RSL #3 Photo Gallery

"Must see" photos indicated by +++.

• 001 +++ : USGS high altitude aerial photo of RSL 3 (1997).
  • (390 x 293 = 21k) (800 x 600 = 92k) 001733
  
  
• 002 +++ : Aerial photo of RSL 3 from the southeast (1996).
  • (438 x 295 = 28k) (882 x 595 = 89k) (1750 x 1180 = 208k) 003905
  • Photo by Doug Smith.
  
  
• 003 +++ : RSL #3 from the southeast, photo taken from N.D. Highway 5 (1977).
  • The Sprint launch area is on the right.
  • (470 x 294 = 24k) (918 x 575 = 80k) 000709
  
  
• 004 +++ : Closer view of RSL #3 buildings from the southeast (1999).
  • Left to right:
    • Limited area sentry station (LASS).
    • Entrance to underground remote launch operations building (RLOB).
    • Exclusion area sentry station (EASS) (enforced two man rule for the launch area).
  • (465 x 294 = 24k) (907 x 573 = 79k) 000309
  
  
• 005 +++ : Left: entrance to the underground remote launch operations building (RLOB) (1977).
  Right: Exclusion area sentry station (EASS) and south end of the Sprint launch area.
  • The white cap-like structures seen on the ground are Sprint launch cells.
  • 006 continues this photo to the north (right).
  • (470 x 295 = 21k) (909 x 571 = 64k) 000707
  
  
• 006 +++ : North end of the Sprint launch area (1977).
  • Continuation of 005 to the north (right).
  • (460 X 294 = 22k) (918 x 586 = 64k) 000708
  
  
• 007 : View from the southeast (1977):
  • Foreground: limited area sentry station (LASS).
  • Background: remote launch operations building (RLOB).
  • (450 x 294 = 22k) (900 x 588 = 64k) 000706
  
  
• 008: 1999 version of photo 007 (1999).
  • (455 x 295 = 24k) (916 x 593 = 76k) 000310
  
  
• 009 +++ : Wide view of RSL #3 from the south at the turnoff from N.D. Highway 5 (1982).
  • (465 x 294 = 24k) (919 x 582 = 75k) 000806
  
  
• 010 +++ : Original RSL #3 sign (1977).
  • Apparently the RSL's were originally called RLS's.
  • (470 x 293 = 24k) (918 x 572 = 63k) 000702
  
  
• 011 +++ : Gate and current RSL #3 sign (1999).
  • (470 x 293 = 26k) (919 x 573 = 80k) 000314
  
  
• 012 +++ : RSL #3 from the south fence (winter) (2000).
  • (576 x 436 = 49k) 002613
  • Photo by Charlie Mauze.
  
  
• 013 : RSL #3 from the south fence (summer) (1999).
  • (460 x 294 = 19k) (926 x 591 = 62k) 000313
  
  
• 014 +++ : Main gate and remote launch operations building (RLOB) (1977).
  • The cooling units in the center of the photo have since been removed.
  • (450 x 294 = 29k) (904 x 590 = 98k) 000703
  
  
• 015 +++ : Heat exchangers (prior to earth mounding).
  • A, B, C, and D are heat exchangers HX-1102B, HX-1102A, HX-1101B, and HX-1101A, respectively.
  • The heat exchangers transferred heat from the cooling water to the outside air during the normal operating mode.
  • On the far right is the air exhaust shaft.
  • (371 x 295 = 35k) (744 x 591 = 137k) (HAER ND-9-AD-4 003055)
  
  
• 016 +++ : Double gated sally port at the limited area sentry station (LASS) (1977).
  • (455 x 293 = 24k) (911 x 587 = 77k) 000705
  
  
• 017 +++ : Closer view of the sally port at the limited area sentry station (2001).
  • (442 x 295 = 23k) (768 x 512 = 63k) 002866
  • Photo by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 018 +++ : Limited area sentry station and sally port seen from the top of the remote launch operations building (RLOB) (2001).
  • (442 x 295 = 21k) (768 x 512 = 57k) 002846
  • Photo by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 019 : Limited area sentry station (LASS) and sally port from the south (1977).
  • (515 x 293 = 24k) (907 x 516 = 56k) 000701
  
  
• 020 +++ : Closer view of the limited area sentry station (LASS) (2001).
  • (442 x 295 = 26k) (768 x 512 = 72k) 002853
  • Photo by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 021 +++ : Entrance tunnel to the remote launch operations building (RLOB) from the northeast (2001).
  • The generator exhaust ports are above left, air intake ports above right.
  • (442 x 295 = 19k) (768 x 512 = 50k) 002865
  • Photo by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 022 : Entrance tunnel to the remote launch operations building (RLOB) from the southeast (2001).
  • The security light, transformer, and electrical service box and meter were not part of the original installation.
  • (436 x 295 = 22k) (757 x 512 = 53k) 002868
  • Photo by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 023 +++ : Entrance to tunnel leading down to the remote launch operations building (RLOB) (2001).
  • Blast doors were present below at the boundary between the entrance tunnel and the RLOB structure.
  • The security light was not part of the original installation.
  • (442 x 295 = 24k) (768 x 512 = 71k) 002862
  • Photo by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 024 +++ : Looking down the entrance tunnel to the main corridor in the remote launch operations building (RLOB) (2001).
  • Ceiling lights in the RLOB corridor are reflected in water on the floor.
  • (442 x 295 = 19k) (768 x 512 = 42k) 002861
  • Photo by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 025v $ +++ : Video: Walking down the entrance tunnel to the main corridor in the remote launch operations building (RLOB) (2001).
  • mpg, 00:16 (170 x 120 = 1.1m) (352 x 240 = 2.9m) 004203
  • Video by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 026 +++ : Art work on the SOCC counter (2001).
  • (442 x 295 = 22k) (768 x 512 = 49k) 002860
  • Photo by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 027 +++ : No-break units in power generation room.
  • Room #124, no-break units NB-1002 (A) and NB-1001 (B).
  • This equipment consisted of a 150 horsepower D.C. operational motor which drove, on each end of the extended shaft, a 70 KW generator and a 30 KW generator unit.
  • It was designed to provide continuous power service for launch equipment.
  • Excellent example of the shock isolation scheme, as evidenced by the supporting air springs and equipment platform.
  • (367 x 295 = 28k) (747 x 600 = 100k) (HAER ND-9-AD-6 003057)
  
  
• 028 : Blast door control panel.
  • This pneumatic control panel regulated entrance to waiting room #116.
  • The panel activated the pneumatic cylinder for opening and closing of blast doors #116 and #118.
  • A rotary air motor actuated the locking and unlocking of the doors.
  • (263 x 325 = 28k) (521 x 644 = 111k) (HAER ND-9-AD-5 003056)
  
  
• 029 +++ : Sally port and exclusion area sentry station (EASS) that enforced the two man rule for the launch area (2001).
  • Only the brackets remain from the barbed wire barrier around the roof of the EASS.
  • (442 x 295 = 27k) (768 x 512 = 81k) 002864
  • Photo by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 030 : Closer view of the exclusion area sentry station (EASS) (2001).
  • (200 x 300 = 15k) (512 x 768 = 74k) 002852
  • Photo by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 031 +++ : Entrance to the Sprint launch area (2001).
  • Just inside the entrance gate are Mark Berhow (left), co-author of Rings of Supersonic Steel, and Jerry Greenwood (right), SMDC resident engineer at the Mickelsen Complex.
  • (442 x 295 = 29k) (768 x 512 = 83k) 002854
  • Photo by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 032 +++ : Sprint launch area (2001).
  • (442 x 295 = 26k) (768 x 512 = 75k) 002845
  • Photo by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 033 +++ : Closeup of a Sprint launch station (2001).
  • The foundation of each of the 16 steel cylindrical Sprint launch stations was buried vertically underground to a depth of some 32 ft and had an inner diameter of approximately 9.5 ft. Each was closed with a hatch and had a launch preparation equipment chamber on a concrete base.
  • When operational, each cell contained a Sprint missile that would be launched by a gas-propelled piston through its cell cover, which would be explosively fragmented to allow the missile's exit.
  • Launch area antennas (LAA's -- the vertical pipes next to each launch station at the MSR site) were not used at the RSL's. Instead, pre-launch communication with RSL missiles was accomplished via a data link system between the MSR and the RSL missile control center (in the RLOB).
  • (442 x 295 = 24k) (768 x 512 = 68k) 002850
  • Photo by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 034 +++ : View into Sprint silo.
  • (374 x 295 = 39k) (752 x 593 = 156k) (HAER ND-9-F-7 003012)
  
  
• 035 : Another view of the Sprint launch area at RSL 3 (2001).
  • (442 x 295 = 29k) (768 x 512 = 85k) 002867
  • Photo by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 036 +++ : Remote launch operations building (RLOB) from the launch area (2001).
  • (442 x 295 = 23k) (768 x 512 = 63k) 002855
  • Photo by Ron Plante.
  
  
• 037 +++ : RSL #3 from the south, photo taken from N.D. Highway 5 (1999).
  • (465 x 294 = 24k) (928 x 586 = 70k) 000316
  
  
• 038 : RSL #3 from the southwest (1999).
  • Left: the white cap-like structures on the ground are Sprint launch cells.
  • Right: remote launch operations building (RLOB).
  • (465 x 295 = 28k) (931 x 590 = 86k) 000318
  
  
• 039 : RSL #3 from the southwest (1977).
  • Left: the white cap-like structures on the ground are Sprint launch cells.
  • Right: remote launch operations building (RLOB).
  • 040 continues this photo to the north (left).
  • (465 x 293 = 18k) (915 x 577 = 64k) 000634
  
  
• 040 : RSL #3 from the southwest (1977).
  • The white cap-like structures on the ground are Sprint launch cells.
  • Continuation of 039 to the north (left).
  • (485 x 295 = 18k) (899 x 546 = 57k) 000635

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