Here, At Last - but not in yet!
 Finally, after a long drive through endless miles of flat farmland, we arrive at our destination, Launch Facility "Bravo-Twenty". As you approach the dirt access road, you can see the odd-shaped intrusion radar antennas, called the "O-Z antennas" in reference to the Outer Zone of the intrusion system. Inner Zone, or "I-Z" components refers to the various detection devices inside the site. The OZ Antennas and doppler radar system (motion detecting) shown here were later replaced with a single "monopole" antenna and a range-gating radar system called IMPSS that takes radar "snapshots" of the area instead of relying on motion to set it off. While the system had the potential of better detection and fewer false alarms from small animals, there were drawbacks: for some time after the system was first installed, the number of false alarms actually increased, for one example. This was due to a design flaw that did not take the harsh northern plains weather into account; high winds caused the monopole to waver drastically, generating "moving terrain" snapshots (and hence, alarms). Antennas had to be tethered at many sites to stop this. There is also a 25 foot wide "clear zone" around the fenced area that is also considered part of the site for security reasons; this keeps farmers, looky-loos, and others from parking vehicles or equipment next to the fence and blocking the security personnel's view of the area. |
 You pull your truck up to the gate, and get on the Missile Net Radio, calling agencies on the main base to let them know you have arrived. Then you switch channels to call the Flight Security Controller (FSC) for the LF you are at, informing him of the same thing; he communicates this to the Launch Crew and begins verifying your dispatch information. Because this takes a bit if he hasn't prepared earlier, you recieve the usual, "Trip 30 DASH 202, ...STANDBY....." from the FSC. He must verify everything concerning your dispatch is correct, then get permission from the Launch Crew for you to enter the gate and violate the OZ radar area. The sign on the gate states the Base Commander's authority over the installation and finishes up with a red-lettered warning: "Use Of Deadly Force Is Authorized". |
At last the FSC calls back, giving you permission to enter. You have
a few short minutes to enter the gate, park your vehicle, and contact
the Launch Crew via comm line to "authenticate" with a specific
encrypted alphanumeric code that identifies you. While you do this,
your Security Escort Team (SET) guards are doing the same via radio
with the FSC. Anyone screws up, and an Armed Response Team (ART) will
be rushed there to hold you at gunpoint (often on your face) until
properly identified. This is known as "getting jacked up", and is no
fun on snowy or muddy days. Providing everyone has authenticated
properly, the combinations to the various locks on site will be passed
back by the same communications, in encrypted form, to be decoded
and used to access the site. In this view you can see the Launcher
Closure that covers the silo, the small round hatch that covers the
"A-circuit", which is the first access lock, and the larger, round
Personal Access Hatch next to it, which blocks access to the second
access lock, called a "B-plug". Near the silo door are two metal
platforms called TE Pylons, used to mount the Missile
Transporter-Erector vehicle to when removing or installing a missile.
At the upper left of the picture is one of the huge ventilation
ducts for the Launcher Equipment Building (LEB). The large square
metal platform is the cover for the access shaft to the LEB. It has
two, hinged access covers on it for personnel or small equipment; if
large items such as a replacement generator is being installed, the
entire cover is pulled off by a crane. At the upper center area of the photo
is one of the 4 OZ Radar antennas, and to the right of it is a concrete
cylinder known as a "monument", which formerly served as a mount for a theodolite
sighting mirror used in missile gyro alignment and targeting. Advances in software and
gyro platforms eliminated the need for this sighting system.
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