Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4
![]() Final Titan IV launch from SLC-4E in 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Launch site | Vandenberg AFB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Location | 34.632706°N 120.613393°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Short name | SLC-4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operator | US Air Force SpaceX (4E from 2011) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total launches | 163 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Launch pad(s) | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Orbital inclination range | 51° – 145° | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4) is a launch and landing site at Vandenberg Air Force Base with two pads, both of which are used by SpaceX for Falcon 9 launch operations.
The complex was previously used by Atlas and Titan rockets between 1963 and 2005. It consisted of two launch pads, SLC-4W and SLC-4E, which were formerly designated PALC2-3 and PALC2-4 respectively. Both pads were built for use by Atlas-Agena rockets, but were later rebuilt to handle Titan rockets. The designation SLC-4 was applied at the time of the conversion to launch Titans.[1][when?]
Both pads at Space Launch Complex 4 are currently leased by SpaceX. SLC-4E is leased as a launch site for the Falcon 9 rocket, which first flew from Vandenberg on 29 September 2013, following a 24-month refurbishment program which had started in early 2011.[2][3] SpaceX began a five-year lease of Launch Complex 4 West in February 2015 in order to use that area as a landing pad to bring back VTVL Return-To-Launch-Site (RTLS) first-stage boosters of the reusable Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles.
SLC-4E
Atlas-Agena
The first launch from PALC2-4 occurred on 14 August 1964, when a KH-7 satellite was launched by an Atlas-Agena D. After 27 Atlas-Agena launches, the last of which was on 4 June 1967, the complex was deactivated.[citation needed]
Titan IIID
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Titan_IIID_rocket.jpg/100px-Titan_IIID_rocket.jpg)
During 1971 the complex was reactivated and refurbished for use by the Martin Marietta Titan III launch vehicles. The Titan IIID made its maiden flight from SLC-4E on 15 June 1971, launching the first KH-9 Hexagon satellite.[4] The first KH-11 Kennan satellite was launched from the complex on 19 December 1976.[5] All 22 Titan IIIDs were launched from SLC-4E, with the last occurring on 17 November 1982.
Titan 34D
The complex was then refurbished to accommodate the Martin Marietta Titan 34D. Seven Titan 34Ds were launched between 20 June 1983, and 6 November 1988.[citation needed] SLC-4E hosted one of the most dramatic launch accidents in US history when a Titan 34D carrying a KH-9 satellite exploded just above the pad on April 18, 1986. The enormous blast showered the launch complex with debris and toxic propellant, resulting in extensive damage. 16 months after the accident, the pad was back in commission when it hosted a successful launch of a KH-11 satellite.[6]
Titan IV
The last type to use the complex was the Titan IV, starting on 8 March 1991, with the launch of Lacrosse 2. On 19 October 2005, the last flight of a Titan rocket occurred, when a Titan IVB was launched from SLC-4E, with an Improved Crystal satellite. Following this launch, the complex was deactivated, having been used for 68 launches.[citation needed]
Falcon
![Inaugural Falcon 9 v1.1 with the CASSIOPE mission on the SLC-4 pad, during September 2013.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/SpaceX_Falcon_9.jpg/120px-SpaceX_Falcon_9.jpg)
SpaceX refurbished SLC–4E for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches,[7] in a 24-month process that began in early 2011.[2] The draft environmental impact assessment with a finding of "no significant impact" was published in February 2011.[2] Demolition began on the pad's fixed and mobile service towers in summer 2011.[3]
By late 2012, SpaceX continued to anticipate that the initial launch from the Vandenberg pad would be in 2013, but would be a Falcon 9 launch—actually, a heavily modified and much larger Falcon 9 v1.1.[8] As the pad was nearing completion in February 2013, the first Falcon 9 launch was scheduled for summer 2013,[9] but was delayed until September 2013. Falcon 9 flights flown are shown in the launch history below.
Launch history
Atlas (1964–1967)
Date/Time (GMT) | Launch Vehicle | Serial Numbers | Launch Site | Trajectory | Result | Payload | Remarks | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1964-10-08 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7103 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO (target) | Failure | KH-7 Gambit 4012 | Agena engine malfunction. RSO destruct | ||
1964-12-04 18:57 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7105 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4014 | |||
1965-04-03 21:25 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7401 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | SNAPSHOT | First and only nuclear reactor powered American satellite. | ||
1965-04-28 20:17 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7107 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4017 | |||
1965-05-27 19:30 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7108 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4018 | |||
1965-06-25 19:30 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7109 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4019 | |||
1965-07-12 19:00 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7112 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO (target) | Failure | KH-7 Gambit 4020 | Premature sustainer shutdown due to electrical malfunction. Vehicle impacted the Pacific Ocean. | ||
1965-08-03 19:12 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7111 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4021 | |||
1965-09-30 19:20 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7110 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4022 | |||
1965-11-08 19:26 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7113 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4023 | |||
1966-01-19 20:10 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7114 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4024 | |||
1966-02-15 20:30 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7115 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4025 | |||
1966-03-18 20:30 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7116 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4026 | |||
1966-04-19 19:12 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7117 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4027 | |||
1966-05-14 18:30 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7118 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4028 | |||
1966-06-03 19:25 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7119 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4029 | |||
1966-07-12 17:57 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7120 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4030 | |||
1966-08-16 18:30 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7121 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4031 | |||
1966-08-19 19:30 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7202 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | Midas 11 | |||
1966-09-16 17:59 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7123 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4032 | |||
1966-10-12 19:15 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7122 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4033 | |||
1966-11-02 20:23 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7124 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4034 | |||
1966-12-05 21:09 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7125 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4035 | |||
1967-02-02 20:00 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7126 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4036 | |||
1967-05-22 18:30 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7127 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4037 | |||
1967-06-04 18:07 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7128 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | KH-7 Gambit 4038 |
Titan IIID / 34D (1971–1988)
Date/Time (GMT) | Launch Vehicle | Serial Numbers | Launch Site | Trajectory | Result | Payload | Remarks | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1971-06-15 18:41 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-1 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-8709 (KH-9) | Maiden flight of Titan IIID | ||
1972-01-20 18:36 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-2 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-1737 (KH-9) SSF-B-22 |
|||
1972-07-07 17:46 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-5 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-7293 (KH-9) SSF-B-23 |
|||
1972-10-10 18:03 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-3 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-8314 (KH-9) SSF-C-3 |
|||
1973-03-09 21:00 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-6 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-8410 (KH-9) | |||
1973-06-13 20:24 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-7 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-8261 (KH-9) | |||
1973-11-10 20:09 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-8 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-6630 (KH-9) SSF-B-24 SSF-C-4 |
|||
1974-04-10 20:20 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-9 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-6245 (KH-9) SSF-B-25 IRCB |
|||
1974-10-29 19:30 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-4 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-7122 (KH-9) OPS-8452 (S3) SSF-B-26 |
|||
1975-06-08 18:30 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-10 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-6381 (KH-9) SSF-C-5 |
|||
1975-12-04 20:38 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-13 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-4428 (KH-9) OPS-5547 (S3) |
|||
1976-07-08 18:30 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-14 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-4699 (KH-9) OPS-3986 (S3) SSF-D-1 |
|||
1976-12-19 18:19 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-15 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-5705 (KH-11) | |||
1977-06-27 18:30 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-17 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-4800 (KH-9) | |||
1978-03-16 18:43 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-20 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-0460 (KH-9) SSF-D-2 |
|||
1978-06-14 18:28 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-18 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-4515 (KH-11) | |||
1979-03-16 18:30 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-21 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-3854 (KH-9) SSF-D-3 |
|||
1980-02-07 21:10 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-19 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-2581 (KH-11) | |||
1980-06-18 18:29 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-16 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-3123 (KH-9) SSF-C-6 |
|||
1981-09-03 18:29 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-22 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-3984 (KH-11) | |||
1982-05-11 18:45 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-24 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-5642 (KH-9) SSF-D-4 |
|||
1982-11-17 21:22 |
Titan III(23)D | 23D-23 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-9627 (KH-11) | Final flight of Titan IIID | ||
1983-06-20 18:45 |
Titan 34D | 4D-3 | 34D-5 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | OPS-0721 (KH-9) SSF-C-7 |
||
1984-06-25 18:43 |
Titan 34D | 4D-1 | 34D-4 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | USA-2 (KH-9) USA-3 (SSF-D) |
||
1984-12-04 18:00 |
Titan 34D | 4D-4 | 34D-6 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | USA-6 (KH-11) | ||
1985-08-28 21:20 |
Titan 34D | 4D-6 | 34D-7 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO (target) | Failure | KH-11 | First stage propellant leak leading to turbopump failure and RSO destruct | |
1986-04-18 17:45 |
Titan 34D | 4D-2 | 34D-9 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO (target) | Failure | KH-9 | SRM burnthrough, exploded 8.5 seconds after launch Last KH-9 Hexagon satellite | |
1987-10-26 21:32 |
Titan 34D | 4D-8 | 34D-15 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | USA-27 (KH-11) | ||
1988-11-06 18:03 |
Titan 34D | 4D-7 | 34D-14 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | USA-33 (KH-11) |
Titan IV (1991–2005)
Date/Time (GMT) | Launch Vehicle | Serial Numbers | Launch Site | Trajectory | Result | Payload | Remarks | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1991-03-08 12:03 |
Titan IV(403)A | 45F-1 | 4A-5 | K-5 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | USA-69 (Lacrosse) | Maiden flight of Titan 403A |
1991-1108 07:07 |
Titan IV(403)A | 45F-2 | 4A-8 | K-8 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | USA-72 (SLDCOM) USA-74 (NOSS) USA-76 (NOSS) USA-77 (NOSS) |
|
1992-11-28 21:34 |
Titan IV(404)A | 45J-1 | 4A-3 | K-3 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | USA-86 (KH-12) | Maiden flight of Titan 404A |
1993-08-02 19:59 |
Titan IV(403)A | 45F-9 | 4A-11 | K-11 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO (target) | Failure | SLDCOM 3 x NOSS |
SRM exploded due to damage caused during maintenance on ground |
1995-12-05 21:18 |
Titan IV(404)A | 45J-3 | 4A-15 | K-15 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | USA-116 (KH-12) | |
1996-05-12 21:32 |
Titan IV(403)A | 45F-11 | 4A-22 | K-22 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | USA-119 (SLDCOM) USA-120 (NOSS) USA-121 (NOSS) USA-122 (NOSS) USA-123 (TiPS) USA-124 (TiPS) |
|
1996-12-20 18:04 |
Titan IV(404)A | 45J-5 | 4A-13 | K-13 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | USA-129 (KH-12) | NRO L-2, final flight of Titan 404A |
1997-10-24 02:32 |
Titan IV(403)A | 45F-3 | 4A-18 | K-18 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | USA-133 (Lacrosse) | Final flight of Titan 403A |
1999-05-22 09:36 |
Titan IV(404)B | 4B-12 | K-12 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | USA-144 (Misty) | Maiden flight of Titan 404B | |
2000-08-17 23:45 |
Titan IV(403)B | 4B-28 | K-25 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | USA-152 (Onyx) | NRO L-11, Maiden flight of Titan 403B | |
2001-10-05 21:21 |
Titan IV(404)B | 4B-34 | K-34 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | USA-161 (KH-12) | NRO L-14, Maiden flight of Titan 404B | |
2005-10-19 18:05 |
Titan IV(404)B | 4B-26 | K-35 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Successful | USA-186 (KH-12) | NRO L-20, Final flight of Titan IV |
Falcon (since 2013)
Date/Time (GMT) | Launch Vehicle | Serial Numbers | Launch Site | Trajectory | Result | Payload | Remarks | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013-09-29 16:00 |
Falcon 9 v1.1 | Falcon 9 Flight 6 | VAFB SLC-4E | Polar orbit | Successful | CASSIOPE[10][11] | First Falcon 9 v1.1 flight and first commercial mission. After payload separation the upper stage failed at a re-ignition test. | |||
2016-01-17 18:42[12]) |
Falcon 9 v1.1 | Falcon 9 Flight 21 | VAFB SLC-4E | SSO | Successful | Jason-3[13] | First launch of NASA and NOAA joint science mission under the NLS II launch contract (not related to NASA CRS or USAF OSP3 contracts), last flight of Falcon 9 v1.1 | |||
2017-01-14 17:54 |
Falcon 9 FT | Falcon 9 Flight 29 | VAFB SLC-4E | Polar orbit | Successful | Iridium NEXT | Launch of the first ten satellites of the Iridium NEXT constellation. |
Upcoming launches
Estimated Date (GMT) | Launch Vehicle | Launch Site | Trajectory | Payload | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
June 17, 2017[14] | F9 FT | VAFB SLC-4E | Polar orbit | Iridium NEXT 11-20[15][16] | |
July 22, 2017[14][17] | F9 FT | VAFB SLC-4E | SSO | FORMOSAT-5[18] | |
August 24, 2017[14] | F9 FT | VAFB SLC-4E | Polar orbit | Iridium NEXT 21-30[15] | |
October 2017[19] | F9 FT | VAFB SLC-4E | Polar orbit | Iridium NEXT 31-40[15] | |
October 2017[20] | F9 FT | VAFB SLC-4E | SSO | SAOCOM 1A | |
Nov–Dec 2017[21] | F9 FT | VAFB SLC-4E | SSO | Paz | |
Late 2017 | F9 FT | VAFB SLC-4E | SSO | Sun Synch Express | Will carry the Google Lunar X Prize / SpaceIL lander and a dozen small satellites[22][23] |
December 2017[19] | F9 FT | VAFB SLC-4E | Polar orbit | Iridium NEXT 41-50[15] | |
February 2018[19] | F9 FT | VAFB SLC-4E | Polar orbit | Iridium NEXT 51-60[15] | |
April 2018[19] | F9 FT | VAFB SLC-4E | Polar orbit | Iridium NEXT 61-70[15] | |
June 2018[19] | F9 FT | VAFB SLC-4E | Polar orbit | Iridium NEXT 71-75, Grace FO 1,2 | Last contract of the Iridium NEXT contract. |
2018[24] | F9 FT | VAFB SLC-4E | SSO | RADARSAT Constellation | |
2018 [25] | F9 FT | VAFB SLC-4E | SSO | SARah 1 | |
2018[20] | F9 FT | VAFB SLC-4E | SSO | SAOCOM 1B |
SLC-4W
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Titan_23G_rocket.gif/120px-Titan_23G_rocket.gif)
Atlas-Agena
The first launch to use what is now SLC-4 occurred on 12 July 1963, when an Atlas LV-3 Agena-D launched the first KH-7 Gambit reconnaissance satellite, from PALC2-3. Twelve Atlas-Agenas launches were conducted from PALC2-3, with the last occurring on 12 March 1965.
Titan IIIB
Following this, it was rebuilt as SLC-4W, a Titan launch complex. The first Titan launch from SLC-4W was a Titan IIIB, on 29 July 1966. All 70 Titan IIIB launches occurred from SLC-4W, with the last on 12 February 1987.
Titan 23G
After the retirement of the Titan IIIB, it became a Titan 23G launch site, and twelve Titan II launches, using the 23G orbital configuration, were conducted between 5 September 1988 and 18 October 2003. Following the retirement of the Titan 23G, SLC-4W was deactivated. 93 rockets were launched from SLC-4W.
SLC-4W was the site of the launch of Clementine, the only spacecraft to be launched from Vandenberg to the Moon, which was launched by a Titan 23G on 25 January 1994.[citation needed]
Launch history 1963–2003
Date/Time (GMT) | Launch Vehicle | Serial Numbers | Launch Site | Trajectory | Result | Payload | Remarks | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1963-07-12 20:46 |
Atlas LV-3 Agena-D | 201D | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Success | KH-7 Gambit 4001 | ||||
1963-09-06 19:30 |
Atlas LV-3 Agena-D | 212D | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Success | KH-7 Gambit 4002 | ||||
1963-10-25 18:59 |
Atlas LV-3 Agena-D | 224D | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Success | KH-7 Gambit 4003 | ||||
1963-12-18 21:45 |
Atlas LV-3 Agena-D | 227D | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Success | KH-7 Gambit 4004 | ||||
1964-02-25 18:59 |
Atlas LV-3 Agena-D | 285D | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Success | KH-7 Gambit 4005 | ||||
1964-03-11 20:14 |
Atlas LV-3 Agena-D | 296D | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Success | KH-7 Gambit 4006 | ||||
1964-04-23 16:19 |
Atlas LV-3 Agena-D | 351D | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Success | KH-7 Gambit 4007 | ||||
1964-05-19 19:21 |
Atlas LV-3 Agena-D | 350D | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Success | KH-7 Gambit 4008 | ||||
1964-07-06 18:51 |
Atlas LV-3 Agena-D | 352D | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Success | KH-7 Gambit 4009 | ||||
1964-08-14 22:00 |
Atlas LV-3 Agena-D | 7101 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Success | KH-7 Gambit 4010 | ||||
1964-09-23 20:06 |
Atlas LV-3 Agena-D | 7102 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Success | KH-7 Gambit 4011 | ||||
1964-10-23 18:30 |
Atlas LV-3 Agena-D | 353D | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Success | KH-7 Gambit 4013 | ||||
1965-01-23 20:09 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7106 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Success | KH-7 Gambit 4015 | ||||
1965-03-12 19:25 |
Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D | 7104 | VAFB SLC-4E | LEO | Success | KH-7 Gambit 4016 | ||||
29 July 1966 18:43 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-1 | 4751 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-3014 (KH-8) | Maiden flight of Titan IIIB | ||
28 September 1966 19:12 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-2 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-4096 (KH-8) | ||||
14 December 1966 18:14 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-3 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-8968 (KH-8) | ||||
24 February 1967 19:55 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-4 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-4204 (KH-8) | ||||
26 April 1967 18:00 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-5 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO (target) | Failure | OPS-4243 (KH-8) | Second stage lost thrust due to probable fuel line obstruction. Vehicle impacted the Pacific Ocean 600 miles downrange. | |||
20 June 196716:19 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-8 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-4282 (KH-8) | ||||
16 August 1967 17:02 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-9 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-4886 (KH-8) | ||||
19 September 1967 18:28 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-10 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-4941 (KH-8) | ||||
25 October 1967 19:15 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-11 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-4995 (KH-8) | ||||
5 December 1967 18:45 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-12 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-5000 (KH-8) | ||||
18 January 1968 19:04 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-13 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-5028 (KH-8) | ||||
13 March 1968 19:55 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-14 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-5057 (KH-8) | ||||
7 April 1968 17:00 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-15 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-5105 (KH-8) | ||||
5 June 1968 17:31 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-16 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-5138 (KH-8) | ||||
6 August 1968 16:33 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-17 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-5187 (KH-8) | ||||
10 September 1968 18:30 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-18 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-5247 (KH-8) | ||||
6 November 1968 19:10 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-19 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-5296 (KH-8) | ||||
4 December 1968 19:23 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-20 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-6518 (KH-8) | ||||
22 January 1969 19:10 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-6 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-7585 (KH-8) | ||||
4 March 1969 19:30 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-7 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-4248 (KH-8) | ||||
15 April 1969 17:30 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-21 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-5310 (KH-8) | ||||
3 June 1969 16:49 |
Titan IIIB | 3B-22 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-1077 (KH-8) | ||||
23 August 1969 16:00 |
Titan III(23)B | 23B-1 | 3B-23 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-7807 (KH-8A) | Maiden flight of Titan 23B | ||
14 October 1969 18:10 |
Titan III(23)B | 23B-2 | 3B-24 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-8455 (KH-8A) | |||
14 January 1970 18:43 |
Titan III(23)B | 23B-3 | 3B-24 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-6531 (KH-8A) | |||
15 April 1970 15:52 |
Titan III(23)B | 23B-4 | 3B-26 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-2863 (KH-8A) | |||
25 June 1970 14:50 |
Titan III(23)B | 23B-5 | 3B-27 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-6820 (KH-8A) | |||
18 August 1970 14:45 |
Titan III(23)B | 23B-6 | 3B-28 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-7874 (KH-8A) | |||
23 October 1970 17:40 |
Titan III(23)B | 23B-7 | 3B-29 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-7568 (KH-8A) | |||
21 January 1971 18:28 |
Titan III(23)B | 23B-8 | 3B-30 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-7776 (KH-8A) | |||
21 March 1971 03:45 |
Titan III(33)B | 33B-1 | 3B-36 | VAFB SLC-4W | Molniya | Success | OPS-4788 (Jumpseat) | Maiden flight of Titan 33B | ||
22 April 1971 15:30 |
Titan III(23)B | 23B-9 | 3B-31 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-7899 (KH-8A) | Final flight of Titan 23B | ||
12 August 1971 15:30 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-1 | 3B-32 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-8607 (KH-8A) | Maiden flight of Titan 24B | ||
23 October 1971 17:16 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-2 | 3B-33 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-7616 (KH-8A) | |||
16 February 1972 09:59 |
Titan III(33)B | 33B-2 | 3B-37 | VAFB SLC-4W | Molniya (target) | Failure | OPS-1844 (Jumpseat) | Failed to reach orbit | ||
17 March 1972 17:00 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-3 | 3B-34 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-1678 (KH-8A) | |||
20 May 1972 15:30 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-4 | 3B-35 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO (target) | Failure | OPS-6574 (KH-8A) | Agena pressurization failure | ||
1 September 1972 17:44 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-5 | 3B-39 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-8888 (KH-8A) | |||
21 December 1972 17:45 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-6 | 3B-40 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-3978 (KH-8A) | |||
16 May 1973 16:40 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-7 | 3B-41 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-2093 (KH-8A) | |||
26 June 1973 17:00 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-9 | 3B-43 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO (target) | Failure | OPS-4018 (KH-8A) | First stage fuel tank rupture T+11 seconds. | ||
21 August 1973 16:07 |
Titan III(33)B | 33B-3 | 3B-38 | VAFB SLC-4W | Molniya | Success | OPS-7724 (Jumpseat) | Final flight of Titan 33B | ||
27 September 1973 17:15 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-8 | 3B-42 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-6275 (KH-8A) | |||
13 February 1974 18:00 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-10 | 3B-44 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-6889 (KH-8A) | |||
6 June 1974 16:30 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-11 | 3B-45 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-1776 (KH-8A) | |||
14 August 1974 15:35 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-12 | 3B-46 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-3004 (KH-8A) | |||
10 March 1975 04:41 |
Titan III(34)B | 34B-1 | 3B-50 | VAFB SLC-4W | Molniya | Success | OPS-2439 (Jumpseat) | Maiden flight of Titan 34B | ||
18 April 1975 16:48 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-14 | 3B-48 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-4883 (KH-8A) | |||
9 October 1975 19:15 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-13 | 3B-47 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-5499 (KH-8A) | |||
22 March 1976 18:14 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-18 | 3B-52 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-7600 (KH-8A) | |||
2 June 1976 20:56 |
Titan III(34)B | 34B-5 | 3B-55 | VAFB SLC-4W | Molniya | Success | OPS-7837 (SDS) | |||
6 August 1976 22:21 |
Titan III(34)B | 34B-6 | 3B-56 | VAFB SLC-4W | Molniya | Success | OPS-7940 (SDS) | |||
15 September 1976 18:50 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-17 | 3B-51 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-8533 (KH-8A) | |||
13 March 1977 18:41 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-19 | 3B-54 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-4915 (KH-8A) | |||
23 September 1977 18:34 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-23 | 3B-58 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-7471 (KH-8A) | |||
25 February 1978 05:00 |
Titan III(34)B | 34B-2 | 3B-49 | VAFB SLC-4W | Molniya | Success | OPS-6031 (Jumpseat) | |||
5 August 1978 05:00 |
Titan III(34)B | 34B-7 | 3B-57 | VAFB SLC-4W | Molniya | Success | OPS-7310 (SDS) | |||
28 May 1979 18:14 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-25 | 3B-61 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-7164 (KH-8A) | |||
13 December 1980 16:04 |
Titan III(34)B | 34B-3 | 3B-53 | VAFB SLC-4W | Molniya | Success | OPS-5805 (SDS) | |||
28 February 1981 19:15 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-24 | 3B-59 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-1166 (KH-8A) | |||
24 April 1981 21:32 |
Titan III(34)B | 34B-8 | 3B-60 | VAFB SLC-4W | Molniya | Partial failure | OPS-7225 (Jumpseat) | Spacecraft failed to separate | ||
21 January 1982 19:36 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-26 | 3B-62 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-2849 (KH-8A HB) | |||
15 April 1983 18:45 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-27 | 3B-63 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-2925 (KH-8A) | |||
31 July 1983 15:41 |
Titan III(34)B | 34B-9 | 3B-65 | VAFB SLC-4W | Molniya | Success | OPS-7304 (Jumpseat) | |||
17 April 1984 18:45 |
Titan III(24)B | 24B-28 | 3B-67 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | OPS-8424 (KH-8A) | Final flight of Titan 24B | ||
28 August 1984 18:03 |
Titan III(34)B | 34B-4 | 3B-64 | VAFB SLC-4W | Molniya | Success | USA-4 (SDS) | |||
8 February 1985 06:10 |
Titan III(34)B | 34B-10 | 3B-69 | VAFB SLC-4W | Molniya | Success | USA-9 (SDS) | |||
12 February 1987 06:40 |
Titan III(34)B | 34B-51 | 3B-66 | VAFB SLC-4W | Molniya | Success | USA-21 (SDS) | Final flight of Titan IIIB; Final use of Agena upper stage in any vehicle | ||
5 September 1988 09:25 |
Titan II(23)G | 23G-1 | B-56 | B-98 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | USA-32 (Bernie) | Maiden flight of Titan 23G | |
6 September 1989 01:49 |
Titan II(23)G | 23G-2 | B-99 | B-75 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | USA-45 (Bernie) | ||
25 April 1992 08:53 |
Titan II(23)G | 23G-3 | B-102 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | USA-81 (Bernie) | |||
5 October 1993 17:56 |
Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP | 23G-5 | B-65 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO (target) | Failure | Landsat 6 | Star-37 failed to ignite | ||
25 January 1994 16:34 |
Titan II(23)G | 23G-11 | B-67 | B-89 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO[26] | Success | Clementine DSPSE-ISA |
||
4 April 1997 16:47 |
Titan II(23)G/Star-37S | 23G-6 | B-106 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | USA-131 (DMSP) | |||
13 May 1998 15:52 |
Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP | 23G-12 | B-72 | B-80 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | NOAA-15 | ||
20 June 1999 02:15 |
Titan II(23)G | 23G-7 | B-75 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | QuickSCAT | |||
12 December 1999 17:38 |
Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP | 23G-8 | B-44 | B-94 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | USA-147 (DMSP) | ||
21 September 10:22 |
Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP | 23G-13 | B-39 | B-96 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | NOAA-16 | ||
24 June 2002 18:23 |
Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP | 23G-14 | B-92 | B-71 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | NOAA-17 | ||
6 January 2003 14:19 |
Titan II(23)G | 23G-4 | B-72 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | Coriolis | |||
18 October 2003 16:17 |
Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP | 23G-9 | B-107 | VAFB SLC-4W | LEO | Success | USA-172 (DMSP) | Final flight of Titan II |
After 2015: SpaceX landing pad
Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy landing pad
SpaceX signed a five-year lease of Launch Complex 4W in February 2015, in order to use the area to land reusable launch vehicles at the pad. The location will be used for vertical landing of Return-To-Launch-Site (RTLS) first-stage boosters of the Reusable Falcon 9 (F9R) and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles that are launched from SpaceX-leased launch pads at the adjacent SLC 4E launch pad.[27]
This novel use of SLC 4W had initially surfaced in July 2014 when NASASpaceFlight.com published that SpaceX was considering leasing SLC-4W for use as a RTLS vertical-landing facility for reusable first-stage boosters of the F9R and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles that would be launched from SLC-4E.[28]
Principal structures on the pad were demolished in September 2014 as refurbishment began.[29]
SpaceX has also signed a lease for an east coast RTLS landing pad—called Landing Zone 1—at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.[27]
References
- ^ "Air Force FOIA electronic reading room: List of launches from SLC-4 East and West" (PDF). USAF. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ a b c Scully, Janene (2011-02-05). "Report: Falcon plan OK for environment". Santa Maria Times. Santa Maria, California: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
- ^ a b "SpaceX News". SpaceX. 15 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
- ^ Wade, Mark. "Titan". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
- ^ "Titan 3D". Gunther's Space Page. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
- ^ "The Space Review: Death of a monster". thespacereview.com. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- ^ "SpaceX announces launch date for FH".
- ^ "SpaceX Gears Up for Launches at Vandenberg Air Force Base". Space News. 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2013-02-09.
- ^ "First look/SpaceX Launch Complex/Vandenberg AFB". dailybreeze.com. 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
- ^ Lindsey, Clark (2013-01-04). "NewSpace flights in 2013". NewSpace Watch. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|subscription=
ignored (|url-access=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Dragon Mission Report | Q&A with SpaceX founder and chief designer Elon Musk". Spaceflight Now. 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
- ^ "Launch Schedule | Spaceflight Now". spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
- ^ "SpaceX: Jason-3 Mission" (PDF). spacex.com. SpaceX. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
- ^ a b c Bergin, Chris (March 7, 2017). "SpaceX prepares Falcon 9 for EchoStar 23 launch as SLC-40 targets return". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
On the West Coast, three missions have set placeholders for launch from Vandenberg, namely Iridium 2 on June 17, the Formosat-5 mission on July 22 and Iridium-3 on August 24.
- ^ a b c d e f "Largest Commercial Rocket Launch Deal Ever Signed by SpaceX". SpaceNews. 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2010-06-16.
- ^ "Elon Musk: SpaceX signs "biggest" commercial launch deal ever" (Press release). Orlando Sentinel. 2010-06-16. Retrieved 2010-06-17.
- ^ Karlie Lin (January 28, 2015). "National Space Organization to launch satellite to help predict earthquakes". The China Post. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
- ^ "Formosat5 program description". NSPO. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
- ^ a b "Exitosa Revisión de la Misión SAOCOM" (in Spanish). CONAE. April 12, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ^ "SpaceX lanzará el satélite Paz de Hisdesat a finales de año" [SpaceX will launch the Paz satellite of Hisdesat at the end of the year]. Infoespacial.com (in Spanish). March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
- ^ Spaceflight purchases SpaceX falcon 9 rocket to provide more frequent, cost effective rideshare availability September 30, 2015
- ^ Private Moon Race Heats Up with 1st Verified Launch Deal October 7, 2015
- ^ SpaceX announces contract to launch rcm satellites July 30, 2013
- ^ SpaceX awarded launch of German radar reconnaissance satellite system August 8, 2013
- ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalogue". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
- ^ a b Clark, Stephen (17 February 2015). "SpaceX leases property for landing pads at Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^
Bergin, Chris (2014-07-28). "SpaceX Roadmap building on its rocket business revolution". NASAspaceflight. Retrieved 2014-07-28.
At this point, we are highly confident of being able to land successfully on a floating launch pad or back at the launch site and refly the rocket with no required refurbishment
- ^ SpaceX Demolishes SLC-4W Titan Pad. YouTube. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
- Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg SLC4W". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
- Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg SLC4E". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2008-09-01.