 The first Atlas V to launch from the West Coast at SLC-3E. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch site | Vandenberg AFB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location |
34.6423°N 120.5885°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short name | SLC-3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | US Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total launches | 115 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch pad(s) | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Min / max orbital inclination | 51° – 145° | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Space Launch Complex 3 (SLC-3) is a launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base that has been used by Atlas and Thor rockets. It was built in the early 1960s[not verified in body] and consists of two pads, SLC-3E (East) and SLC-3W (West). The East-West coastline at Vandenberg allows SLC-3 to launch over-ocean polar trajectories that avoid landfall until passing over Antarctica. By contrast, Cape Canaveral has a North-South coastline permitting over-ocean launches into standard orbits.
SLC-3E[]
Three successful Atlas IIAS missions were flown from SLC-3E. The first mission, flown on December 18, 1999, launched the Terra satellite.[1] The other two launched satellites in the Naval Ocean Surveillance System, USA 160 and USA 173.[2][3] The final Atlas IIAS mission from SLC-3E was launched on December 2, 2003.[4] It was reported in 2003 that SLC-3E would be overhauled to serve as a launch platform for the Atlas V rocket after plans to build two Delta IV launch platforms were put on hold.[5] Renovations of SLC-3E, which began after a January 2004 ground breaking ceremony, included raising the Mobile Service Tower roof by approximately 30 ft (9.1 m), to a height of 239 ft (73 m). The tower can thus accommodate an Atlas V 500 series vehicle with its larger payload fairing.[6] In July 2004 Lockheed Martin announced the arrival of the fourth and final segment of the fixed launch platform (FLP). The segments had been transported from a fabrication facility in Oak Hill, FL, 3,500 miles (5,600 km) away. The largest segment weighed 90 tons and, "is thought to be the biggest over-the-road shipment ever attempted cross-country."[7] In February 2005 the activations team handed over the launch pad to the operational team, marking the end of major reconstruction.[8] The first Atlas V launch from SLC-3E took place at 10:02 GMT on March 13, 2008.[9]
SLC-3W[]
Falcon 1 on Pad 3W.
SLC-3W was used briefly by SpaceX during the early development of the Falcon 1 launch vehicle.[10][11]
Several test firings of the Falcon 1 were accomplished before SpaceX discovered that due to the overflight risk they would not be allowed to launch from SLC-3W while launch vehicles were standing on adjacent launch sites.[citation needed] As one of the adjacent sites was at the time occupied by a "pad queen" (a launch vehicle that sits on its launch pad for months or years before launch) the restriction caused SpaceX to abandon SLC-3W and instead develop their Omelek Island launch site for Falcon 1. SpaceX co-founder Elon Musk has stated that no compensation was paid to SpaceX over this issue.[citation needed]
It was announced in mid-2010 that from mid-2012 SpaceX is to use SLC-4 for Falcon 9 launches from Vandenberg.[12]
SpaceX announced in April 2011 that they would launch the first flight of Falcon Heavy from Vandenberg SLC-4, anticipated in 2013.[13]
References[]
- ↑ NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details. NASA.
- ↑ NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details. NASA.
- ↑ NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details. NASA.
- ↑ "ILS Successfully Launches Atlas IIAS with NRO Payload". International Launch Services. December 2, 2003. http://www.ilslaunch.com/newsroom/news-releases/ils-successfully-launches-atlas-iias-nro-payload. Retrieved 2013-03-16.
- ↑ "Vandenberg's Atlas Launchpad Getting Extensive Facelift" (PDF). http://www.nishkian.com/Complete/Dean_PDFs/SLC-3E_ARTICLE_12-04-03.pdf. Retrieved August 15, 2005.
- ↑ "Lockheed Martin Begins Atlas V West Coast Launch Pad Renovations SLC 3E Being Readied for Atlas V Missions in Fall 2005". LM. January 14, 2004. http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2004/LockheedMartinBeginsAtlasVWestCoast.html.
- ↑ "Lockheed Martin Marks Major Milestone At West Coast Atlas V Launch Pad". Lockheed Martin. July 27, 2004. http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2004/LockheedMartinMarksMajorMilestoneAt.html.
- ↑ "LOCKHEED MARTIN DELIVERS FIRST ATLAS FIVE BOOSTER TO WEST COAST LAUNCH SITE". Lockheed Martin. February 11, 2005. http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2005/LOCKHEEDMARTINDELIVERSFIRSTATLASFIV.html.
- ↑ "Rocket Lifts Off With Secret Satellite". http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iREy1ROPlY2e5lcvGv7971nK0s2gD8VCHE800.[dead link]
- ↑ NASASpaceFlight.com Forum > General Space Flight (Atlas, Delta, ESA, Russian, Chinese) > Commercial Launchers (Space X, Sea Launch, etc.) > Topic: Elon Musk Q&A – Updates SpaceX status on Falcon and Dragon > Reply #2554
- ↑ Federal Register /Vol. 73, No. 245 / Friday, December 19, 2008 / Proposed Rules, page 77579.
- ↑ Simburg, Rand. "SpaceX Press Conference". http://www.transterrestrial.com/?p=27574. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
- ↑ Morring, Frank, Jr. (April 7, 2011). "Musk Sees Markets for Falcon 9 Heavy". http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/asd/2011/04/06/05.xml&headline=Musk%20Sees%20Markets%20For%20Falcon%209%20Heavy. Retrieved 2011-04-09. "The first Heavy will be delivered to SpaceX’s facility at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., by November or December 2012, with a test flight 'to follow soon thereafter.' "
Coordinates: 34°38′35″N 120°35′19″W / 34.6429885°N 120.5885124°W
The original article can be found at Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 3 and the edit history here.