Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36

Launch Complex 36
	An Atlas-Centaur at LC-36 prior to the launch of Pioneer 10
Launch site	Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Coordinates	28°28′14″N 80°32′24″W / 28.47056°N 80.54000°W
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (EDT)
Short name	LC-36
Operator	NASA (1962–2005); U.S. Air Force (1962–2008); Space Florida (2008–2015); Moon Express (2015–2016); Blue Origin (2015–present);
Total launches	145
Orbital inclination ; range	28° - 57°
Status
LC-36 launch history
Status	Active
Launches	0
First launch	November 2024 (planned); New Glenn (Blue Ring)
Associated; rockets	New Glenn; New Armstrong (future)
LC-36A launch history
Status	Demolished
Launches	68
First launch	May 18, 1962; Atlas-Centaur (AC-1)
Last launch	August 31, 2004; Atlas II (NROL-1)
Associated; rockets	Atlas-Centaur; Atlas I; Atlas II; Atlas III;
LC-36B launch history
Status	Demolished
Launches	77
First launch	August 11, 1965; Atlas-Centaur (Surveyor SD-2)
Last launch	February 3, 2005; Atlas III (NROL-23)
Associated; rockets	Atlas-Centaur; Atlas I; Atlas II; Atlas III;

Launch Complex 36 (LC-36) is a launch complex located at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Historically, it served as a launch pad for Atlas rockets operated by NASA and the U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 2005.^[1]^[2]

In 2015, Blue Origin leased LC-36 with the goal of developing a new launch site for its orbital rockets. The company has been working on the New Glenn launch vehicle since 2012 and it is expected to first launch from LC-36 in November 2024.

Prior to Blue Origin's lease, LC-36 featured two launch pads, 36A and 36B. During the 1960s and 1970s, it served as the launch site for pioneering space missions, including the Pioneer, Surveyor, and Mariner probes.^[3] Over its five decades of government operation, LC-36 hosted a total of 145 launches.^[4]

The Atlas rockets that once launched from this complex were eventually replaced by the Atlas V launch vehicle, which was launched from SLC-41 at Cape Canaveral, leading to the closure of LC-36 before Blue Origin's lease.^[5]

^ McDowell, Jonathan (February 22, 1998). "Issue 350". Jonathan's Space Report. Jonathan's Space Page. Archived from the original on May 3, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
^ "Table 3 — Launch Capability in Florida". AU-18 Space Handbook. Air War College Gateway to the Internet. Archived from the original on March 5, 2001. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
^ Launch Site Safety Assessment, Section 1.0 Eastern Range General Range Capabilities (PDF) (Report). Federal Aviation Administration. March 1999. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
^ Cite error: The named reference nsf20151008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference nsf20190911 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] McDowell, Jonathan (February 22, 1998). "Issue 350". Jonathan's Space Report. Jonathan's Space Page. Archived from the original on May 3, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2010.

[2] "Table 3 — Launch Capability in Florida". AU-18 Space Handbook. Air War College Gateway to the Internet. Archived from the original on March 5, 2001. Retrieved January 25, 2010.

[3] Launch Site Safety Assessment, Section 1.0 Eastern Range General Range Capabilities (PDF) (Report). Federal Aviation Administration. March 1999. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2010.

[nsf20151008-4] Cite error: The named reference nsf20151008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[nsf20190911-5] Cite error: The named reference nsf20190911 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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