RSL Sprint Launch Area Description
(Adapted from
Historic American Engineering Record, HAER No. ND-9-F,
Missile Launch Area)
Location:
Within Exclusion Area, Remote Sprint Launch Sites.
Significance:
The Sprint Launch Area comprised the Sprint Launch Stations, allowing for short range defense against an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Description:
The foundation of each of the 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.
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.
Prior to launch, Sprint missile status and commands were relayed to/from the MSR via (1) the Sprint Remote Control Equipment (SRCE) located within the RLOB (Remote Launch Operations Building), and (2) a digital data link between the RLOB and the MSR.
After launch, the MSR used its radar beam to communicate directly with the Sprint missile.