Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2
Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) is an active rocket launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base, in California, USA. It consists of two launch pads: SLC-2E (originally LC 75-1-1), used by the PGM-17 Thor and several of its derivatives from 1958 to 1972, and SLC-2W (originally LC 75-1-2), which is currently used by the Firefly Alpha after historically being the west coast launch site of the Delta II.
 Delta II at SLC-2W, with Gravity Probe B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Launch site | Vandenberg Space Force Base | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 34°45′16″N 120°37′11″W / 34.7545°N 120.6198°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time zone | UTC−08:00 (PST) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
• Summer (DST) | UTC−07:00 (PDT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short name | SLC-2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | United States Space Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total launches | 152 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch pad(s) | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orbital inclination range | 51° – 145° | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Space Launch Complex 2 was originally part of Launch Complex 75 (LC 75) and was known by designation LC 75-1 or just 75-1 (and the launch pads were designated LC 75-1-1 and LC 75-1-2). The first launch out of the newly designated Space Launch Complex 2 was that of a Delta E with ESSA-3 on 2 October 1966 from SLC-2E.[1]
SLC-2E and SLC-2W are located approximately 2,000 feet (610 m) apart.[2]
SLC-2W
editSLC-2W was originally built to launch the PGM-17 Thor for use in suborbital tests. As the Thor got decommissioned from missile use in the early 1960s, it got modified to launch the Thor-Agena and its KH-4 reconnaissance satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office. Following the KH-4's phasing out to the more massive KH-9 and KH-11, SLC-2W received another modification to launch the Thor-Delta and its derivatives throughout the 1970s and 1980s, carrying various payloads for NASA, the DoD, NOAA, and commercial customers. From 1995 to 2018, the site launched the Delta II, delivering various payloads to polar orbit such as Aqua, Aura, Gravity Probe B, WISE, and ICESat-2 on the last ever flight of a Thor-derived vehicle.[3][4]
Following the Delta II's retirement, the site has been leased to Firefly Aerospace and repurposed to launch the Firefly Alpha. During the demolition process, a fire broke out on October 15, 2020, inside the Delta II mobile service tower.[5] The maiden flight of Firefly Alpha took place on September 3, 2021 and resulted in a flight failure.[6] The second flight on 1 October 2022 was successful in reaching orbit.
SLC-2E
editSLC-2E was used for Delta, Thor-Agena and Thorad launches between 1966 and 1972 and has been demolished.[7]
References
edit- ^ Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg SLC2E". Astronautix. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ "Archived copy". www.fas.org. Archived from the original on 16 April 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX 2 WEST". Air Force Space & Missile Museum. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ Graham, William (15 September 2018). "Delta II concludes amazing legacy with ICESat-2 launch". NASA Space Flight. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ "Crews extinguish fires at Vandenberg Air Force Base rocket launch complex". Lompoc Record. Santa Maria Times. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ Neal, Mihir (2 September 2021). "Firefly Aerospace's maiden flight of Alpha launch vehicle ends in failure". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ "Space Launch Complex 2 East". Air Force Space & Missile Museum. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
External links
edit34°45′16″N 120°37′11″W / 34.7545°N 120.6198°W
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