Launch Complex 19 White Room

Display location: Museum rocket garden

Related exhibits:

The Launch Complex 19 White Room is the top enclosed section of the service tower as seen in the photograph to the right with the Gemini-Titan launch vehicle on the pad. The white room was an environmentally controlled space in which the Gemini spacecraft was processed.

Rather than move on tracks away from the pad, Titan I and Titan II service towers rested in a horizontal position. The missile was rolled through an open door at the top of the white room along tracks into the length of the resting service tower. The tower was then raised to the vertical position so that the Titan could be fixed to the launching base. While vertical, the service tower also provided work platforms completely surrounding the launch vehicle.

Upon arrival of the payload, the Gemini spacecraft was hoisted from ground level to the top of the white room by way of the structure protruding from the top of the white room rollup door. The photograph at right shows the GT-2 capsule with service module being hoisted into place. This GT-2 capsule was to make a second flight several years later and is now on display in the Exhibit Hall.

Prior to launch, the service tower was lowered to its horizontal resting position. The photograph (above left) shows the service tower at about the half-way position.

The Launch Complex 19 white room was restored and moved to the Museum grounds in September 2003.

True to its name, the white room is painted white on the inside. Processing of the critical Gemini capsule payload took place in this area and special measures were taken to keep all dust and debris from interfering with the spacecraft's operation. The round hole (right) is the level that actually housed the Gemini capsule and from which the astronauts boarded the spacecraft.