Conference 7.286::space

148.0. "The EXPLORER 1 Launch Tower" by PYRITE::WEAVER () Thu Feb 13 1986 12:18

Associated Press Wed 12-FEB-1986 15:22                            Space Tower

        Air Force Wants To Tear Down Crumbling Landmark

   CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - The Air Force has asked permission
to tear down the tower used to launch the first U.S. satellite into
orbit, saying it is a hazard to tourists and would be more use
underwater as an artificial reef.
   The 110-foot tower was declared a national historic landmark in
1984. Originally an oil rig, it was used Jan. 31, 1958, when
Explorer I roared off Launch Complex 26 at Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station.
   But Lt. Col. Robert Nicholson, public affairs officer at Patrick
Air Force Base, said salt air and time have caused the rust-covered
tower, last used in 1963 during a North Atlantic Treaty
Organization training program, to tilt precariously.
   ``Every time the wind blows hard, steel pieces of it fall,''
Nicholson said. ``We've already had to prop it up once and our
engineers now say it's in danger of falling over completely.''
   The Air Force put a fence around the tower a few years ago to
protct tourists from falling debris, he said. Surrounding         
buildings comprise a space museum.
   Last week, Air Force officials applied to the Congressional
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in Washington for a
permit to demolish the tower. If the permit is not denied within 30
days, the Air Force will put out public notices that it intends to
tear it down. The dismantling, which the Air Force estimates will
cost $75,000, will begin in April at the earliest and take several
weeks, he said.
   ``It's a shame to see a part of our history go, but the tower is
becoming a safety hazard,'' Nicholson told The Orlando Sentinel in
a story published Wednesday.
   Air Force engineers say it would be impossible to restore the
tower to its original form because the structure would not meet
building codes, Nicholson said. Just making the tower look the way
it did in its heyday will cost $1.25 million because of rust
damage. In addition, the Air Force says routine painting and
maintenance to protect the tower's joints from rust will cost
$77,000 annually.
   If it is taken down, a private group wants to sink the tower as
part of an artificial reef off Cape Canaveral, he said.

    	Some day when they turn Cape Canaveral into a museum, boy will
    they be sorry about all the historical landmarks they did not preserve
    because of some relatively inexpensive repairs ($77,000 annualy
    to the military is pocket change!).
                                      
    	Larry
    

    I went to Florida this past winter, and took the NASA tour to the
    Cape. It was quite a sight for me, being the first time to the
    area, and being interested in space flight history. The Air Force
    museum area is quite large, with numerous flight vehicles laying
    down and standing (like the Explorer Redstone and it's tower). The
    Atlas vehicle laying down on a mobile trailer was complete, unlike
    the vehicles at the visitor center. Very interesting. 
    I wanted to see the Mecury and Gemini launch pads, but they already
    dismantled them! So much for saving history!

Article: 39607
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: THIS WEEK: 34th Anniversary of "Explorer I" (Jan. 31, 1958)
Date: 25 Jan 92 12:26:16 GMT
Sender: [email protected]
Organization: BTR Public Access UNIX, Mountain View CA
 
This Friday will be the 34th Anniversary of the first US space satellite,
Explorer I.
 
On January 31, 1958, "Explorer I" achieved orbit launched from a modified
Redstone missile platform.
 
Thad Floryan [ [email protected] (OR) {decwrl, mips, fernwood}!btr!thad ]