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{{Short description|
{{Use American English|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox launch pad
| name = Launch Complex 48
| image = File:Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 48
| caption = Aerial view of KSC Launch Complex 48.
|
| short = LC-48
| operator = [[NASA]]
| time_zone = [[Eastern Standard Time|EST]]
| utc_offset = −5
| time_zone_DST = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = −4
| established = October 2020
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| paddetails =
{{Infobox launch pad/pad
| status =
}}
}}
'''Launch Complex 48''' ('''LC-48''') is a multi-user launch site for small launchers and spacecraft. It is located south of [[Launch Complex 39A]] and north of [[Space Launch Complex 41]].<ref name="Kelly_FloridaToday_SLC-48">{{cite web |last1=Kelly |first1=Emre |title=Meet Launch Complex 48, NASA's new small rocket pad at Kennedy Space Center |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2019/06/14/meet-launch-complex-48-nasa-new-pad-kennedy-space-center-florida/1408175001/ |website=Florida Today |
LC-48 is designed as a "clean pad" to support multiple launch systems with differing propellant needs. While initially only planned to have a single pad, the complex is capable of being expanded to two at a later date.{{sfn|''Draft Environmental Assessment for Launch Complex 48'',|2019|pp=ii-iii|loc=Proposed Action}} With another pad constructed, LC-48 could support up to 104 launches per year, though actual usage is expected to be well below that.<ref name="Kelly_FloridaToday_SLC-48" />
NASA had previously constructed [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39#Launch Complex 39C|LC-39C]] within the bounds of [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B|LC-39B]] with the purpose of serving small launchers, but the operational constraints of sharing the site on a non-interference basis with both the [[Space Launch System]] and [[OmegA]] (now canceled) launch vehicles, along with greater interest by commercial parties than originally anticipated, led NASA to pursue the construction of a dedicated launch site for this class of vehicles.{{sfn|''Draft Environmental Assessment for Launch Complex 48'',|2019|p=4}}
As of May 2024, LC-48 has seen no launches, and none are currently planned from the complex.
==See also==
* [[Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1]]
* [[List of Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island launch sites]]
* [[Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska]]
==References==
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===Sources===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |title=Draft Environmental Assessment for Launch Complex 48 |date=19 February 2019 |publisher=NASA |url=https://netspublic.grc.nasa.gov/main/LC%2048%20Environmental%20Assessment%20with%20Appendices_02.19.2019.pdf |
{{Refend}}
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* [https://masterplan.ksc.nasa.gov/ Kennedy Space Center Master Plan] at KSC.NASA.gov
* [https://www.spaceflorida.gov/spaceport-development/ Spaceport Development – Space Florida] at SpaceFlorida.gov
* [https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2019/06/14/meet-launch-complex-48-nasa-new-pad-kennedy-space-center-florida/1408175001/ LC-48 Completed] at floridaytoday.com
{{Kennedy Space Center}}
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Launch site | Kennedy Space Center | ||||
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Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) | ||||
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||||
Short name | LC-48 | ||||
Established | October 2020 | ||||
Operator | NASA | ||||
Launch pad(s) | 1 (planned 2) | ||||
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Launch Complex 48 (LC-48) is a multi-user launch site for small launchers and spacecraft. It is located south of Launch Complex 39A and north of Space Launch Complex 41.[1]
The construction of LC-48 began in November 2019 but was halted in March 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Construction was resumed in June 2020, with the completion of the first pad in October 2020.[2]
LC-48 is designed as a "clean pad" to support multiple launch systems with differing propellant needs. While initially only planned to have a single pad, the complex is capable of being expanded to two at a later date.[3] With another pad constructed, LC-48 could support up to 104 launches per year, though actual usage is expected to be well below that.[1]
NASA had previously constructed LC-39C within the bounds of LC-39B with the purpose of serving small launchers, but the operational constraints of sharing the site on a non-interference basis with both the Space Launch System and OmegA (now canceled) launch vehicles, along with greater interest by commercial parties than originally anticipated, led NASA to pursue the construction of a dedicated launch site for this class of vehicles.[4]
As of May 2024, LC-48 has seen no launches, and none are currently planned from the complex.
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Launch sites |
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