Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 9

Launch Complex 9

Launch of a Navaho from LC-9
Launch site Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Short name LC-9
Operator US Air Force
Total launches 10
Launch pad(s) 1
Launch history
Status Inactive
First launch Navaho
6 November 1956
Last launch Navaho
18 November 1958
Associated rockets SM-64 Navaho

Launch Complex 9 (LC-9) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is a launch pad on Cape Canaveral in Florida. It is north of Launch Complex 17. It is a small concrete structure consisting of an elevated launch pedestal and flame trench, centered on a small oval-shaped concrete pad.

It was used for ten test launches of SM-64 Navaho missiles. The Navaho was a supersonic nuclear-armed cruise missile. In addition to LC-9, Navaho tests were also conducted at LC-10 and Edwards Air Force Base. The Navaho was cancelled after poor performance in testing, eight of the eleven test launches of the final prototype failed. All of the failed launches were conducted from LC-9.

As of 2011, the concrete launch structure is still standing, but is not maintained; and the launch support equipment has been removed. The site is not accessible to the general public.

References

See also