Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4

Space Launch Complex 4
SLC-4 with Falcon 9 on launch pad at SLC-4E in January 2017
Launch site Vandenberg AFB
Location 34°37′59″N 120°36′47″W / 34.633°N 120.613°W / 34.633; -120.613Coordinates: 34°37′59″N 120°36′47″W / 34.633°N 120.613°W / 34.633; -120.613
Short name SLC-4
Operator US Air Force
SpaceX (4E from 2011)
Total launches 171
Launch pad(s) 2
Min / max
orbital inclination		 51° – 145°
SLC-4W (PALC-2-3) launch history
Status Active, now a landing pad for Falcon 9
Launches 93
First launch 12 July 1963
Atlas-Agena D / OPS-1467
Last launch 18 October 2003
Titan 23G / USA-172
Associated
rockets
SLC-4E (PALC-2-4) launch history
Status Active
Launches 78
First launch 14 August 1964
Atlas-Agena D / OPS 3802
Last launch 8 October 2018
Falcon 9 B5 / SAOCOM 1A
Associated
rockets

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]

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 launch vehicle. That pad was later named by SpaceX as Landing Zone 4 and first used operationally for a Falcon 9 booster landing in 2018.

Launch history

Rocket launches (4W)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
'63
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000

Rocket launches (4E)

2.5
5
7.5
10
12.5
15
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015

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.

Titan IIID

Titan IIID launch from SLC-4E

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. 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

Final Titan IV launch from SLC-4E in 2005

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.

Falcon

Inaugural Falcon 9 v1.1 with the CASSIOPE mission on the SLC-4 pad, during September 2013.
Inaugural mission of the Falcon 9 v1.1 from SLC-4E on September 2013

SpaceX refurbished SLC–4E for Falcon 9 launches 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 anticipated that the initial launch from the Vandenberg pad would be in 2013, with the larger variant Falcon 9 v1.1.[7] As the pad was nearing completion in February 2013, the first launch was scheduled for summer 2013,[8] but was delayed until September 2013.

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 Success KH-7 Gambit 4014
1965-04-03
21:25		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7401 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success SNAPSHOT First and only nuclear reactor powered American satellite.
1965-04-28
20:17		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7107 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4017
1965-05-27
19:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7108 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4018
1965-06-25
19:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7109 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success 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 Success KH-7 Gambit 4021
1965-09-30
19:20		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7110 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4022
1965-11-08
19:26		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7113 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4023
1966-01-19
20:10		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7114 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4024
1966-02-15
20:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7115 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4025
1966-03-18
20:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7116 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4026
1966-04-19
19:12		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7117 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4027
1966-05-14
18:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7118 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4028
1966-06-03
19:25		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7119 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4029
1966-07-12
17:57		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7120 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4030
1966-08-16
18:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7121 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4031
1966-08-19
19:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7202 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success Midas 11
1966-09-16
17:59		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7123 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4032
1966-10-12
19:15		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7122 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4033
1966-11-02
20:23		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7124 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4034
1966-12-05
21:09		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7125 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4035
1967-02-02
20:00		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7126 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4036
1967-05-22
18:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7127 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4037
1967-06-04
18:07		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7128 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success 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 Success OPS-8709 (KH-9) Maiden flight of Titan IIID
1972-01-20
18:36		 Titan III(23)D 23D-2 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-1737 (KH-9)
SSF-B-22
1972-07-07
17:46		 Titan III(23)D 23D-5 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-7293 (KH-9)
SSF-B-23
1972-10-10
18:03		 Titan III(23)D 23D-3 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-8314 (KH-9)
SSF-C-3
1973-03-09
21:00		 Titan III(23)D 23D-6 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-8410 (KH-9)
1973-06-13
20:24		 Titan III(23)D 23D-7 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-8261 (KH-9)
1973-11-10
20:09		 Titan III(23)D 23D-8 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success 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 Success OPS-6245 (KH-9)
SSF-B-25
IRCB
1974-10-29
19:30		 Titan III(23)D 23D-4 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success 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 Success OPS-6381 (KH-9)
SSF-C-5
1975-12-04
20:38		 Titan III(23)D 23D-13 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-4428 (KH-9)
OPS-5547 (S3)
1976-07-08
18:30		 Titan III(23)D 23D-14 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success 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 Success OPS-5705 (KH-11)
1977-06-27
18:30		 Titan III(23)D 23D-17 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-4800 (KH-9)
1978-03-16
18:43		 Titan III(23)D 23D-20 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-0460 (KH-9)
SSF-D-2
1978-06-14
18:28		 Titan III(23)D 23D-18 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-4515 (KH-11)
1979-03-16
18:30		 Titan III(23)D 23D-21 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-3854 (KH-9)
SSF-D-3
1980-02-07
21:10		 Titan III(23)D 23D-19 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-2581 (KH-11)
1980-06-18
18:29		 Titan III(23)D 23D-16 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-3123 (KH-9)
SSF-C-6
1981-09-03
18:29		 Titan III(23)D 23D-22 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-3984 (KH-11)
1982-05-11
18:45		 Titan III(23)D 23D-24 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-5642 (KH-9)
SSF-D-4
1982-11-17
21:22		 Titan III(23)D 23D-23 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-9627 (KH-11) Final flight of Titan IIID
1983-06-20
18:45		 Titan 34D 4D-3 34D-5 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success OPS-0721 (KH-9)
SSF-C-7
1984-06-25
18:43		 Titan 34D 4D-1 34D-4 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success USA-2 (KH-9)
USA-3 (SSF-D)
1984-12-04
18:00		 Titan 34D 4D-4 34D-6 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success 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 Success USA-27 (KH-11)
1988-11-06
18:03		 Titan 34D 4D-7 34D-14 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success 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 Success 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 Success 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 Success 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 Success USA-116 (KH-12)
1996-05-12
21:32		 Titan IV(403)A 45F-11 4A-22 K-22 VAFB SLC-4E LEO Success 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 Success 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 Success 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 Success 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 Success 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 Success 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 Success USA-186 (KH-12) NRO L-20, Final flight of Titan IV

Falcon 9 (since 2013)

Date/Time (GMT) Launch Vehicle Launch Site Trajectory Payload Result Remarks
2013-09-29
16:00		 Falcon 9 v1.1 SLC-4E Polar orbit CASSIOPE[9][10] Success 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[11])		 Falcon 9 v1.1 SLC-4E SSO Jason-3[12] Success First launch of NASA and NOAA joint science mission under the NLS II launch contract, last flight of Falcon 9 v1.1
2017-01-14
17:54		 Falcon 9 FT SLC-4E Polar orbit Iridium-1 Success First batch of ten satellites for the Iridium NEXT constellation.
2017-06-25
20:25		 Falcon 9 FT SLC-4E Polar orbit Iridium-2 Success Second batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites
2017-08-24
18:50		 Falcon 9 FT SLC-4E SSO FORMOSAT-5[13] Success Formosat-5 was originally scheduled to launch on a Falcon 1e from Omelek Island in 2013.
2017-10-09
12:37		 Falcon 9 FT SLC-4E Polar orbit Iridium-3 Success Third batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites
2017-12-23
01:27		 Falcon 9 FT SLC-4E Polar orbit Iridium-4 Success First west-coast return-to-launch-site landing planned[14] but later cancelled.[15] The first-stage booster was expended after a controlled ocean splashdown.[16]
2018-02-22
14:17[17]		 Falcon 9 FT SLC-4E SSO Paz[18] & Microsat-2a, Microsat-2b (Starlink) Success First launch with new fairing, designed to be "caught" by a recovery vessel; the fairing missed the ship but was ultimately recovered anyway.
2018-03-30
14:13		 Falcon 9 FT SLC-4E Polar orbit Iridium-5 Success Fifth batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites. The first stage was expended after a simulated ocean landing. [19]
2018-05-22

19:47

Falcon 9 FT SLC-4E Polar orbit Iridium-6 & Grace-FO Success Sixth batch of 5 Iridium NEXT satellites. The two GRACE-FO satellites were a ride share on this flight. The first stage was expended and flew w/o legs, but with aluminum gridfins.
2018-07-25

11:39

 Falcon 9 B5 SLC-4E Polar orbit Iridium-7 Success Seventh batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites. First Falcon 9 Block 5 to launch from Vandenberg AFB.
2018-10-08

02:21

 Falcon 9 B5 SLC-4E SSO SAOCOM 1A Success First Block 5 reuse on the west coast. First land landing on SpaceX's west coast landing pad, Landing Zone 4. First Block 5 RTLS landing.

Upcoming launches

Planned date (GMT) Launch vehicle Launch site Trajectory Payload Remarks
November 19th 2018[20] Falcon 9 SLC-4E SSO Sun Synch Express (SSO-A) Will carry more than 70 small satellites[21]
December 2018
(every two months)[20]		 Falcon 9 SLC-4E Polar orbit Iridium NEXT 66-75 Last mission of the Iridium NEXT contract.
Q1 2019[20] Falcon 9 SLC-4E SSO RADARSAT Constellation[22]
Q1 2019[23] Falcon 9 SLC-4E SSO SARah 1[24][25]
Q2 2019[26] Falcon 9 SLC-4E SSO SAOCOM 1B
2019[27] Falcon 9 SLC-4E SSO SARah 2/3[24][27]
November 2020[28] Falcon 9 SLC-4E LEO Sentinel-6A[28]
April 2021[29] Falcon 9 SLC-4E LEO Surface Water Ocean Topography (SWOT)[29]

SLC-4W / LZ-4

SLC-4W started operations in 1963, and continued as an operational launch site through 2003. In 2015, SpaceX started conversion of the launch site into a landing zone. Landing operations commenced in 2018 at LZ-4.

SLC-4W Launch history

A Titan 23G on SLC-4W

By rocket type

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.

Launch timeline 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[30] 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 2000
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

LZ-4 landing history

After 2015: SpaceX Landing Zone 4

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 is being used for vertical landing of Return-To-Launch-Site (RTLS) first-stage boosters of the Falcon 9 rockets that are launched from the adjacent SLC-4E launch pad.[31][32] 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.[33] The pad was constructed, and subsequently first used for a rocket booster landing of a first stage of a Falcon 9 launch vehicle in October 2018, recovering the booster that had just launched the Argentinian SAOCOM 1A satellite.[31]

Rocket configuration (LZ-4)

0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
2018
2019

Landing pad project history

Principal structures on the pad were demolished in September 2014 as construction of the landing pad began.[34]

SpaceX has perfected RTLS landings on two landing pads that it has built at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.[32][35] It was initially thought that the booster used to launch of a fourth batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites in December 2017 would be the first to land at VAFB[14] but this mission was ultimately performed in expendable mode.[36]. In July 2018, SpaceX applied for a permit to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for post-landing communications with a first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket at SLC-4W, pointing to a possible landing sometime in September, possibly for the SAOCOM 1A mission[37] although this was later rescheduled for October 8th (UTC). A few weeks prior to this first landing attempt it was known to the public, again via FCC permits and also public warnings about sonic booms in the area, that SpaceX had renamed this pad as Landing Zone 4.[31]

Landing timeline

Date/Time (GMT) Rocket body Launch Site Trajectory Payload Result Remarks
2018-10-08 Falcon 9 B5 first stage booster B1048.2 SpaceX SLC-4 SSO SAOCOM 1A Success First landing at LZ-4

References

  1. ↑ "Air Force FOIA electronic reading room: List of launches from SLC-4 East and West" (PDF). USAF. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  2. 1 2 3 Scully, Janene (2011-02-05). "Report: Falcon plan OK for environment". Santa Maria Times. Santa Maria, California: Lee Enterprises. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  3. 1 2 "SpaceX News". SpaceX. 15 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  4. ↑ Wade, Mark. "Titan". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  5. ↑ "Titan 3D". Gunther's Space Page. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  6. ↑ "The Space Review: Death of a monster". thespacereview.com. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  7. ↑ "SpaceX Gears Up for Launches at Vandenberg Air Force Base". Space News. 2012-11-12. Retrieved 2013-02-09.
  8. ↑ "First look/SpaceX Launch Complex/Vandenberg AFB". dailybreeze.com. 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
  9. ↑ Lindsey, Clark (2013-01-04). "NewSpace flights in 2013". NewSpace Watch. Retrieved 2013-01-03. (Subscription required (help)).
  10. ↑ "Dragon Mission Report | Q&A with SpaceX founder and chief designer Elon Musk". Spaceflight Now. 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  11. ↑ "Launch Schedule | Spaceflight Now". spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved 2016-01-23.
  12. ↑ "SpaceX: Jason-3 Mission" (PDF). spacex.com. SpaceX. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  13. ↑ "Formosat5 program description". NSPO. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
  14. 1 2 Gebhardt, Chris (October 16, 2017). "SpaceX adds mystery "Zuma" mission, Iridium-4 aims for Vandenberg landing". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  15. ↑ @ChrisG_NSF (2017). "Chris G - NSF Tweet". Twitter.
  16. ↑ "Used SpaceX Rocket Launches 10 Communications Satellites Once Again". Space.com. December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  17. ↑ Graham, William (February 22, 2018). "SpaceX launches Falcon 9 with PAZ, Starlink demo and new fairing – NASASpaceFlight.com". NASASpaceFlight.com.
  18. ↑ "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.
  19. ↑ http://www.spacex.com/news/2018/03/30/iridium-5-mission
  20. 1 2 3 Clark, Stephen (September 12, 2018). "Launch schedule". SpaceFlight Now. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  21. ↑ Sorensen, Jodi (August 6, 2018). "Spaceflight prepares historic launch of more than 70 spacecraft aboard SpaceX Falcon9". Spaceflight Industries. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  22. ↑ Ferster, Warren (July 30, 2013). "SpaceX Announces Contract To Launch RCM Satellites". SpaceNews. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  23. ↑ Pietrobon, Steven (August 23, 2018). "United States Commercial ELV Launch Manifest". Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  24. 1 2 Post, Hannah (August 8, 2013). "SpaceX is awarded launch of german radar reconnaissance satellite system" (Press release). SpaceX. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  25. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "SARah 1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
  26. ↑ "El Satelite Argentino alertara desde Augusto sobre Inundaciones" [Argentine Satellite will warn of Floods from August]. Telam (in Spanish). January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  27. 1 2 Krebs, Gunter. "SARah 2/3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  28. 1 2 Steve Cole; Alan D. Buis; Tori McLendon (October 19, 2017). "NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Sentinel-6A Mission". NASA. Retrieved October 19, 2017. NASA NASA has selected Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, California, to provide launch services for the Sentinel-6A mission. Launch is currently targeted for November 2020, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 Full Thrust rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
  29. 1 2 Cheryl Warner; Steve Cole; George H. Diller (November 22, 2016). "NASA Selects Launch Services for Global Surface Water Survey Mission". NASA. Retrieved November 23, 2016. NASA has selected Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, California, to provide launch services for the agency's Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission. Launch is targeted for April 2021 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
  30. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalogue". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  31. 1 2 3 "SpaceX Falcon 9 launches with SAOCOM 1A and nails first West Coast landing". October 7, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  32. 1 2 Clark, Stephen (17 February 2015). "SpaceX leases property for landing pads at Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  33. ↑ 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
  34. ↑ SpaceX Demolishes SLC-4W Titan Pad. YouTube. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  35. ↑ Gebhardt, Chris (6 February 2018). "SpaceX successfully debuts Falcon Heavy in demonstration launch from KSC – NASASpaceFlight.com". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  36. ↑ Gebhardt, Chris (December 22, 2017). "SpaceX close out 2017 campaign with Iridium-4 launch – NASASpaceFlight.com". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  37. ↑ Gebhardt, Chris (July 6, 2018). "SpaceX, ULA near-term manifests take shape, SpaceX aims for 1st RTLS at Vandenberg – NASASpaceFlight.com". NASASpaceflight.com. Retrieved July 9, 2018.

  • Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg SLC4W". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  • Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg SLC4E". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
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