This would make launch processing more efficient, decrease the time a rocket spent at the launch pad and decrease the amount of land required for each individual launch area. These rockets could not be serviced in the relative confines of geographic Cape Canaveral.īy early 1961, NASA developed and refined a mobile launch concept, whereby a central processing area would service multiple launch pads. NASA also envisioned larger and larger rockets for introduction in the future. It was clear that if NASA required 100 Saturn-type launches per year, or even 20 Saturn-type launches per year as mentioned in more conservative forecasts, more land than was available on Cape Canaveral would be needed. The former could accommodate a maximum of four Saturn I launches per year, while Launch Complex 37 could accommodate a maximum of eight Saturn I launches per year. Cape Canaveral could host just two Saturn I launch complexes, Launch Complex 34 and Launch Complex 37. Initial NASA forecasts called for as many as 100 launches of Saturn-type rockets per year. The first of these was the Saturn I, which was designed in a number of configurations to meet manned and unmanned NASA applications. In support of the NASA manned spaceflight activities, it was clear that more land for launch areas was necessary.Įven before NASA embarked on a manned lunar landing program, the space agency planned to dramatically expand its use of large, heavy lift rockets. This revelation proved problematic for the space program, especially an ambitious effort by NASA to build a vigorous manned spaceflight program. In April, 1960 the Department of Defense issued a report stating that, “(Cape Canaveral is) substantially saturated with missile launching facilities and test instrumentation.”
Space Program Has A Space Problem And A New Spaceport Is Bornīy the late 1950’s, it was clear that geographic Cape Canaveral was running out of room, with launch sites lining the coastline from tip to tail.
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