What goes up...

Complex 13 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station was built in the late 1950’s to support launches of the Atlas missile. The first launch took place on August 2, 1958. After its final Atlas launch on February 13, 1962, the Complex was rebuilt to support Atlas-Agena launches.

The Complex was turned over to NASA in 1966, where it supported several Atlas-Agena launches. This included the Lunar Orbiter series that mapped the moon, paving the way for manned missions.

In 1968, the Complex reverted to Air Force control. It continued supporting Atlas-Agena launches until the final launch on April 7, 1978. Having supported 51 launches, Complex 13 was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 16, 1984.

By the 1990's the Mobile Service Tower (MST) at Complex 13 stood alone as a monument to a former age. Its contemporaries long demolished, the MST at Complex 13 stood rusting in the salt air and frequent rains at the Cape. It had become a danger to workers, and had to come down.

Shortly after noon on Saturday, August 6th, the MST did come down. After the skillful use of cutting torches to further weaken the structure, 171 pounds of explosives neatly dropped the MST, marking another milestone in the distinguished service of Complex 13 to the American space program.

Thanks to Steve Sanders for the photo