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Launch Complex: LC4.
Cape Canaveral. Latitude: 28.4669 deg. Longitude: -80.5356 deg. Used by: Bomarc, Matador, Redstone. 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 4 in 1952. 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.
LC4 Chronology

1952 September 10 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 621-1 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1953 August 20 - 14:37 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Redstone RS-1 FAILURE: Control System malfunction followed by Power Plant malfunction at approximately 80 sec. Ground cut-off command given.. Agency: USA. Apogee: 6.00 km (3.70 mi). Redstone missile No. 1 was fired by Army Redstone Arsenal personnel at AFMTC, Cape Canaveral. Missile test failure. Missed aimpoint by 240,000 m.

1954 January 27 - 15:20 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Redstone RS-2 Agency: USA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). Successful missile test. Missed aimpoint by 8,400 m.

1954 May 5 - 17:28 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Redstone RS-3 FAILURE: Ejector burnout immediately following lift-off. Agency: USA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). Missile test failure. Missed aimpoint by 277,000 m.

1954 August 18 - 14:04 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Redstone RS-4 FAILURE: Steam generator regulator malfunction caused drop in combustion pressure. Agency: USA. Apogee: 90 km (55 mi). Missile test failure. Missed aimpoint by 19,200 m.

1954 November 17 - 18:12 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Redstone RS-6 FAILURE: Ground programmed yaw maneuver caused missile control loss at 80 sec causing power plant erratic behavior. Human error in selection of yaw maneuver impulse. Agency: USA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). Missile test failure. Missed aimpoint by 166,300 m.

1955 February 9 - 20:15 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Redstone RS-8 FAILURE: Separation bolt No. 3 failure. Inverter frequency shift. Agency: USA. Apogee: 0 km ( mi). Missile test failure. Missed aimpoint by 23,400 m.

1955 May 6 - Launch Vehicle: Matador. Matador GM-52-1895 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 12 km (7 mi).

1956 February 2 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-13 Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1956 May 21 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 623-16 FAILURE: Failure. Test mission Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1957 April 17 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 624-1 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1957 July 22 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 624-7 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1958 May 1 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 624-19 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1958 August 7 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 624-XY1 Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). First launching of USAF Bomarc interceptor missile from Cape Canaveral on a signal sent by the SAGE Control Center at Kingston, N.Y.

1958 September 24 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 624-XY4 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1958 October 21 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 624-XY6 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1958 November 21 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 624-XY7 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1958 December 13 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 624-XY8 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1959 January 27 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 624-XY16 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1959 April 21 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 624-XY15 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1959 May 27 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 631-1 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1959 September 2 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 631-4 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1959 October 28 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 631-5 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1960 January 29 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 631-6 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

1960 April 15 - Launch Vehicle: Bomarc. Bomarc 631-8 Operational test Agency: USAF. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi).

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