Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 34

Launch site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Launch Complex 34 (LC 34) is a deactivated launch site on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. LC 34 and its companion LC 37 to the north were used by NASA from 1961 through 1968 to launch Saturn I and IB rockets as part of the Apollo program. It was the site of the Apollo 1 fire, which claimed the lives of astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee on January 27, 1967. The first crewed Apollo launch — Apollo 7 on October 11, 1968 — was the last time LC 34 was used.

Work began on LC 34 in 1960, and it was formally dedicated on June 5, 1961. The complex consisted of a launch platform, umbilical tower, mobile service tower, fueling facilities, and a blockhouse. Two steel flame deflectors were mounted on rails to allow placement beneath the launch platform. The service tower was likewise mounted on rails, and it was moved to a position 185 meters west of the pad before launch. At 95 meters high, it was the tallest structure at LC 34. The blockhouse, located 320 meters from the pad, was modeled after the domed reinforced concrete structure at LC 20. During a launch, it could accommodate 130 people as well as test and instrumentation equipment. Periscopes afforded views outside the windowless facility.

LC 34 saw its first launch on October 27, 1961. The first Saturn I, Block I, mission SA 1, lofted a dummy upper stage on a suborbital trajectory into the Atlantic. The subsequent three Saturn I launches took place at LC 34, ending with SA 4 on March 28, 1963. The six ensuing Saturn I, Block II launches were conducted at LC 37. On November 29, 1963, following the death of President John F. Kennedy, his successor Lyndon B. Johnson issued Executive Order 11129 renaming both NASA's Merrit Island Launch Operations Center and "the facilities of Station No. 1 of the Atlantic Missile Range" (a reference to Canaveral AFB) the "John F. Kennedy Space Center". He had also convinced Gov. C. Farris Bryant (D Fla.) to change the name of Cape Canaveral to Cape Kennedy. This resulted in some confusion in public perception, which conflated the two. NASA Administrator James E. Webb clarified this by issuing a directive stating the Kennedy Space Center name applied only to Merritt Island, while the Air Force issued a general order renaming the Air Force Station launch site Cape Kennedy Air Force Station.

LC 34 was extensively modified to support Saturn IB launches, which began in February 1966. New anchor points were built to fasten the service structure in place during high winds. Access arms on the umbilical tower were rebuilt to match the larger rocket. At the 67 meter level, the swing arm was outfitted with a white room to permit access to the command module at the top of a rocket. Two Saturn IBs (AS 201 and AS 202) were successfully launched from LC 34 before the Apollo 1 fire brought Apollo activities at the spaceport to an abrupt halt. After the fire, extinguishing equipment was installed at the top of the umbilical tower, and a slide wire was set up to provide astronauts a quick escape in the event of an emergency. The first crewed Apollo launch—Apollo 7 on October 11, 1968—was the last time LC 34 was used. NASA considered reactivating both LC 34 and LC 37 for the Apollo Applications Program, but instead LC 39B was modified to launch Saturn IBs. The geographical name change from Cape Canaveral to Cape Kennedy proved to be unpopular, owing to the historical longevity of Cape Canaveral. In 1973, both the Air Force Base and the geographical Cape names were reverted to Canaveral.

This is a complete list of all launches made from LC 34. Date Time(GMT) Launch vehicle Mission Payload RemarksOctober 27, 196115:06Saturn ISA 1(none)First use of LC 34, First flight of Saturn I. April 25, 196214:00Saturn ISA 2HighwaterSelf destruct detonated after completion of mission to test effects of water at high altitudes on communications. November 16, 196217:45Saturn ISA 3HighwaterSelf destruct detonated after completion of mission to test effects of water at high altitudes on communications. March 28, 196320:11Saturn ISA 4(none)Dummy second stageFebruary 26, 196615:06Saturn IBAS 201Apollo CSMFirst flight of Saturn IB and uncrewed Apollo CSMAugust 25, 196617:15Saturn IBAS 202Apollo CSMUncrewed suborbital test of Saturn IB and CSMPlanned for February 21, 1967CanceledSaturn IBApollo 1Manned Apollo CSMCabin fire on the pad killed entire crew, January 27October 11, 196815:02Saturn IBApollo 7Manned Apollo CSMFirst crewed Apollo flight, last use of LC 34