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Complex 34 launch pedestal |
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The most prominent feature of the remains of Complex 34 is the launch pedestal. Made of concrete and
steel, it stands 27 feet tall, and is 42 feet long on each side. As seen in the picture above, the top of the
pedestal is open to the sky. On the left leg are stenciled the words "ABANDON IN PLACE."
On the right leg (and in another location on the structure) are two plaques in memorial to the crew of Apollo 1.
Through the legs of the structure, you can see two blast deflectors.
Long since gone are the umbilical tower and the service
structure. Looking at the photo above, the umbilical tower would be immediately to the right. The umbilical tower was
240 feet high, and provided electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic connections to the launch vehicle. The service
structure was a 310 foot high mobile structure that was used to erect and check out the vehicle prior to launch. When in
use, it surrounded the pedestal. Before launch, it was moved approximately 600 feet to the west.
Complex
34 only saw seven launches: four [unmanned] Saturn Is were launched between 1961
and 1963, two unmanned Saturn IBs were launched in 1966, and Apollo 7 (also a
Saturn IB) was launched in 1968.
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