Apollo 1 Memorial at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Launch Complex 34, constructed between 1959-61, was associated with Saturn missile tests, and two Apollo program launches- Apollo 1 and Apollo 7. Before the manned Apollo program, LC 34 was used for planning and development of the Saturn missile program. In 1961, following President John F. Kennedy’s call for the development of a space program that would land a man on the moon by the end of the decade, the Saturn missile was selected as the launch vehicle choice for the Manned Lunar Landing Program (Apollo mission). Launch Complex 34 was modified to accommodate for these needs.

This 1963 NASA image shows the Saturn 1 SA-4 Launch Vehicle on the pad. The Mobile Service Towers (MST) are in their parked position away from the missile. Parallel railroad tracks were used to position the MST directly over the vehicle. The umbilical tower can be seen just behind the rocket. Note the cableway and blockhouse in the bottom center of the image, and the Atlantic coastline seen at the top right of the image.

3D Point cloud from terrestrial laser scanning survey, showing the circular launch pad, launch support structures and remnants, "I" shaped fire brick pad, rails, pedestal launch stand, and flame deflectors parked on the edge of the pad.

3D data allows for measured drawings and accurate modeled renders, like the one shown here, to be developed. The pedestal measures 42 ft. on each side, and is 27 ft. high. There is a circular blast hole in the center that functioned to allow engine exhaust to pass through to a flame deflector, which now sit parked along the edge of the pad. The launch pedestal was constructed from reinforced concrete formed over steel with substantial support columns.

Two flame deflectors- made of steel frame covered in 1-inch thick steel plates and with a 4-inch layer of heat resistant ceramic material- were kept available for use with launches at LC 34. Only one deflector was put into position, with the other serving as backup for any failure. These structures each weigh over 150 tons and are 43 feet long, 32 feet wide, and 21 feet in height. Deflectors were moved to the pad using a rail system.

Deflectors have a unique inverted "V" shape, and were engineered to protect the launch vehicle and pedestal by controlling and directing engine blast and flames. Today, their welded and bolted steel design is deteriorating, especially on surfaces exposed to sea salts and coastal impacts. The reflective surface properties captured by laser scanning can help delineate surface areas being most impacted by rust and and change, seen in the 3D pointcloud data as areas of blue color.

The 12-sided dome blockhouse is 120 feet in diameter, located only 1,000 feet to the southwest of the launch pad. The blockhouse was the control center for the complex, and contained important communications, instrumentation, and computer control consoles for handling the launch.

The LC 34 blockhouse is 20,396 square feet and has two floors. The dome is made up of different layers including an inner dome of reinforced concrete that is five feet thick and contains an interior vault constructed with five feet of reinforced concrete. On the exterior, the structure was sprayed with a four inch layer of shotcrete to consolidate the dome. There is also a breezeway and equipment support building, stairs and decking on the exterior, and a 23 ton blast door that insulates the structure in case of an explosion on the nearby pad.