Cape Canaveral LC46	home topic index
Launch Complex: LC46. Cape Canaveral. Latitude: 28.4585 deg. Longitude: -80.5284 deg. Used by: Athena, Trident. First Launch: 1987-01-15. Last Launch: 1999-01-27. Number Launches: 21. This complex was built as part of the U.S. Navy's Trident II ballistic missile effort at the Cape. Construction was underway in February 1984, and the complex was ordnance-certified in November 1986. Complex 46 supported the Cape's first Trident II test missile launch on 15 January 1987. Eighteen more Trident IIs were launched from the site between 17 March 1987 and 27 January 1989. As Trident launch operations moved out to sea later in 1989, the complex was placed on standby status awaiting special Trident II test requirements. No new requirements surfaced in the 1990s, but the Spaceport Florida Authority (SFA) won $4,890,000 in Air Force grants to redesign Complex 46 to handle small commercial space launch operations (e.g., Lockheed Martin's new LMLV-2 space launch vehicle). A Critical Design Review (CDR) for the complex was held in March 1996, and construction was underway shortly thereafter. Modifications included a new launch mount, a Mobile Access Structure (MAS), an umbilical foundation and service trenches and conduits. Spaceport Florida opened Complex 46 for commercial space launch operations on 29 May 1997. The complex supported its first commercial space launch - an Athena II carrying the Lunar Prospector spacecraft - on 7 January 1998. LC46 Chronology 1987 January 15 - 15:25 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-1 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1987 March 17 - 17:25 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-2 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1987 April 30 - 20:44 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-3 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1987 June 12 - 22:45 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-5 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1987 July 20 - 20:45 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-6 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1987 September 8 - 22:01 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-4 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1987 October 6 - 17:02 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-8 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1987 December 11 - 13:26 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-10 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1988 January 21 - 10:08 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-9 FAILURE: Failure. Research and development launch Agency: USN. 1988 April 7 - 04:59 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-11 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1988 April 28 - 04:52 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-12 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1988 May 26 - 02:07 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-7 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1988 July 7 - 22:38 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-13 FAILURE: Failure. Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). 1988 August 27 - 20:04 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-14 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1988 September 19 - 17:44 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-15 FAILURE: Failure. Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 20 km (12 mi). 1988 November 7 - 16:30 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-18 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1988 December 16 - 12:49 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-17 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1989 January 9 - 10:52 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-19 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1989 January 26 - 09:07 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Trident. Trident D-5 D5X-20 Research and development launch Agency: USN. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). 1998 January 7 - 02:28 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Athena. Athena-2 LM-004 Lunar Prospector Spacecraft: Lunar Prospector. Agency: NASA ARC. The Lunar Prospector was designed for a low polar orbit investigation of the Moon, including mapping of surface composition and possible polar ice deposits, measurements of magnetic and gravity fields, and study of lunar outgassing events. Data from the 1 to 3 year mission will allow construction of a detailed map of the surface composition of the Moon, and will improve understanding of the origin, evolution, current state, and resources of the Moon. After launch, the Lunar Prospector had a 105 hour cruise to the Moon, followed by insertion into a near-circular 100 km altitude lunar polar orbit with a period of 118 minutes. The nominal mission duration was one year. 1999 January 27 - 00:34 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Athena. Athena-1 LM-006 ROCSAT-1 Mass: 400 kg (880 lb). Spacecraft: ROCSAT. Agency: NSPO. Perigee: 606 km (376 mi). Apogee: 653 km (405 mi). Inclination: 35.00 deg. Taiwan's first satellite, with experimental communications, ocean imagery, and ionospheric studies instruments. The Primex OAM placed itself and the payload into an elliptical transfer orbit. A second OAM burn circularized the orbit, and ROCSAT separated into a 588 x 601 km x 35.0 deg orbit. Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments. Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site.. To contact astronauts or cosmonauts. © Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.