The Launch Complex 5/6 Spin Test Facility is located in the red circle. It is the site where the upperstages and payloads of all the Jupiter-C, Juno I and Juno II were prepared and spin balanced. I its also the site were final assembly and encapsulation of Rangers 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 was performed as well as Mariners 1 & 2 and all the Lunar Orbiters.

Here are some photos after the construction of the facility in 1956.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/155900140@N02/j3ceyXNJQ0
These photos were obtained from the JPL archives (Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech)

I will be posting photos of the planetary missions in the appropriate forums. I will post the Juno Explorer and Pioneer missions here.


I would like some feedback on how Flickr works for this.

Here is a teaser of some photos of spacecraft processed in the facility

These are Fantastic. Are these proof test models or the actual hardware launched? Do you know which of the Mariner, Ranger and Lunar Orbiters are photographed here? Thank you for sharing these photographs.

Mariner 2, Ranger 6, Lunar Orbiter 1 (I believe), Pioneer IV

These are all the flight vehicles in preparation in the same facility described in the first post.

Here is the facility with actual spin testing in work.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/155900140@N02/087p412SB0


These are the three Jupiter-C payloads. The test payload which legend has it that it was fulled with sand to prevent it from going into orbit. And two RTVs (Reentry Test Vehicles). The success of the RTVs allowed the remaining Jupiter-Cs to be used for orbital payloads

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAjBha

This is Explorer I in preparation

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAjCM6

X Minus 80 Days (JPL Explorer I Documentary, 1958)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roXs-4oD63o
@12:50 to 13:37 shows the assembly and spin testing of the high-speed stages and Explorer I.

Explorer 1 Preparation and Launch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw_ulaECjSg&t=695s
@5:42 to 9:45 shows the assembly of the Explorer I payload onto the 4th stage and spin testing of the whole composite.

Launching of Explorer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpO4EAf9rC0&t=230s
@3:10 the opening in east elevation of the spin test building for viewing is visible and the Observation Pit can be seen though it is in the distance in this video.

I wrote two articles in the Quest Magazine on the history of this facility.

I will continue with other Juno-I Explorers followed by Juno-II Explorers and Pioneers.