White Sands LC38
Site · USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Nike Zeus launch complex. LC 38 (Army Launch Area Five) was originally built in the 1960's for test of the Nike Zeus anti-ballistic missile. The Nike Zeus system required elaborate infrastructure to house the large missiles, and even larger assembly of radars, computers, and electronics. There were two R&D Zeus Launch Cells and later one tactical Launch Cell. In 1969 LC-38 was modified for test of the Patriot surface-to-air missile system, which eventually was developed to be capable against short-range ballistic missiles. The complex continued to be used for Patriot testing into the 21st Century.
The launch location was at the western edge of LC-38. The two R&D cells were located at the site of the present large building and its parking lot to the east. The smaller building east of the large building was the Launch Control Building (an underground control room). The Tactical Cell was located to the far side of the complex east of the control building.
By the late 1960's Nike Zeus evolved into Nike-X, and then Spartan. Testing of the missile was moved to Kwajalein Atoll in the south Pacific. LC-38 was thereafter used only for assembly and check out of the Sprint short-range last-ditch interceptor missile portion of the Safeguard Spartan/Sprint ABM system. Zeus radars continued in use as part of a re-entry radar signature study.
In 1969 LC-38 was modified for test of the Patriot surface-to-air missile system, which eventually was developed to be capable against short-range ballistic missiles. The complex continued to be used for Patriot testing into the 21st Century.
Related
- Country
- USA
- Launch Vehicles
- Nike Zeus A, Nike Zeus, Nike Zeus DM-15S
- Launch Sites
- White Sands
- Stages
- Cajun
Chronology
69 events
1959 August 26
17:35 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus A. FAILURE: Failure.1959 October 14
16:30 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus A.1959 December 16
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus A. FAILURE: Failure.1960 March 9
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus A.1960 April 28
14:50 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus A.1960 May 25
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus A.1960 June 22
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus A. FAILURE: Failure.1960 August 10
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.- First Tactical launch - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). First Nike Zeus flight..
1960 October 1
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1960 December 1
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1960 December 1
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 Q1
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 January 31
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 April 26
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 May 25
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 June 23
23:40 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 Q3
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 Q3
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 Q3?
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 Q3
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 July 26
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 August 31
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 September 6
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 September 15
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 September 21
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 Q4?
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 Nov 7?
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 November 15
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 November 15
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Deacon. Launch Vehicle: Cajun.1961 November 15
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 November 30
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 Dec 4?
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 Dec 8?
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1961 December 14
21:00 GMT - . Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 February 1
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 February 7
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 February 23
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 March 13
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 March 13
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 March 28
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 April 5
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 April 27
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 April 30
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 May 12?
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 July 16
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 July 31
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 August 28
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 September 27
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 November 8
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 November 29
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan ABM. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus.1962 December 17
Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Complex: White Sands LC38. LV Family: Spartan. Launch Vehicle: Nike Zeus DM-15S.- DM-15S Test 1 - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 180 km (110 mi). First Nike Zeus DM-155 flight..