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Launch Complexes 31-32

Systems

• Minuteman I
• Minuteman II
• Minuteman III
• Pershing 1A

Other Programs

• None

Cost: $4,861,107

Launch Complex Highlights

• 29 July 1959 - Construction contract awarded
• July 1959 - Construction started
• November 1960 - Brick and mortar construction completed
• A mobile railway system was built for the Minuteman IA Mobile Basing System near Pad 32A in 1960 with 1,700' of rail tracks from the Mobile Support Building to Pad 32A. The concept was abandoned in December 1961 in favor of the silo program
• 18 April 1961 - Turned over to U.S. Air Force
• One blockhouse, flat pads and silo for each launch complex. The blockhouse had periscopes in the two story facility
• Pads 31A and 32A were flat pads with roll-back service towers and a 35' umbilical tower. The service towers were 65' high, weighed 200 tons and moved on rails
• Pads 31B and 32B were silos. The silos were about 90' deep with a large equipment room (61' 8" by 17' to 22') under the pad next to each silo
• 1 February 1961 to 15 December 1970 - Total of 92 Minuteman I, II and III launched from Launch Complexes 31 and 32
• 1 February 1961 to 27 July 1961 - Total of 3 Minuteman IA launched from surface Pad 31A
• 30 August 1961 to 20 February 1963 - Series of Minuteman IA launched
• 18 December 1961 to 19 November 1962 - Series of Minuteman IA launched from Silo 31B
• 7 December 1962 to 30 March 1964 - Total of 15 Minuteman IB launched from Silo 32B
• 14 December 1962 to 29 September 1964 - Total of 15 Minuteman IB launched from Silo 31B
• Last half of 1964 - Pad 31 modified for the Minuteman II
• Last half of 1964 - Silo 32B reconfigured for the Minuteman II
• 24 September 1964 to 7 February 1968 - Total of 14 Minuteman II launched from Silo 32B
• 6 December 1964 to 1 April 1966 - Series of Minuteman II launched from Silo 31B
• Spring 1966 - Pad 31 placed in temporary storage pending modification for the Minuteman III program
• 16 August 1968 to 14 December 1970 - Total of 13 Minuteman III launched from Silo 32B
• 26 March 1969 to 23 September 1969 - Total of 4 Minuteman III launched from Silo 31B
• 23 September 1969 - Silo 31B deactivated following the final flight
• 14 March 1970 - Minuteman II Mobile Feasibility Test on Pad 31A
• 1971 - Launch Complex 32 deactivated
• 1973 - Army used Pad 31A for Pershing 1A launches
• 21 February 1973 to 19 March 1973 - Total of 12 Pershing 1A launched
• No launches occurred from Pad 32A

• Take a virtual museum tour if you can't visit in person

Wreckage and boxes of STS-51L Challenger debris were delivered to the site starting on 8 January 1987, lowered into silos 31B and 32B and then capped with concrete lids. NASA recovered 235,000 pounds of STS 51L. There are no markers at or near the silos as they are considered storage areas and not the final resting places. The story is covered in the 9 January 1987 Missileer.

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