White Sands Launch Complex 38
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Launch Complex 38 (originally "Army Launch Area Five")[1] was the White Sands Missile Range facility for testing the Nike Zeus anti-ballistic missile. The site is located east of the WSMR Post Area.
In February 1957, the prototype Nike Hercules installation was completed at White Sands Launch Complex 37, and a satisfactory flight test was conducted on March 13 (92 Hercules firings through November 13, 1957[2]--Operation Understanding civilian tours were conducted in 1967.)[3] The 1956[4] Nike II anti-ballistic missile study for an advance Project Nike evolved into the development program for the Nike Zeus ABM[5] and in January 1961, "ARGMA submitted the “NIKE-ZEUS Defense Production Plan” to the Chief of Ordnance".[6] Ascension Island's Target Tracking Radar was checked out on January 16, 1961,[4] and used to create recordings of radar reception from Cape Canaveral warheads, "chunks of the booster rocket", and "nose cone decoys" during reentry for use as simulated "ghost" missile input during WSMR's Zeus "synthetic intercept" program."[7]
ZAR compound
Deployment of the Zeus Acquisition Radar (ZAR) at the planned Launch Complex began in October 1958[8] near an airstrip.[9] The LC-18's rectangular compound for the ZAR buildings at 32°24′28.5″N 106°15′25.0″W / 32.407917°N 106.256944°W[10] was begun between AMTC and Oro Grande.[9] The ZAR power building housed "nine 1,500kW generators",[4] and ZAR initial operation was in June[11]/July 1961.[6] The HAPDAR (HArd Point Demonstration Array Radar)[12] construction began 16 July 1965 in the former ZAR Receiver building.[13]
