 The remains ofSpace ShuttleChallenger being lowered into silo at LC-31 | |||||||||
 Interactive map of Launch Complex 31 | |||||||||
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 28°27′09″N80°33′22″W / 28.45250°N 80.55611°W /28.45250; -80.55611 | ||||||||
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) | ||||||||
• Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) | ||||||||
| Short name | LC-31 | ||||||||
| Operator | United States Space Force | ||||||||
| Launch pad | 2 (incl. silo) | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Launch Complex 31 (LC-31) is a former launch complex atCape Canaveral Space Force Station,Florida.
It was built in 1959 withLC-32 for the U.S. Air Force to conduct test launches of the firstLGM-30 Minuteman missiles. LC-31 was built next toNavaho complexLC-9, requiringLC-10 to be demolished. These complexes were the first to feature dual launch pads, one of which was subterranean. LC-31 consisted of ablockhouse, static launch pad (31A) and missile silo (31B). The beehive-shaped blockhouse is 210 yards from the static pad and 330 yards from the silo.
Between February 1, 1960 and September 23, 1969 the Air Force launched a total of four Minuteman missiles from pad 31A and 35 from silo 31B. Pad 31A was used later by the U.S. Army to test launch twelvePershing 1a missiles.
The service tower has since been removed; the silo remains, and contains recovered debris from the Space Shuttle orbiter vehicleChallenger.[1][2]
In 2015, NASA opened the silo and removed several pieces ofChallenger's debris, so they could be placed on permanent display at theKennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.[3]
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