Space Launch Complex 9 (SLC-9) is a planned launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States. Currently a greenfield, it is leased to Blue Origin as part of their plans to have a Western Range site for their New Glenn launch vehicle, joining Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral.[1] The origins of the pad were first seen in 2023, when Blue Origin looked into leasing the nearby Space Launch Complex 6 for New Glenn,[2] but the site was ultimately leased to SpaceX for use by Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy.[3] As of June 2024, the consistency determination process between the United States Space Force, California Coastal Commission, and Blue Origin is ongoing.[4] As per updated policy by the Space and Missile Systems Center, Blue Origin will be required to use their own equipment during the construction of SLC-9.[5]
| Launch site | Vandenberg Space Force Base | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 34°39′27″N 120°35′26″W / 34.6576°N 120.5906°W | ||||||||
| Time zone | PST | ||||||||
• Summer (DST) | PDT | ||||||||
| Short name | SLC-9 | ||||||||
| Operator | United States Space Force | ||||||||
| Orbital inclination range | 51° – 145° | ||||||||
| |||||||||
References
edit- ^ "Staff Report" (PDF). California Coastal Commission. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ Berger, Eric [@SciGuySpace] (10 April 2023). "I'm hearing that Blue Origin is working to take over SLC-6 at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Won't happen until after the Delta IV Heavy is officially retired. Would give New Glenn a West coast launch pad" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 November 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ Bergin, Chris (2023-04-27). "SpaceX SLC-6 takeover to mark a new chapter for a famous pad". Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ "W10a" (PDF). California Coastal Commission. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 Industry Day". Space and Missile Systems Center. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
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