Editing Cheyenne Mountain Complex (section)

== Facilities ==

=== Main chambers ===
{| style="float:right; width:360px;" class="infobox"
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|[[File:Cheyenne Mountain nuclear bunker.png|160px]]||{{smalldiv|1=Diagram of tunnels to buildings within the mountain:
* '''Access Tunnel''' (right) with North and South openings at the mountain's east slope,
* '''side tunnels'''{{r|Finley}} to the main chambers and the support area,{{r|Lewiston1967}}
* a '''support area''' including reservoirs (blue), and
* '''main chambers''' (gray grid) for the centers (dark green buildings are 3 story){{r|Finley}} with 3 tunnels {{convert|45|ft|m}} wide, {{convert|60.5|ft|m}} high, and {{convert|588|ft|m}} long intersected by 4 cross tunnels {{convert|32|ft|m}} wide, {{convert|56|ft|m}} high and {{convert|335|ft|m}} long.{{r|Lewiston1967}}}}
|-
|}
The complex was built under 2,000 feet (610 metres) of granite on five acres (2 hectares).<ref name="721 CES">{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Lea |date=July 30, 2012 |title=721st MSG activates squadron, appoints leadership |url=http://www.peterson.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/326637/721st-msg-activates-squadron-appoints-leadership |publisher=Air Force Space Command |access-date=July 3, 2016}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Fifteen three-story buildings are protected from movement, e.g., earthquake or explosion, by a system of giant springs that the buildings sit on and flexible pipe connectors to limit the operational effect of movement.{{r|Terdiman}} A total of more than 1,000 springs are designed to prevent any of the 15 buildings from shifting more than one inch.{{r|Terdiman}} The complex is the only underground [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] facility certified to be able to sustain a high-altitude [[Nuclear electromagnetic pulse|electromagnetic pulse]] (EMP).{{r|Terdiman}} There are a large quantity of cots for most of the personnel, including suites for high-ranking officers within the bunker. Amenities include a medical facility, store, cafeteria,{{r|Terdiman}} and fitness centers inside and outside the mountain.{{r|PAFBSS}}

=== Blast doors ===
[[File:NORADBlast-Doors.jpg|thumb|right|The 25-ton North [[blast door]] is the main entrance to another blast door (background) beyond which the side tunnel branches into access tunnels to the main chambers.]]
The bunker is built to deflect a 30 [[TNT equivalent|megaton]] [[nuclear explosion]] as close as 1.2 miles (1.9 km).<ref>{{cite web|title=The Underground City Inside of Colorado's 9,570-foot Cheyenne Mountain|first=Spencer |last=McKee |date=April 12, 2019|url=https://www.outtherecolorado.com/features/the-underground-city-inside-of-colorado-s-9-570-foot-cheyenne-mountain/article_ce093a04-5892-50c5-8570-d4a079cb8ebf.html|website=outtherecolorado.com|access-date=February 11, 2023}}</ref> Within a mountain tunnel are sets of 25-ton blast doors and another for the civil engineering department. The doors were built so that they can always be opened when needed. Should a nuclear blast hit the building, they are designed to withstand a [[blast wave]]. There is a network of blast valves with unique filters to capture airborne [[CBRN defense|chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear]] contaminants.{{r|Terdiman}}

=== Outdoor ===
[[File:NORADNorth-Portal.jpg|thumb|The exterior North Portal protects the eastward tunnel opening. The south opening has a concrete abutment.<ref name=GoogleMaps/>]]
Outside of the military complex are the parking lots, a fire station,<ref name=GNISfire>{{Cite gnis |2667293|Cheyenne Mountain NORAD Air Force Station Fire Department |access-date=July 25, 2012}}</ref>{{efn|The fire station is located at {{Coord|38|44|26|N|104|50|23|W}}.{{r|GNISfire}}}} and outdoor recreational facilities. The recreational amenities include Mountain Man Park, picnic areas, a racquetball facility, softball field, sand volleyball court, basketball court, a putting green, and horseshoe area.<ref name=PAFBSS>{{cite web |url=http://www.21fss.com/about/fitness-center/cmafs/ |title=Peterson Air Force Support Squadron: CMAFS |publisher=Peterson Air Force Base |access-date=February 20, 2015}}</ref>

=== Support area ===
The complex has its own power plant, heating and cooling system, and water supply.{{r|721 CES}} The [[21st Space Wing|21st Mission Support Group]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.peterson.af.mil/News/Article/1806992/721st-msg-inactivates-realigns-with-21st-msg/|title=721st MSG inactivates, realigns with 21st MSG|website=Peterson Air Force Base}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> ensures there is a 99.999% degree of reliability of its electricity, water, air conditioning, power, and other support systems.{{r|Terdiman}} The threats, in descending order of likelihood, that the complex may face are "medical emergencies, natural disasters, civil disorder, a conventional attack, an electromagnetic pulse attack, a cyber or information attack, chemical or biological or radiological attack, an improvised nuclear attack, a limited nuclear attack, [and] a general nuclear attack." The least likely events are the most hazardous.{{r|Terdiman}}

There is more water produced by mountain springs than the base requires, and a 1,500,000-gallon (5,700,000-litre) reservoir ensures that even in event of fire, there is enough water to meet the facility's needs. A reservoir of 4,500,000 gallons (17,000,000 litres) of water is used as a heat sink.{{r|Terdiman}} There is a "massive" reservoir for diesel fuel and a "huge" battery bank with redundant power generators.{{r|Terdiman}}