The sun rises over the Atlantic Ocean and Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. This launch pad was originally designed for Titan IIIC rocket launches. With waning demand, Complex 40 was deserviced last year. Complex 41, a sister launch pad was recently razed, then rebuilt as a modern facility for Atlas V launches. Now it is the only launch pad designated for the Air Force. Lockheed-Martin and Boeing corporations utilize Launch Complexes 17 and 37. Cape Canaveral has seen its lowest activity in decades, due to satellite saturation and foreign competition.
Historic launches from Launch Complexes 40 and 41 include Mars Viking, Voyager I and II, and the New Horizons. One can look back and admire the Cape's rich history, but a question also lingers, is the 'sun setting ' on this type of unmanned scientific achievement?