I. 1e GMS - PCT1 Rustrel

Former 1e Groupe Missiles Strategiques (GMS) Poste de Conduite er de Tir (PCT)1. Launch Control Center 1 for half of the 18 French Air Force surface-to-surface nuclear SSBS-S2 and later S-3 missiles which were located underground at the Plateau Albion.

Appx. 500m deep inside the rocks the two PCT's were completely isolated from the surface. The only visible thing of the entrance was a concrete construction with armored steel door surrounded by a lightened electrified doublefence and a remote controlled turning cage type entry. The hi-sec area was camera controlled.

Once through the turning cage and the armored steel entry door the acces control officer was reached and after ID verification permission was granted to continue through the tunnel. The lightened tunnel was 6 m in diameter and contained some electric golf cart like transport vehicles which were used to go inside the mountain. Passing by 2 airlocks the tunnel turned right to the launch control center.

The complex was manned on a 24/7 base by a crew of mechanics, security commandos and launch control officiers. Shift change was after 24 h. Transport was by helicopter or by car.

Current status: decommisioned but still existing and converted into Low Noise Scientific Laboratory.

Video footage (French) about this facility http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hXliUsZOg4
Photos http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Tunnel_poste_conduite_de_tir_N%C2%B01_-_1.JPG
http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/albion/albion%20PCT1.jpg
http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/albion/albion%20PCT%20officier%20de%20tir%2003.jpg
http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/albion/albion%20PCT1%20LSBB%2003.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/SSBS_S2_%28MAE%29.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Missile_S3_mont%C3%A9_en_position_verticale_Musee_du_Bourget_P1010455.JPG

Webste Capcom Espace:
http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/albion/albion_aujourdhui_PCT.htm

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