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Launch Complex: LC3.
Cape Canaveral. Latitude: 28.4655 deg. Longitude: -80.5349 deg. Used by: Bomarc, Polaris, V-2, X-17. This complex was built to support the Bomarc interceptor missile program, but also supported Bumper, Jason, Redstone, X-17 and Polaris ballistic missile operations. The Air Force accepted Complex 3 in November 1951. The location had already supported the Cape's first major launch - Bumper 8 - on 24 July 1950. Following the last Bomarc launch in April 1960, some Bomarc support facilities were converted into a medical support area for Project Mercury. Later the complex supported tethered aerostat programs from 1983 through 1989.
LC3 Chronology

1950 July 24 - 14:29 GMT - Launch Vehicle: V-2. Bumper-WAC Bumper 8 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USA/GE. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). Bumper No. 8, a German V-2 with a 320 kg Army-JPL Wac Corporal, was fired from the Long-Range Proving Ground at Cape Canaveral at a very low angle of attack. The first-stage V-2 climbed 16 km before it exploded. The second-stage Corporal separated successfully, however, and traveled another 24 km. This was the first missile launch from Cape Canaveral.

1950 July 29 - 11:25 GMT - Launch Vehicle: V-2. Bumper-WAC Bumper 7 Test mission Agency: USA/GE. Apogee: 50 km (31 mi). Bumper No. 7 was the second missile launch from Cape Canaveral. This was to be a maximum range test of a two-stage vehicle, to study the problems in staging. The launch was delayed because of moisture in the vehicle. But when finally launched, the WAC achieved the highest sustained speed in the atmosphere to that date (Mach 9/2500 m/s) and 35.2 km altitude before impacting 305 km downrange.

1953 January 23 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 621-2 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1953 June 10 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-1 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1953 July 27 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-2 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1953 September 4 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-3 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1954 August 5 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-7 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1954 October 25 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-8 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1954 November 24 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-9 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1955 January 19 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-10 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1955 February 24 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-21 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1955 March 3 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-11 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1955 May 5 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-22 FAILURE: Failure. Ramjet test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1955 May 23 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 QTV Q-2 Test mission Agency: USAF 6555. Apogee: 11 km (6 mi).

1955 May 23 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 QTV Q-1 Test mission Agency: USAF 6555. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1955 June 13 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 HTV-1 Q-4 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF 6555. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1955 June 23 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 HTV H-1 Test mission Agency: USAF 6555. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1955 June 30 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 HTV H-3 Test mission Agency: USAF 6555. Apogee: 9.00 km (5.50 mi).

1955 July 14 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 HTV H-2 Test mission Agency: USAF 6555. Apogee: 10 km (6 mi).

1955 July 27 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-12 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1955 August 25 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-23 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1955 August 26 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 D-1 Test mission Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 3.00 km (1.80 mi).

1955 September 23 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 D-2 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 5.00 km (3.10 mi).

1955 September 29 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-24 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1955 November 17 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-25 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1955 November 30 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-26 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1955 December 1 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 D-3 Test mission Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1956 January 20 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 D-4 Test mission Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 132 km (82 mi).

1956 March 5 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 D-5 Test mission Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 116 km (72 mi).

1956 March 15 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-14 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1956 April 14 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-15 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1956 April 17 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-1 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1956 June 19 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-17 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1956 June 26 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 D-6A Test mission Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 140 km (80 mi). USAF X-17 flight test program started at Cape Canaveral to study reentry problems by simulating reentry velocities and conditions with three-stage solid-fuel Lockheed X-17. A total of 26 X-17 flights were conducted until March 1957.

1956 July 13 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-18 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1956 July 17 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-2 4203-3 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 142 km (88 mi).

1956 July 27 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-3 4203-4 FAILURE: Failure. Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1956 August 18 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-4 4203-2 FAILURE: Failure. Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1956 August 23 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-5 4203-5 4203-5 re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 142 km (88 mi). A five-stage, solid-fuel rocket test vehicle, the world's first, was launched to a speed of mach 15 from Wallops Island, Va. by the NACA Langley Aeronautical Laboratory's Pilotless Aircraft Research Division.

1956 August 28 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-6 4203-6 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1956 September 8 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-7 4203-7 FAILURE: Failure. Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 394 km (244 mi).

1956 October 1 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-8 4203-8 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 145 km (90 mi).

1956 October 5 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-9 4203-9 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 117 km (72 mi).

1956 October 12 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 624-6 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1956 October 13 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-10 4203-10 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 102 km (63 mi).

1956 October 18 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-11 4203-11 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 155 km (96 mi).

1956 October 25 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-12 4203-12 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 124 km (77 mi).

1956 November 5 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-13 4203-13 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 118 km (73 mi).

1956 November 16 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-14 4203-14 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 107 km (66 mi).

1956 November 23 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-15 4203-15 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 143 km (88 mi).

1956 November 29 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 624-2 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1956 December 3 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-16 4203-16 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 125 km (77 mi).

1956 December 11 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-17 4203-17 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 144 km (89 mi).

1957 January 8 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-18 4203-18 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 140 km (80 mi).

1957 January 15 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-19 4203-19 FAILURE: Failure. Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1957 January 29 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-20 4203-20 FAILURE: Failure. Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 0 km ( mi).

1957 February 7 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-21 4203-21 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 107 km (66 mi).

1957 February 14 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-22 4203-22 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 141 km (87 mi).

1957 March 1 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-23 4203-23 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 151 km (93 mi).

1957 March 11 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-24 4203-A3 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 134 km (83 mi).

1957 March 21 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-25 4203-A4 Re-entry vehicle test Agency: USAF 6555ATW. Apogee: 103 km (64 mi).

1957 April 13 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 VI-1 4-204-1A? 4-204-1A? re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: USN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1957 June 27 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 4-204-1 4-204-1B? 4-204-1B? re-entry vehicle test flight Agency: USN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1957 July 16 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 4-204-2 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: USN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1957 July 19 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 3-204-1 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: USN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1957 July 22 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 R-26 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 114 km (70 mi).

1957 August 9 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 3-204-2 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: USN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1957 August 16 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 5-204-1 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: USN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1957 September 3 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 1-204-6 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: USN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1957 October 23 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 1-204-7 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: USN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1957 October 24 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 3-204-3 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: USN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1957 November 8 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 3-204-4 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: USN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1957 November 15 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 1-204-8 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: USN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1957 December 11 - Launch Vehicle: X-17. X-17 1-204-9 Re-entry Vehicle test Agency: USN. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi).

1958 January 17 - Launch Vehicle: Polaris. Polaris TV 1-204-10 Test mission Agency: USN. Apogee: 500 km (310 mi).

1959 July 14 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 631-2 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1959 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 631-3 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.