Complex 20 (now SLC-20)

Complexes 15, 16, 19, & 20 were started in 1959 to support the TITAN I Ballistic Missile Program.

Complex 20 (now SLC-20) was modified to support the TITAN IIIA launch program. A $819,000 contract was awarded to Julian Evans and Associates to modify Complex 20 for TITAN IIIA operations. That contract was completed to the point of beneficial occupancy in September 1963, and Martin's sub-contractors completed equipment installation and ground systems testing on Complex 20 by the end of June 1964. Martin launched the first TITAN IIIA from Complex 20 on 1 September 1964, and three more TITAN IIIA flights were completed before the first TITAN IIIC was launched from Complex 40 on a successful mission on 18 June 1965.

Following the fourth and final TITAN IIIA launch on 6 May 1965, Complex 20 was deactivated and returned to the Air Force Eastern Test Range in September 1965.

Reactivated in 1987, it supported the STARBIRD program, followed by the ARIES and RED TIGRESS missions. All were sponsored by the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization. SLC-20 is maintained as a Small Expendable Launch Vehicle (SELV) support site and is being considered for use by the Spaceport Florida Authority for commercial space activities.

The Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) project is a NASA-led research and development project to provide infrastructure to test, demonstrate and qualify new Spaceport Technologies. The ATDC will allow for full-scale demonstration, testing and qualification of Spaceport Technologies within infrastructure that accurately resembles a launch environment. Spaceport Technology projects under development, that show promise in a laboratory environment, can be deployed and qualified at the ATDC under "real world" conditions.

The ATDC is housed at Space Launch Complex (SLC) 20 at Cape Canaveral Air Station (CCAS); SLC 20 use is shared with the Florida Air National Guard to make effective use of pooled assets in support Spaceport and Range Technology Development.

The ATDC will be built in phases over a period of five years. The first segment of the ATDC, the cryogenics area, will include a LOX area which is designed to accommodate a 56K gallon storage vessel to be used to test cryogenic components, process systems, and flow LOX to customer supplied equipment. The LH2 area will be designed to accommodate a 68K gallon storage vessel capable of testing LH2 cryogenic components, process systems, and customer supplied equipment. The LN2 area will accommodate an 8K gallon LN2 storage vessel capable of testing LN2, LOX, and LH2 cryogenic components, process systems, flow LN2 to customer supplied equipment and for cryogenic densification.

A Launch Mount is to be built to simulate launch conditions. This Launch Mount will be capable of accommodating various launch structures and vehicle simulators, as well as testing ground to Mobile Launch Platform (MLP) umbilical systems. An "Iron Rocket" will be built atop the Launch Mount. The Iron Rocket will include a 12K gallon LOX tank and 20K gallon LH2 tank, which will act as a Static Test Demonstrator with "flight tanks" and vehicle instrumentation systems, and umbilical systems. A Processing Building containing checkout and control systems capable of performing closed-loop command and control for any combination of ATDC facilities, as well as, develop new processing techniques. And finally, a Shop Building capable of supplying the necessary operations, maintenance, and logistical support for the ATDC.

ATDC Phase 1 developed a Liquid Oxygen (LO2 ) Area (max capacity 56,000 gallons LO2), containing the appropriate infrastructure to safely provide, control, distribute, test, and remove LO2. Supporting facility and GSE systems, such as a Gaseous Nitrogen (GN2) purge capability, safety systems, instrumentation system, command and control system, closed-circuit cameras, and communications, were be provided at this time. At the end of Phase 1, the ATDC was able to qualify LO2 cryogenic components and will support the Shuttle Program by performing LOX Pump qualification testing.