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Launch Complex 17

Space Launch Complex (SLC-17)

Systems

Other Programs

ASSET (Aero thermodynamic/Elastic Structural Systems Environmental Test
Echo
Relay
Explorer
OSO (Orbiting Solar Observatories)
Pioneer
Tiros
GOES (Geo-stationary Operational Environmental Satellite)
INTELSAT
FLTSATCOM
NATO
SKYNET
TELESAT
PALAPA
WESTAR
SATCOM
MARISAT
GPS (Global Positioning System)
Mars Exploration Rovers - Spirit &_0 Opportunity
GRAIL

Cost: $3,503,000 each pad

History of Launch Complex

Construction underway in April 1956 and completed on 29 November 1956
Air Force accepted Pad 17A in April 1957
First Thor launch from Pad 17A on 30 August 1957. Total of 5 Thor were launched and the last one on 28 January 1957
First Thor Able launched 23 April 1958 from Pad 17A. Total of seven were launched with the last on 1 April 1960. Payloads were Explorer, Transit, Pioneer &_0 Tiros
First Thor Able I launched from Pad 17A on 17 August 1958. The last one was on 8 November 1958_0 a total of three were launched_0 Pioneer payloads
First Thor Able II was launched from Pad 17A on 23 January 1959. Total of 6 were launched with the last one on 11 June 1959. Used for reentry nose cone test
One Thor Able Star launched from Pad 17A on 31 October 1962
Modified in early 1960s to support Thor Delta
First Delta launched 13 May 1960 from Pad 17A
Supported 44 Delta A, B, C, D, E, G, L, M &_0 N launches from Pad 17A from 13 May 1960 to 27 August 1969
Supported 34 Delta 2000 &_0 3000 from 26 August 1975 to 26 February 1987
First Delta II launch 14 February 1989, Pad 17A
Air Force accepted Pad 17B, September 1956
First Thor launch from Pad 17B on 25 January 1957. Total of 26 Thor were launched from 25 January 1957 to 17 December 1959
First Thor Able Star launched 13 April 1960 from Pad 17B. Total of 10 were launched with the last from Pad 17B on 10 May 1962
First Delta launched from Pad 17B, 10 July 1962
Supported 27 Delta B, C, E &_0 G launches from Pad 17B from 10 July 1962 to 7 September 1967
Supported 6 DSV-2G ASSET (Aerothermodynamics Elastic Structural Systems Environmental Test)_0 18 September 1963 to 23 February 1965
Air Force transferred launch complex to NASA in the spring of 1965
Returned to Air Force October 1968 to support Delta II launches
Supported the Delta 1000, 2000, 3000 & 4000 from 22 September 1972 to 12 June 1990. Total of 41 Delta launched
Launch complex modifications to support Delta II included raising the Mobile Service Tower from 112' to 126', structural repairs and systems replacement
First Delta II launch was from Pad 17B on 14 February 1990
Blockhouse closed after Delta II failure 12 January 1997 from Pad 17A. Launch operations moved to Delta Launch Operations Control Facility
Pad 17B modified in 1997 for Delta III
First Delta III launch on 26 August 1998, last 23 August 2000. Total of 3 Delta III were launched
Final launch from Launch Complex 17, 10 September 2011, GRAIL lunar mission.