RSL #3 Photo Gallery
(Last updated 21 Apr 2006, indicated by $ after photo number.)
"Must see" photos indicated by
+++.
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001 +++ :
USGS high altitude aerial photo of RSL 3 (1997).
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(390 x 293 = 21k)
(800 x 600 = 92k) 001733
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002 +++ :
Aerial photo of RSL 3 from the southeast (1996).
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003 +++ :
RSL #3 from the southeast, photo taken from N.D. Highway 5 (1977).
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The Sprint launch area is on the right.
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(470 x 294 = 24k)
(918 x 575 = 80k) 000709
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004 +++ :
Closer view of RSL #3 buildings from the southeast (1999).
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Left to right:
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Limited area sentry station (LASS).
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Entrance to underground remote launch operations building (RLOB).
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Exclusion area sentry station (EASS) (enforced two man rule for the
launch area).
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(465 x 294 = 24k)
(907 x 573 = 79k) 000309
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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.
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The white cap-like structures seen on the ground are Sprint launch cells.
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006 continues this photo to the north (right).
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(470 x 295 = 21k)
(909 x 571 = 64k) 000707
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006 +++ :
North end of the Sprint launch area (1977).
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Continuation of 005 to the north (right).
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(460 X 294 = 22k)
(918 x 586 = 64k) 000708
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007 :
View from the southeast (1977):
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Foreground: limited area sentry station (LASS).
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Background: remote launch operations building (RLOB).
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(450 x 294 = 22k)
(900 x 588 = 64k) 000706
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008:
1999 version of photo 007 (1999).
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(455 x 295 = 24k)
(916 x 593 = 76k) 000310
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009 +++ :
Wide view of RSL #3 from the south at the turnoff from N.D. Highway 5 (1982).
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(465 x 294 = 24k)
(919 x 582 = 75k) 000806
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010 +++ :
Original RSL #3 sign (1977).
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Apparently the RSL's were originally called RLS's.
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(470 x 293 = 24k)
(918 x 572 = 63k) 000702
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011 +++ :
Gate and current RSL #3 sign (1999).
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(470 x 293 = 26k)
(919 x 573 = 80k) 000314
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012 +++ :
RSL #3 from the south fence (winter) (2000).
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013 :
RSL #3 from the south fence (summer) (1999).
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(460 x 294 = 19k)
(926 x 591 = 62k) 000313
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014 +++ :
Main gate and remote launch operations building (RLOB) (1977).
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The cooling units in the center of the photo have since been removed.
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(450 x 294 = 29k)
(904 x 590 = 98k) 000703
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015 +++ :
Heat exchangers (prior to earth mounding).
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A, B, C, and D are heat exchangers HX-1102B, HX-1102A, HX-1101B, and HX-1101A, respectively.
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The heat exchangers transferred heat from the cooling water to the
outside air during the normal operating mode.
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On the far right is the air exhaust shaft.
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(371 x 295 = 35k)
(744 x 591 = 137k)
(HAER ND-9-AD-4 003055)
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016 +++ :
Double gated sally port at the limited area sentry station (LASS) (1977).
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(455 x 293 = 24k)
(911 x 587 = 77k) 000705
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017 +++ :
Closer view of the sally port at the limited area sentry station (2001).
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018 +++ :
Limited area sentry station and sally port seen from the top of the remote launch operations
building (RLOB) (2001).
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019 :
Limited area sentry station (LASS) and sally port from the south (1977).
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(515 x 293 = 24k)
(907 x 516 = 56k) 000701
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020 +++ :
Closer view of the limited area sentry station (LASS) (2001).
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021 +++ :
Entrance tunnel to the remote launch operations building (RLOB) from the northeast (2001).
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The generator exhaust ports are above left, air intake ports above right.
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(442 x 295 = 19k)
(768 x 512 = 50k) 002865
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Photo by Ron Plante.
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022 :
Entrance tunnel to the remote launch operations building (RLOB) from the southeast (2001).
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The security light, transformer, and electrical service box and meter
were not part of the original installation.
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(436 x 295 = 22k)
(757 x 512 = 53k) 002868
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Photo by Ron Plante.
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023 +++ :
Entrance to tunnel leading down to the remote launch operations building (RLOB) (2001).
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Blast doors were present below at the boundary between the entrance tunnel and the RLOB structure.
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The security light was not part of the original installation.
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(442 x 295 = 24k)
(768 x 512 = 71k) 002862
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Photo by Ron Plante.
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024 +++ :
Looking down the entrance tunnel to the main corridor in the remote launch operations building (RLOB) (2001).
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Ceiling lights in the RLOB corridor are reflected in water on the floor.
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(442 x 295 = 19k)
(768 x 512 = 42k) 002861
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Photo by Ron Plante.
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025v $ +++ :
Video: Walking down the entrance tunnel to the main corridor in the remote launch operations building (RLOB) (2001).
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026 +++ :
Art work on the SOCC counter (2001).
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027 +++ :
No-break units in power generation room.
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Room #124, no-break units NB-1002 (A) and NB-1001 (B).
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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.
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It was designed to provide continuous power service for launch equipment.
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Excellent example of the shock isolation scheme, as evidenced by the supporting
air springs and equipment platform.
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(367 x 295 = 28k)
(747 x 600 = 100k)
(HAER ND-9-AD-6 003057)
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028 :
Blast door control panel.
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This pneumatic control panel regulated entrance to waiting room #116.
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The panel activated the pneumatic cylinder for opening and closing of blast
doors #116 and #118.
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A rotary air motor actuated the locking and unlocking of the doors.
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(263 x 325 = 28k)
(521 x 644 = 111k)
(HAER ND-9-AD-5 003056)
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029 +++ :
Sally port and exclusion area sentry station (EASS) that enforced the two man rule for the launch area (2001).
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Only the brackets remain from the barbed wire barrier around the roof of the EASS.
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(442 x 295 = 27k)
(768 x 512 = 81k) 002864
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Photo by Ron Plante.
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030 :
Closer view of the exclusion area sentry station (EASS) (2001).
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031 +++ :
Entrance to the Sprint launch area (2001).
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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.
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(442 x 295 = 29k)
(768 x 512 = 83k) 002854
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Photo by Ron Plante.
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032 +++ :
Sprint launch area (2001).
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033 +++ :
Closeup of a Sprint launch station (2001).
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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.
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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.
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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).
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(442 x 295 = 24k)
(768 x 512 = 68k) 002850
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Photo by Ron Plante.
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034 +++ :
View into Sprint silo.
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(374 x 295 = 39k)
(752 x 593 = 156k)
(HAER ND-9-F-7 003012)
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035 :
Another view of the Sprint launch area at RSL 3 (2001).
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036 +++ :
Remote launch operations building (RLOB) from the launch area (2001).
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037 +++ :
RSL #3 from the south, photo taken from N.D. Highway 5 (1999).
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(465 x 294 = 24k)
(928 x 586 = 70k) 000316
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038 :
RSL #3 from the southwest (1999).
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Left: the white cap-like structures on the ground are Sprint launch cells.
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Right: remote launch operations building (RLOB).
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(465 x 295 = 28k)
(931 x 590 = 86k) 000318
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039 :
RSL #3 from the southwest (1977).
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Left: the white cap-like structures on the ground are Sprint launch cells.
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Right: remote launch operations building (RLOB).
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040 continues this photo to the north (left).
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(465 x 293 = 18k)
(915 x 577 = 64k) 000634
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040 :
RSL #3 from the southwest (1977).
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The white cap-like structures on the ground are Sprint launch cells.
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Continuation of 039 to the north (left).
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(485 x 295 = 18k)
(899 x 546 = 57k) 000635