atlantis''

| [[STS-37]]

| [[Compton Gamma Ray Observatory|''Compton'']]

|

|-

| 17

| June 5, 1991, 13:24 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-102 ''Columbia''

| [[STS-40]]

| [[Spacelab#Habitable module|Spacelab LM1]]

|

|-

| 18

| May 7, 1992, 23:40 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|OV-105 ''Endeavour'']]

| [[STS-49]]

| Orbus-21S for [[Intelsat 603]]

|

|-

| 19

| July 31, 1992, 13:56 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-104 ''Atlantis''

| [[STS-46]]

| {{Hlist|[[European Retrievable Carrier|EURECA]]|[[Space tether|TSS]]}}

|

|-

| 20

| September 12, 1992, 14:23 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-105 ''Endeavour''

| [[STS-47]]

| [[Spacelab#Habitable module|Spacelab LM2]]

|

|-

| 21

| October 22, 1992, 17:09 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-102 ''Columbia''

| [[STS-52]]

| [[LAGEOS|LAGEOS II]]

|

|-

| 22

| January 13, 1993, 13:59 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-105 ''Endeavour''

| [[STS-54]]

| [[Tracking and data relay satellite|TDRS-F]]

|

|-

| 23

| April 8, 1993, 05:29 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-103 ''Discovery''

| [[STS-57]]

| [[Astrotech Corporation#Spacehab hardware for Space Shuttle missions|Spacehab SM]]

|

|-

| 24

| September 12, 1993, 11:45 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-103 ''Discovery''

| [[STS-51]]

| {{Hlist|[[STS-51#Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS)|ACTS]]|[[STS-51#SPAS-ORFEUS|SPAS-ORFEUS]]}}

|

|-

| 25

| October 18, 1993, 14:53 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-102 ''Columbia''

| [[STS-58]]

| Spacelab LM2

|

|-

| 26

| December 2, 1993, 09:27 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-105 ''Endeavour''

| [[STS-61]]

| Servicing platform for ''Hubble''

|

|-

| 27

| March 4, 1994, 13:53 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-102 ''Columbia''

| [[STS-62]]

| {{Hlist|OAST-2|[[Spacelab#List of parts|Spacelab MPESS]]}}

|

|-

| 28

| September 9, 1994, 22:22 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-103 ''Discovery''

| [[STS-64]]

| SPARTAN-201

|

|-

| 29

| November 3, 1994, 16:59 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-104 ''Atlantis''

| [[STS-66]]

| [[Spacelab#Igloo|Spacelab Igloo]]

|

|-

| 30

| February 3, 1995, 05:22 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-103 ''Discovery''

| [[STS-63]]

| Spacehab SM

|

|-

| 31

| July 13, 1995, 13:41 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-103 ''Discovery''

| [[STS-70]]

| [[Tracking and data relay satellite|TDRS-G]]

|

|-

| 32

| October 20, 1995, 13:53 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-102 ''Columbia''

| [[STS-73]]

| Spacelab LM1

|-

| 33

| January 11, 1996, 09:41 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-105 ''Endeavour''

| [[STS-72]]

| [[STS-72#OAST-Flyer|OAST-Flyer]]

|

|-

| 34

| February 22, 1996, 20:18 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-102 ''Columbia''

| [[STS-75]]

| {{Hlist|Spacelab MPESS|TSS-1R}}

|

|-

| 35

| March 22, 1996, 08:13 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-104 ''Atlantis''

| [[STS-76]]

| Spacehab SM

|

|-

| 36

| May 19, 1996, 10:30 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-105 ''Endeavour''

| [[STS-77]]

| Spacehab SM

|-

| 37

| June 20, 1996, 14:49 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-102 ''Columbia''

| [[STS-78]]

| Spacelab LM2

|

|-

| 38

| November 19, 1996, 19:55 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-102 ''Columbia''

| [[STS-80]]

| [[Wake Shield Facility]]

|

|-

| 39

| January 12, 1997, 09:27 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-104 ''Atlantis''

| [[STS-81]]

| [[Astrotech Corporation#Spacehab hardware for Space Shuttle missions|Spacehab LDM]]

|

|-

| 40

| November 19, 1997, 19:46 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-102 ''Columbia''

| [[STS-87]]

| Spacelab MPESS

|

|-

| 41

| April 17, 1998, 18:19 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-102 ''Columbia''

| [[STS-90]]

| Spacelab LM2

|

|-

| 42

| October 29, 1998, 19:19 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-103 ''Discovery''

| [[STS-95]]

| Spacehab SM

|

|-

| 43

| May 27, 1999, 10:49 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-103 ''Discovery''

| [[STS-96]]

| {{Hlist|Spacehab [[Integrated cargo carrier|ICC]]|Spacehab LDM|}}

|

|-

| 44

| July 23, 1999, 04:31 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-102 ''Columbia''

| [[STS-93]]

| ''[[Chandra X-ray observatory|Chandra]]''

|

|-

| 45

| December 19, 1999, 24:50

| Space Shuttle

| OV-103 ''Discovery''

| [[STS-103]]

| Servicing platform for ''Hubble''

|

|-

| 46

| September 8, 2000, 12:45 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-104 ''Atlantis''

| [[STS-106]]

| {{Hlist|Spacehab ICC|Spacehab LDM}}

|

|-

| 47

| November 30, 2000, 03:06 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-105 ''Endeavour''

| [[STS-97]]

| [[Integrated Truss Structure#P6, S6 trusses|P6 truss]]

|

|-

| 48

| March 8, 2001, 11:42 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-105 ''Endeavour''

| [[STS-102]]

| {{Hlist|[[External stowage platform|ESP-1]]|[[Multi-Purpose Logistics Module|MPLM ''Leonardo'']]}}

|-

| 49

| July 12, 2001, 09:03 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-104 ''Atlantis''

| [[STS-104]]

| ''[[Quest Joint Airlock|Quest]]''

|

|-

| 50

| December 5, 2001, 22:19 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-105 ''Endeavour''

| [[STS-108]]

| [[Multi-Purpose Logistics Module|MPLM ''Raffaello'']]

|-

| 51

| April 8, 2002, 20:44 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-104 ''Atlantis''

| [[STS-110]]

| [[Integrated Truss Structure#S0 truss|S0 truss]]

|

|-

| 52

| October 7, 2002, 19:45 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-104 ''Atlantis''

| [[STS-112]]

| [[Integrated Truss Structure#P1, S1 trusses|S1 truss]]

|

|-

| 53

| July 26, 2005, 14:39 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-103 ''Discovery''

| [[STS-114]]

| {{Hlist|ESP-2|MPLM ''Raffaello''}}

|

|-

| 54

| July 4, 2006, 18:37 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-103 ''Discovery''

| [[STS-121]]

| {{Hlist|MPLM ''Leonardo''|Spacehab ICC}}

|

|-

| 55

| September 9, 2006, 15:14 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-104 ''Atlantis''

| [[STS-115]]

| [[Integrated Truss Structure#P3/P4, S3/S4 truss assemblies|P3/P4 truss]]

|

|-

| 56

| December 9, 2006, 24:47 UTC

| Space Shuttle

| OV-103 ''Discovery''

| [[STS-116]]

| {{Hlist|[[Integrated Truss Structure#P5, S5 trusses|P5 truss]]|Spacehab SM}}

|

|-

| 57

| October 28, 2009, 15:30 UTC

| [[Ares I]]

| {{Color|grey|none}}

| [[Ares I-X]]

| {{Hlist|[[Ares I-X#Crew Module / Launch Abort System Simulator (CM/LAS Simulator)|CM/LAS Simulator]]|[[Ares I-X#Upper-stage simulator|USS]]}}

|

|-

| style="background: #dfdfff" | 58

| style="background: #dfdfff" | Q2 2021

| style="background: #dfdfff" | [[OmegA]]

| style="background: #dfdfff" | {{Color|grey|unknown}}

| style="background: #dfdfff" | {{Color|grey|unknown}}

| style="background: #dfdfff" | NationSat

| style="background: #dfdfff" | <ref name="omega-1">{{Cite web|last=Brinkmann|first=Paul|title=Northrop says it's on schedule with next-generation OmegA rocket|url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2020/04/27/Northrop-says-its-on-schedule-with-next-generation-OmegA-rocket/4251587674174/|website=[[United Press International]]|accessdate=May 24, 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524094106/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2020/04/27/Northrop-says-its-on-schedule-with-next-generation-OmegA-rocket/4251587674174/|archivedate=May 24, 2020|date=April 27, 2020|quote=Development of the rocket must continue if Northrop is going to make a spring 2021 launch date for the rocket's first mission. [...] Colorado-based Saturn Satellite Networks selected the OmegA to launch up to two satellites on the rocket's inaugural flight from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39B, Northrop announced in December.|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="omega-2">{{Cite web|last=Gebhardt|first=Chris|title=Northrop Grumman making good progress toward OmegA's first launch|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/04/northrop-grumman-progress-omega/|website=[[NASASpaceFlight.com]]|accessdate=May 24, 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524094355/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/04/northrop-grumman-progress-omega/|archivedate=May 24, 2020|date=April 3, 2020|quote=These 30 days of activities will involve [...] stacking of the rocket on the mobile launcher inside High Bay 2 of the Vehicle Assembly Building, functional and integrated checkouts of the rocket, and then rollout to launch pad 39B.|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="omega-3">{{Cite web|last1=Erwin|first1=Sandra|last2=Foust|first2=Jeff|authorlink2=Jeff Foust|title=Saturn Satellite Networks to be first customer of Northrop Grumman's OmegA|url=https://spacenews.com/saturn-satellite-networks-to-be-first-customer-of-northrop-grummans-omega/|website=[[SpaceNews]]|accessdate=May 24, 2020|archiveurl=http://archive.fo/6i7Lx|archivedate=May 24, 2020|date=December 12, 2019|quote=Northrop said Saturn will fly one or two of its NationSat small geostationary satellites on an OmegA rocket launching from the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39B in the spring of 2021.|url-status=live}}</ref>

|-

| style="background: #dfdfff" | 59

| style="background: #dfdfff" | November 2021

| style="background: #dfdfff" | [[Space Launch System|SLS Block 1]]

| style="background: #dfdfff" | {{Color|grey|unknown}}

| style="background: #dfdfff" | [[Artemis 1]]

| style="background: #dfdfff" | [[Orion (spacecraft)#List of vehicles|Orion 002]]

| style="background: #dfdfff" |

|-

| style="background: #dfdfff" | 60

| style="background: #dfdfff" | 2023

| style="background: #dfdfff" | SLS Block 1

| style="background: #dfdfff" | {{Color|grey|unknown}}

| style="background: #dfdfff" | [[Artemis 2]]

| style="background: #dfdfff" | Orion 003

| style="background: #dfdfff" |

|-

| style="background: #dfdfff" | 61

| style="background: #dfdfff" | 2024

| style="background: #dfdfff" | SLS Block 1B

| style="background: #dfdfff" | {{Color|grey|unknown}}

| style="background: #dfdfff" | [[Artemis 3]]

| style="background: #dfdfff" | Orion 004

| style="background: #dfdfff" |

|}


=== Timeline ===

== Launch statistics ==

{{#invoke:Chart|bar chart

{{#invoke:Chart|bar chart

| float = center

| float = center

| width = 1000

| width = 750

| height = 200

| height = 350

| stack = 1

| stack = 1

| group 1 = 1: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0 <!-- Saturn V -->

| group 1 = 0:0:0:0:1: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0 <!-- Saturn V -->

| group 2 = 0: 0:0:0:3:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0 <!-- Saturn IB -->

| group 2 = 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:3:0: 1:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0 <!-- Saturn IB -->

| group 3 = 0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:1:0:2:5: 3:2:4:5:3: 3:6:2:2:3: 2:3:2:0:0: 1:3:0:0:0 <!-- Space Shuttle -->

| group 3 = 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:1:0:2:5: 3:2:4:5:3: 3:6:2:2:3: 2:3:2:0:0: 1:3:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0 <!-- Space Shuttle -->

| group 4 = 0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:1 <!-- Ares I -->

| group 4 = 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:1: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0 <!-- Ares I -->

| group 5 = 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:0:0:0: 0:0:1 <!-- SLS -->

| colors = Grey : Black : Orange : Green

| group names = [[Saturn V]] : [[Saturn IB]] : [[Space Shuttle]] : [[Ares I]]

| colors = Grey : Black : Orange : Green : Firebrick

| group names = [[Saturn V]] : [[Saturn IB]] : [[Space Shuttle]] : [[Ares I]] : [[Space Launch System|SLS]]

| x legends = 1969: :::'73:: 1975 ::::: 1980 ::::: 1985 ::::: 1990 ::::: 1995 ::::: 2000 ::::: 2005 :::: 2009

| x legends = 1965 ::::: 1970 ::::: 1975 ::::: 1980 ::::: 1985 ::::: 1990 ::::: 1995 ::::: 2000 ::::: 2005 ::::: 2010 ::::: 2015 ::::: 2020 ::

| units suffix = _launches

| units suffix = _launches

}}

}}
Line 548: Line 99:

'''Sources'''

'''Sources'''

{{Refbegin}}

{{Refbegin}}

# {{Cite book|last=Ward|first=Jonathan H.|title=Countdown to a Moon Launch: Preparing Apollo for Its Historic Journey|date=2015|publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media|Springer]]|location=[[Greensboro, North Carolina]]|accessdate=May 20, 2020|isbn=978-3-319-17792-2|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-17792-2|url=https://books.google.com.au/books?id=MdgjCgAAQBAJ|ref={{SfnRef|Ward|2015}}}}

# {{Cite book|last=Ward|first=Jonathan H.|title=Countdown to a Moon Launch: Preparing Apollo for Its Historic Journey|date=2015|publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media|Springer]]|location=[[Greensboro, North Carolina]]|access-date=May 20, 2020|isbn=978-3-319-17792-2|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-17792-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MdgjCgAAQBAJ|archive-date=February 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217133705/https://books.google.com/books?id=MdgjCgAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}

# {{Cite web|last=Bergin|first=Chris|title=KSC's historic Pad 39B laying the foundations for hosting big rockets|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/05/pad-39b-foundations-hosting-big-rockets/|website=[[NASASpaceFlight.com]]|accessdate=May 20, 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520031736/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/05/pad-39b-foundations-hosting-big-rockets/|archivedate=May 20, 2020|date=May 30, 2017|ref={{SfnRef|Bergin|2017}}|url-status=live}}

# {{Cite web|last=Bergin|first=Chris|title=KSC's historic Pad 39B laying the foundations for hosting big rockets|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/05/pad-39b-foundations-hosting-big-rockets/|website=[[NASASpaceFlight.com]]|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520031736/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/05/pad-39b-foundations-hosting-big-rockets/|archive-date=May 20, 2020|date=May 30, 2017|url-status=live}}

{{Refend}}

{{Refend}}

'''Citations'''

'''Citations'''
Line 557: Line 108:

{{Commons category|Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B}}

{{Commons category|Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B}}

* [https://www.nasa.gov/content/launch-pad-39b Launch Pad 39B] at [[NASA]]

* [https://www.nasa.gov/content/launch-pad-39b Launch Pad 39B] at [[NASA]]

* [http://www.astronautix.com/c/capecanaverallc39b.html Cape Canaveral LC39B] at [[Encyclopedia Astronautica]]

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161002195529/http://www.astronautix.com/c/capecanaverallc39b.html Cape Canaveral LC39B] at [[Encyclopedia Astronautica]]

* [http://nasatech.net/PadBmod300_091014/ Pad B modifications for Ares 1-X, level 300] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091031020844/http://nasatech.net/PadBmod300_091014/ |date=October 31, 2009 }}

* [http://nasatech.net/PadBmod275_091014/ Pad B modifications for Ares 1-X, level 275] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026055043/http://nasatech.net/PadBmod275_091014/ |date=October 26, 2009 }}

* [http://nasatech.net/PadBmod255_091014/ Pad B modifications for Ares 1-X, level 255] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091101232259/http://nasatech.net/PadBmod255_091014/ |date=November 1, 2009 }}

* [http://nasatech.net/PadBmod235_091014/ Pad B modifications for Ares 1-X, level 235] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091031020904/http://nasatech.net/PadBmod235_091014/ |date=October 31, 2009 }}


{{Kennedy Space Center}}

{{Kennedy Space Center}}

{{Merritt Island}}

{{Merritt Island}}

{{Navboxes|title=Crewed spaceflight programs of NASA|list1=

{{Navboxes|title=NASA programs|list1=

{{Apollo program}}

{{Apollo program}}

{{Space Shuttle}}

{{Space Shuttle}}

{{Project Constellation}}

{{Constellation program}}

{{Artemis program}}

{{Artemis program}}

}}

}}

{{NASA centers}}

{{NASA navbox}}


[[Category:1969 establishments in Florida]]

[[Category:1969 establishments in Florida]]
Line 572: Line 129:

[[Category:Artemis program]]

[[Category:Artemis program]]

[[Category:Constellation program]]

[[Category:Constellation program]]

[[Category:Kennedy Space Center]]

[[Category:Kennedy Space Center launch sites]]

[[Category:Space Shuttle program]]

[[Category:Space Shuttle program]]

Latest revision as of 17:50, 12 August 2023

Launch Complex 39B
Space Launch System atop LC-39B on March 18, 2022
Map
Launch siteKennedy Space Center
LocationMerritt Island, Florida
Coordinates28°37′38″N 80°37′15″W / 28.62722°N 80.62083°W / 28.62722; -80.62083
OperatorNASA (1967–present)
Orbital inclination
range		28–62°
Launch history
StatusActive
Launches60
First launchMay 18, 1969 (1969-05-18)
Saturn V / Apollo 10
Last launchNovember 16, 2022 (2022-11-16)
Space Launch System / Artemis 1
Associated
rockets
  • Saturn IB (retired)
  • Space Shuttle (retired)
  • Ares I (plans canceled)
  • OmegA (plans canceled)
  • SLS (current)

    • Launch Complex 39--Pad B

    U.S. National Register of Historic Places

    Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B is located in Florida
    Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B

    Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B is located in the United States
    Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B

    LocationJohn F. Kennedy Space Center, Titusville, Florida
    Area160 acres (65 ha)
    Built1967-1968
    MPSJohn F. Kennedy Space Center MPS
    NRHP reference No.99001639[1]
    Added to NRHPJanuary 21, 2000

    Launch Complex 39B (LC-39B) is the second of Launch Complex 39's three launch pads, located at NASA's Kennedy Space CenterinMerritt Island, Florida. The pad, along with Launch Complex 39A, was first designed for the Saturn V launch vehicle, which at the time was the United States' most powerful rocket. Typically used to launch NASA's crewed spaceflight missions since the late 1960s, the pad is currently configured for use by the agency's Space Launch System rocket, a Shuttle-derived launch vehicle which is currently used in the Artemis program and subsequent Moon to Mars campaigns. The pad had also been leased by NASA to aerospace company Northrop Grumman, for use as a launch site for their Shuttle-derived OmegA launch vehicle, for National Security Space Launch flights and commercial launches, before the OmegA program was cancelled.

    History[edit]

    Apollo program[edit]

    In 1961, President Kennedy proposed to Congress the goal of landing a man on the Moon by the end of the decade. Congressional approval led to the launch of the Apollo program, which required a massive expansion of NASA operations, including an expansion of launch operations from the Cape to adjacent Merritt Island to the north and west.[2]

    Launch Complex 39B was designed to handle launches of the Saturn V rocket, the largest and most powerful launch vehicle, which would propel Apollo spacecraft to the Moon. Launch Complex 39B's inaugural launch in May 1969 was also that of the only Saturn V to launch from the pad; SA-505, used to launch the Apollo 10 mission.

    After the Apollo 17 mission in 1972, Pad 39B was used for Saturn IB launches. The Mobile Launchers were then modified for the Saturn IB rocket, by adding a "milk-stool" extension platform to the launch pedestal, so that the S-IVB upper stage and Apollo spacecraft swing arms would reach their targets. These were used for three crewed Skylab flights and the Apollo–Soyuz, since the Saturn IB pads 34 and 37 at Cape Canaveral had been decommissioned.[3][4]

    Space Shuttle[edit]

    With the advent of the Space Shuttle program in the early 1980s, the original structure of the launch pads were remodeled for the needs of the Space Shuttle. Pad 39A hosted all Space Shuttle launches until January 1986, when Space Shuttle Challenger would become the first to launch from pad 39B during the ill-fated STS-51-L mission, which ended with the destruction of Challenger and the death of the mission's crew a minute into the flight.

    Launch Complex 39B hosted 53 Space Shuttle launches until December 2006, when Discovery launched from the pad for the final time during the STS-116 mission. The program's remaining flights launched from pad 39A. To support the final Shuttle mission to the Hubble Space Telescope STS-125 launched from pad 39A in May 2009, Endeavour was placed on 39B if needed to launch the STS-400 rescue mission.

    Constellation program[edit]

    Launch Complex 39B would subsequently be reconfigured for crewed Ares I launches as part of the Constellation program; the Ares I-X mission launched a prototype Ares I from 39B in October 2009, prior to the program's cancellation the following year.

    Artemis program[edit]

    On November 16, 2022, at 06:47:44 UTC, the Space Launch System (SLS) was launched from Complex 39B as part of the Artemis 1 mission.[5][6]

    Current status[edit]

    After the Ares I-X test flight in 2009, NASA removed the Fixed Service Structure (FSS) from Pad 39B, returning the location to an Apollo-like "clean pad" design for the first time since 1977. This approach is intended to make the pad available to multiple types of vehicles that will arrive at the pad with service structures on the mobile launcher platform, as opposed to using fixed structures on the pad.[7] The LH2, LOX, and water tanks used for the sound suppression system are the only structures left from the Space Shuttle era.[8][9][10]

    In 2014, NASA announced that it would make LC-39B available to commercial users during times when it is not needed by the Space Launch System.[11] NASA subsequently agreed to allow Orbital ATK to use LC-39B for their OmegA launch vehicle.[12] However Northrop Grumman, who absorbed Orbital ATK in June 2018,[13] cancelled the development of OmegA in September 2020 before any launches had taken place; SLS will therefore remain the only user of LC-39B for the foreseeable future.[14][15]

    As of November 2022, LC-39B manages the Space Launch System (SLS)'s processing and launch operations, as part of the first phase of a five-phase project, were being completed. The second phase of this project is currently budgeted for $89.2 million.[16][17][6]

    Launch statistics[edit]

    1

    2

    3

    4

    5

    6

    1965

    1970

    1975

    1980

    1985

    1990

    1995

    2000

    2005

    2010

    2015

    2020

    See also[edit]

    References[edit]

    Sources

    1. Ward, Jonathan H. (2015). Countdown to a Moon Launch: Preparing Apollo for Its Historic Journey. Greensboro, North Carolina: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-17792-2. ISBN 978-3-319-17792-2. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  • Bergin, Chris (May 30, 2017). "KSC's historic Pad 39B laying the foundations for hosting big rockets". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on May 20, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.

    • Citations

    1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  • ^ "The History of Cape Canaveral, Chapter 3: NASA Arrives (1959–Present)". Spaceline.org. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2009.
  • ^ "Launch Complex 34". Archived from the original on February 12, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  • ^ "Launch Complex 37". Archived from the original on March 2, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  • ^ Artemis I Launch to the Moon (Official NASA Broadcast) - Nov. 16, 2022, archived from the original on November 16, 2022, retrieved November 16, 2022
  • ^ a b "NASA Prepares Rocket, Spacecraft Ahead of Tropical Storm Nicole, Re-targets Launch". NASA. November 8, 2022. Archived from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  • ^ "Historic space shuttle pad soon to be scrap". USA Today. March 23, 2011. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  • ^ Bergin, Chris (March 22, 2015). "KSC Pads continue preparations for future vehicles". NASASpaceFlight.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  • ^ NASA (2006). "Sound Suppression System". NASA. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2007.
  • ^ "STS-127 Rollaround starts". Space Flight Now. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2009.
  • ^ Clark, Stephen (April 15, 2014). "SpaceX's mega-rocket to debut next year at pad 39A". SpaceflightNow. Archived from the original on March 8, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  • ^ "Orbital ATK optimistic about proposed KSC rocket". floridatoday.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  • ^ "Northrop Grumman completes acquisition of Orbital ATK for $9.2 billion". flightglobal.com. June 7, 2018. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  • ^ "Northrop Grumman ends OmegA rocket program". spaceflightnow.com. September 14, 2020. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  • ^ "OmegA Launch Tower to be demolished as KSC 39B fails to become a multi-user pad". nasaspaceflight.com. September 11, 2020. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  • ^ "NASA FY13 Budget" (PDF). NASA. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 17, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  • ^ Artemis I Launch to the Moon (Official NASA Broadcast) - Nov. 16, 2022, archived from the original on November 16, 2022, retrieved November 16, 2022

    • External links[edit]

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B.

    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kennedy_Space_Center_Launch_Complex_39B&oldid=1170008860"
    Categories: 
    ●1969 establishments in Florida
     ●Apollo program
     ●Artemis program
     ●Constellation program
     ●Kennedy Space Center launch sites
     ●Space Shuttle program
     Hidden categories: 
    ●Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas
     ●Articles using NRISref without a reference number
     ●Articles with short description
     ●Short description is different from Wikidata
     ●Use American English from May 2020
     ●All Wikipedia articles written in American English
     ●Use mdy dates from February 2023
     ●Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata
     ●Coordinates on Wikidata
     ●Articles containing potentially dated statements from November 2022
     ●All articles containing potentially dated statements
     ●Commons category link is on Wikidata
     ●Webarchive template wayback links
     ●Pages using the Kartographer extension
      


    ●This page was last edited on 12 August 2023, at 17:50 (UTC).
    ●Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.


    ●Privacy policy
    ●About Wikipedia
    ●Disclaimers
    ●Contact Wikipedia
    ●Code of Conduct
    ●Developers
    ●Statistics
    ●Cookie statement
    ●Mobile view


    Wikimedia Foundation
    Powered by MediaWiki