Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4
SLC-4 with Falcon 9 on launch pad at SLC-4E in January 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Launch site | Vandenberg AFB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Location | 34°37′59″N 120°36′47″W / 34.633°N 120.613°WCoordinates: 34°37′59″N 120°36′47″W / 34.633°N 120.613°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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° | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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]
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)
Rocket launches (4E)
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
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
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
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
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)
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
- ↑ "Air Force FOIA electronic reading room: List of launches from SLC-4 East and West" (PDF). USAF. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
- 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.
- 1 2 "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 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. (Subscription required (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.
- ↑ "Formosat5 program description". NSPO. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
- 1 2 Gebhardt, Chris (October 16, 2017). "SpaceX adds mystery "Zuma" mission, Iridium-4 aims for Vandenberg landing". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ↑ @ChrisG_NSF (2017). "Chris G - NSF Tweet". Twitter.
- ↑ "Used SpaceX Rocket Launches 10 Communications Satellites Once Again". Space.com. December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ↑ Graham, William (February 22, 2018). "SpaceX launches Falcon 9 with PAZ, Starlink demo and new fairing – NASASpaceFlight.com". NASASpaceFlight.com.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ http://www.spacex.com/news/2018/03/30/iridium-5-mission
- 1 2 3 Clark, Stephen (September 12, 2018). "Launch schedule". SpaceFlight Now. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- ↑ Sorensen, Jodi (August 6, 2018). "Spaceflight prepares historic launch of more than 70 spacecraft aboard SpaceX Falcon9". Spaceflight Industries. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
- ↑ Ferster, Warren (July 30, 2013). "SpaceX Announces Contract To Launch RCM Satellites". SpaceNews. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
- ↑ Pietrobon, Steven (August 23, 2018). "United States Commercial ELV Launch Manifest". Retrieved August 25, 2018.
- 1 2 Post, Hannah (August 8, 2013). "SpaceX is awarded launch of german radar reconnaissance satellite system" (Press release). SpaceX. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "SARah 1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
- ↑ "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.
- 1 2 Krebs, Gunter. "SARah 2/3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
- 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.
- 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.
- ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalogue". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
- 1 2 3 "SpaceX Falcon 9 launches with SAOCOM 1A and nails first West Coast landing". October 7, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- 1 2 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.
- ↑ Gebhardt, Chris (6 February 2018). "SpaceX successfully debuts Falcon Heavy in demonstration launch from KSC – NASASpaceFlight.com". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ↑ Gebhardt, Chris (December 22, 2017). "SpaceX close out 2017 campaign with Iridium-4 launch – NASASpaceFlight.com". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
- ↑ 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.