Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3

Space Launch Complex 3
The mobile launcher platform at SLC-3E rolls back prior to the launch of InSight in May 2018
Map
Launch siteVandenberg Space Force Base
Location34°38′35″N 120°35′19″W / 34.6429885°N 120.5885124°W / 34.6429885; -120.5885124
Time zoneUTC−08:00 (PST)
• Summer (DST)
UTC−07:00 (PDT)
Short nameSLC-3
OperatorUnited States Space Force (owner)
United Launch Alliance (tenant)
Total launches111
Launch pad(s)2
Orbital inclination
range		51° – 145°
SLC-3W (PALC-1-1) launch history
StatusDemolished
Launches63
First launchOctober 11, 1960
Atlas-Agena / Samos 1
Last launchMarch 24, 1995
Atlas-E/F / USA-109
Associated
rockets
SLC-3E (PALC-1-2) launch history
StatusUndergoing renovation
Launches48
First launchJuly 12, 1961
Atlas-Agena / Midas 3
Last launchNovember 10, 2022
Atlas V / JPSS-2 and LOFTID
Associated
rockets
Launch sites at Vandenberg Space Force Base
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
7km
4.3miles
20
19
18
17
16
15
15 SLC-8
15 SLC-8
14
14 SLC-6
14 SLC-6
13
13 SLC-5
13 SLC-5
12
12 SLC-4W (LZ-4)
12 SLC-4W (LZ-4)
11
11 SLC-4E
11 SLC-4E
10
10 SLC-3W
10 SLC-3W
9
9 SLC-3E
9 SLC-3E
8
8 SLC-9
8 SLC-9
7
7 LC-576E
7 LC-576E
6
6 SLC-10W
6 SLC-10W
5
5 SLC-10E
5 SLC-10E
4
4 SLC-2W
4 SLC-2W
3
3 SLC-2E
3 SLC-2E
2
2 SLC-1W
2 SLC-1W
1
1 SLC-1E
1 SLC-1E

  Active pads
  Active pads not used for launches
  Inactive leased pads
  Inactive unleased pads
1
SLC-1E
2
SLC-1W
3
SLC-2E
4
SLC-2W
5
SLC-10E
6
SLC-10W
7
LC-576E
8
SLC-9
9
SLC-3E
10
SLC-3W
11
SLC-4E
12
SLC-4W (LZ-4)
13
SLC-5
14
SLC-6
15
SLC-8
16
SLC-7
17
SLC-11
18
SLC-12
19
SLC-14
20
SLC-15

Space Launch Complex 3 (SLC-3) is a launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base that consists of two separate launch pads. Space Launch Complex 3 East (SLC-3E) was used by the Atlas V launch vehicle before it was decommissioned in August 2021 with the final launch taking place on November 10, 2022, at 09:49, while Space Launch Complex 3 West (SLC-3W) has been demolished.[1]

Launches from Vandenberg fly southward, allowing payloads to be placed in high-inclination orbits such as polar or Sun-synchronous orbit, which allow full global coverage on a regular basis and are often used for weather, Earth observation, and reconnaissance satellites. These orbits are difficult to reach from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, where launches must fly eastward due to major population centers to both the north and south of Kennedy Space Center. Avoiding these would require hugely inefficient maneuvering, greatly reducing payload capacity.[2]

SLC-3E was the launch site of the Mars lander InSight in May 2018.[3]

SLC-3E

[edit]

One of two Atlas-Agena pads at VAFB, SLC-3E was originally the designated facility for MIDAS (Missile Defense Alarm System) launches and hosted its first flight on July 12, 1961. After the MIDAS program ended in 1966, SLC-3E then hosted reentry vehicle tests in 1967-68 as part of Project PRIME. The pad was mothballed for a decade, then returned to use in the late 1970s for NAVSTAR communications satellites on refurbished Atlas E/F missiles. On December 19, 1981, Atlas 76E crashed a few hundred feet from the pad after an engine failure, but no serious damage resulted to facilities. SLC-3E was then converted for the Atlas H (Atlas-Centaur core with a solid upper stage in place of the Centaur) and hosted ELINT satellite launches from 1983-87. The pad was mothballed once again and not used for the next 12 years, when it was revived for the Atlas IIAS.

Three successful Atlas IIAS missions were flown from SLC-3E. The first mission, flown on December 18, 1999, launched the Terra satellite.[4] The other two launched satellites in the Naval Ocean Surveillance System, USA 160 and USA 173.[5][6] The final Atlas IIAS mission from SLC-3E was launched on December 2, 2003.[7]

It was reported in 2003 that SLC-3E would be overhauled to serve as a launch platform for the Atlas V.[8] Renovations of SLC-3E began after a January 2004 ground breaking ceremony. Along with other work, the Mobile Service Tower roof was raised by approximately 30 ft (9.1 m) to a height of 239 ft (73 m) to accommodate an Atlas V 500 series vehicle with its larger payload fairing.[9] 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 was "thought to be the biggest over-the-road shipment ever attempted cross-country."[10] In February 2005, the activation team handed over the launch pad to the operational team, marking the end of major reconstruction.[11] The first Atlas V launch from SLC-3E took place at 10:02 GMT on March 13, 2008.[12]

United Launch Alliance (ULA) inherited the pad in December 2006 when the company was formed as the joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, and continued to use it to fly Atlas V rockets. In October 2015 ULA announced that the pad would be updated to accommodate the upcoming Vulcan Centaur rocket, with the pad then being able to launch either Atlas V or Vulcan.[13] The final Atlas V launch from the pad took place on November 10, 2022, carrying the JPSS-2 satellite.[14] The first flight of Vulcan from SLC-3E was anticipated to be in 2023,[15] but Vulcan has been delayed and the first flight from SLC-3E is now expected in 2025.[16] As of December 2024 Conversion work to support Vulcan Centaur is ongoing and completion is expected in 2025.[17]

SLC-3W

[edit]

SLC-3W was originally built for Atlas-Agena launches and the first flight off the pad was the launch of Samos 1 on October 11, 1960. The facility was extensively damaged 11 months later when Samos 3's booster exploded on the pad, but it was repaired quickly and hosted its next launch slightly under two months afterwards.

In 1962-63, the pad was converted for Thor-Agena use and was the primary launching site for Corona reconnaissance satellites for the next decade. After the Corona program ended in 1972, SLC-3W was converted back to support Atlases, this time flights of refurbished Atlas E/F missiles. The final such launch took place in 1995.

SpaceX initially planned to use SLC-3W for the Falcon 1 launch vehicle but switched to SLC-4E with Falcon 9.[18]

Launch Statistics

[edit]

SLC-3E

[edit]
1
2
3
4
1961
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025

Early Atlas

[edit]

All launches from 1961 to 1963 operated by the United States Navy. All launches since 1965 operated by the United States Air Force.

No. Date Time (UTC) Launch vehicle Configuration Payload Result Remarks
1 12 July 1961 15:11 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-A MIDAS 3 Success First launch from PALC-1-2.
2 21 October 1961 13:53 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B MIDAS 4 Partial failure Roll control failed 186 seconds following launch, placing satellite in an incorrect orbit.
3 22 December 1961 19:12 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B Samos 5 Partial failure Sustainer engine cutoff failed, leading to Atlas burn to continue until fuel depletion, placing satellite in higher than expected orbit.
4 7 March 1962 22:10 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B Samos 6 Success
5 9 April 1962 15:04 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B MIDAS 5 Partial failure Rocket underwent improper pitch program, placing payload in incorrect orbit.
6 17 December 1962 20:36 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B MIDAS 6 Failure Hydraulic heat shield failed at liftoff, leading to loss of booster engine hydraulic fluid. Range safety protocols engaged 80 seconds after launch.
7 9 May 1963 20:06 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B MIDAS 7 Success
8 12 June 1963 Unknown Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B MIDAS 8 Success
9 19 July 1963 03:51 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B MIDAS 9 Success
10 9 June 1966 20:15 Atlas-Agena Atlas SLV-3 /Agena-D MIDAS 10 Partial failure First launch as SLC-3 and as SLC-3E. First Atlas SLV launch from the complex. Agena engine relight failed, placing satellite in incorrect orbit.
11 19 August 1966 19:30 Atlas-Agena Atlas SLV-3 /Agena-D MIDAS 11 Success
12 5 October 1966 22:00 Atlas-Agena Atlas SLV-3 /Agena-D MIDAS 12 Success
13 21 December 1966 22:15 Atlas SLV-3 Atlas SLV-3 PRIME Success Suborbital launch. First of three test flights of the X-23 PRIME.
14 5 March 1967 23:05 Atlas SLV-3 Atlas SLV-3 PRIME Success Suborbital launch. Second of three test flights of the X-23 PRIME.
15 20 April 1967 01:35 Atlas SLV-3 Atlas SLV-3 PRIME Success Suborbital launch. Third of three test flights of the X-23 PRIME.
16 16 August 1968 20:57 Atlas-Burner Atlas SLV-3 /Burner 2 STP P68-1 Failure Maiden flight of the Atlas-Burner and only flight from SLC-3E. Payload fairings failed to separate, leading to failure to reach orbit.
17 22 February 1978 23:44 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / SVS GPS-1 Success First Atlas E/F flight from SLC-3E. First launch of the Global Positioning System.
18 13 May 1978 10:34 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / SVS GPS-2 Success Part of the Global Positioning System.
19 7 October 1978 00:28 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / SVS GPS-3 Success Part of the Global Positioning System.
20 11 December 1978 03:59 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / SVS GPS-4 Success Part of the Global Positioning System.
21 9 February 1980 23:08 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / SVS GPS-5 Success Part of the Global Positioning System.
22 26 April 1980 22:00 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / SVS GPS-6 Success Part of the Global Positioning System.
23 19 December 1981 01:10 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / SVS GPS-7 Failure Part of the Global Positioning System. Sealant covering gas generator caused premature shutdown of a booster engine 7 seconds after launch, activating RSO protocols just before hitting the ground. Last Atlas E/F launch from SLC-3E.
24 9 February 1983 13:47 Atlas H Atlas H / MSD OPS-0252 (NOSS-5) Success Maiden flight of the Atlas H.
25 9 June 1983 23:23 Atlas H Atlas H / MSD OPS-6432 (NOSS-6) Success
26 5 February 1984 18:44 Atlas H Atlas H / MSD OPS-8737 (NOSS-7) Success
27 9 February 1986 10:06 Atlas H Atlas H / MSD USA-15 to USA-18 (NOSS-8) Success
28 15 May 1987 15:45 Atlas H Atlas H / MSD USA-22 to USA-25 (NOSS-9) Success Last flight of the Atlas H.

Atlas II and Atlas V

[edit]

All Atlas II launches operated by Lockheed Martin. All Atlas V launches operated by United Launch Alliance.

No. Date Time (UTC) Launch vehicle Configuration Payload Result Remarks
29 18 December 1999 18:57 Atlas II Atlas IIAS Terra Success Part of the Large Strategic Science Missions, aimed at studying Earth's climate. First civilian launch from SLC-3E, first Atlas II launch from Vandenberg, and first flight of a Centaur upper stage from Vandenberg.
30 8 September 2001 15:25 Atlas II Atlas IIAS NROL-13 Success NRO launch. Two Intruder satellites, sharing the designation USA-160. First launch from SLC-3E acknowledged by the National Reconnaissance Office.
31 2 December 2003 10:04 Atlas II Atlas IIAS NROL-18 Success NRO launch. Two Intruder satellites, sharing the designation USA-173. Last Atlas II flight from Vandenberg.
32 13 March 2008 10:02 Atlas V Atlas V 411 NROL-28 Success NRO launch. Trumpet satellite, also known as USA-200. First Atlas V flight from Vandenberg.
33 18 October 2009 16:12 Atlas V Atlas V 401 USA-210 (DMSP 5D3-F18) Success
34 21 September 2010 04:03 Atlas V Atlas V 501 NROL-41 Success NRO launch. Topaz satellite, also known as USA-215. First launch of the Atlas V 500 configuration from SLC-3E.
35 15 April 2011 04:24 Atlas V Atlas V 411 NROL-34 Success NRO launch. Two Intruder satellites, sharing the designation USA-229.
36 13 September 2012 21:39 Atlas V Atlas V 401 NROL-36 Success NRO launch. Two Intruder satellites, sharing the designation USA-238.
37 11 February 2013 18:02 Atlas V Atlas V 401 Landsat 8 Success Part of the Landsat program, aimed at providing research-oriented photographs of Earth. First civilian Atlas V launch from Vandenberg.
38 6 December 2013 07:04 Atlas V Atlas V 501 NROL-39 Success NRO launch. Topaz satellite, also known as USA-247. Flight became notable for its patch featuring an octopus on a globe with the motto "Nothing is Beyond Our Reach," which generated controversy following the 2013 Global surveillance disclosures.
39 3 April 2014 14:46 Atlas V Atlas V 401 USA-249 (DMSP-5D3 F19) Success Final launch of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program.
40 13 August 2014 18:30 Atlas V Atlas V 401 WorldView-3 Success First commercial launch from SLC-3E.
41 13 December 2014 03:19 Atlas V Atlas V 541 NROL-35 Success NRO launch. Trumpet satellite, also known as USA-259.
42 8 October 2015 12:49 Atlas V Atlas V 401 NROL-55 Success NRO launch. Two Intruder satellites, sharing the designation USA-264.
43 11 November 2016 18:30 Atlas V Atlas V 401 WorldView-4 Success
44 1 March 2017 17:49 Atlas V Atlas V 401 NROL-79 Success NRO launch. Two Intruder satellites, sharing the designation USA-274.
45 24 September 2017 05:49 Atlas V Atlas V 541 NROL-42 Success NRO launch. Trumpet satellite, also known as USA-278. Last flight of the Atlas V 500 configuration from SLC-3E.
46 5 May 2018 11:05 Atlas V Atlas V 401 InSight and Mars Cube One Success Part of the Discovery Program, aiming to study the interior of Mars. First interplanetary launch from Vandenberg, and first flight to another celestial body from SLC-3E.
47 27 September 2021 18:12 Atlas V Atlas V 401 Landsat 9 Success Part of the Landsat program, aimed at providing research-oriented photographs of Earth.
48 10 November 2022 09:49 Atlas V Atlas V 401 NOAA-21 and LOFTID Success Part of the Joint Polar Satellite System for NOAA-21, aimed at providing environmental data used in numerical weather prediction. Inflatable heat shield test for LOFTID. Last flight of the Atlas V 400 configuration, and final Atlas launch from Vandenberg.

SLC-3W

[edit]
1
2
3
4
5
6
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995

Early Atlas and Thor

[edit]

All launches from 1960 to 1962 operated by the United States Navy. All launches since 1966 operated by the United States Air Force.

No. Date Time (UTC) Launch vehicle Configuration Payload Result Remarks
1 11 October 1960 20:33 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-A Samos 1 Failure First launch from PALC-1 and first Atlas-Agena flight from Vandenberg. Improper umbilical disconnect during launch resulted in loss of Agena pressurization gas and failure to achieve orbit.
2 31 January 1961 20:21 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B Samos 2 Success First successful launch from PALC-1.
3 9 September 1961 19:28 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B Samos 3 Failure Improper umbilical disconnect led to loss of power in launch vehicle, causing it to fall and crash back onto pad.
4 22 November 1961 20:45 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B Samos 4 Failure Pitch control failed 244 seconds into flight. While Agena succeeded in staging, it was facing the wrong direction and failed to achieve orbit.
5 26 April 1962 18:56 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B Samos 7 Success
6 17 June 1962 18:14 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B Samos 8 Success
7 18 July 1962 20:15 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B Samos 9 Success
8 5 August 1962 17:59 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B Samos 10 Success
9 11 November 1962 20:17 Atlas-Agena Atlas LV-3 / Agena-B Samos 11 Success
10 20 September 1966 21:14 Thor-Agena TAT SLV-2A / Agena-D OPS-1703 (KH-4A) Success First launch as SLC-3W. First Thor launch and only Thor-Agena launch from the pad.
11 1 May 1968 21:31 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2G / Agena-D OPS-1419 (KH-4B) Success First Thorad-Agena launch from SLC-3W.
12 7 August 1968 21:36 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2G / Agena-D OPS-5955 (KH-4B) Success
13 3 November 1968 21:30 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2G / Agena-D OPS-1315 (KH-4B) Success
14 12 December 1968 22:22 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2G / Agena-D OPS-4740 (KH-4A) Success
15 5 February 1969 21:59 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2G / Agena-D OPS-3890 (KH-4B) Success
16 19 March 1969 21:38 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2G / Agena-D OPS-3722 (KH-4A) Success Launch was a success, but satellite later failed.
17 2 May 1969 01:46 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2G / Agena-D OPS-1101 (KH-4A) Success
18 24 July 1969 01:30 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2H / Agena-D OPS-3654 (KH-4B) Success
19 22 September 1969 21:11 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2G / Agena-D OPS-3531 (KH-4A) Success Last launch of the KH-4A.
20 4 December 1969 21:37 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2H / Agena-D OPS-6617 (KH-4B) Success
21 4 March 1970 22:15 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2H / Agena-D OPS-0440 (KH-4B) Success
22 20 May 1970 21:35 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2H / Agena-D OPS-4720 (KH-4B) Success
23 23 July 1970 01:25 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2H / Agena-D OPS-4324 (KH-4B) Success
24 18 November 1970 21:29 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2H / Agena-D OPS-4992 (KH-4B) Success
25 17 February 1971 20:04 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2H / Agena-D OPS-3297 (KH-4B) Failure Improper pre-launch procedure caused frozen lubricant to cause total turbopump failure 18 seconds after launch, leading to booster losing thrust and impacting the ground not far from the pad.
26 24 March 1971 21:05 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2H / Agena-D OPS-5300 (KH-4B) Success
27 10 September 1971 21:33 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2H / Agena-D OPS-5454 (KH-4B) Success
28 19 April 1972 21:43 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2H / Agena-D OPS-5640 (KH-4B) Success
29 25 May 1972 18:41 Thorad-Agena Thorad SLV-2H / Agena-D OPS-6371 (KH-4B) Success Final flight of the Thorad-Agena, and last Thor launch from SLC-3W. Last flight of the CORONA program.

Atlas E/F

[edit]

All launches operated by the United States Air Force.

No. Date Time (UTC) Launch vehicle Configuration Payload Result Remarks
30 14 July 1974 05:17 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / PTS P73-3 Success First Atlas E/F launch from SLC-3, and first Atlas launch from SLC-3W since 1962.
31 13 April 1975 00:51 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-17A P72-2 Failure Explosion in flame trench damaged rocket during launch, leading to sustainer engine failure during ascent. Range safety protocols engaged 303 seconds into flight.
32 30 April 1976 19:12 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / MSD OPS-6431 (NOSS-1) Success
33 23 June 1977 09:16 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / SGS-1 NTS-2 Success
34 8 December 1977 17:45 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / MSD OPS-8781 (NOSS-2) Success
35 27 June 1978 01:12 Atlas-Agena Atlas E/F / Agena-D Seasat Success Satellite designed to observe Earth's oceans through the use of remote sensing. First civilian launch from SLC-3 and SLC-3W. Final flight of the Atlas-Agena.
36 13 October 1978 11:23 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS TIROS-N Success Part of the TIROS-N series of weather satellites for NOAA.
37 24 February 1979 08:20 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / OIS Solwind Success Satellite become notable for being destroyed during an anti-satellite test in 1985.
38 27 June 1979 15:51 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS NOAA-6 Success Part of the TIROS-N series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as NOAA-A.
39 3 March 1980 09:27 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / MSD OPS-7245 (NOSS-3) Success
40 29 May 1980 10:53 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS NOAA-B Failure Part of the TIROS-N series of weather satellites for NOAA. Loose seal resulted in flooded turbopump and lowered thrust. Sustainer engine compensated by burning longer, but upper stage engine ignited prior to staging, placing satellite in useless orbit.
41 9 December 1980 07:18 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / MSD NOSS-4 Failure Lubricant failure caused booster engine failure prior to jettison, flipping rocket 180° and breaking up.
42 23 June 1981 10:52 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS NOAA-7 Success Part of the TIROS-N series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as NOAA-C.
43 21 December 1982 02:38 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS OPS-9845 (DMSP 5D-2/F6) Success
44 28 March 1983 15:52 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS NOAA-8 Success Part of the Advanced TIROS-N series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as NOAA-E.
45 14 July 1983 10:21 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / SGS-2 GPS-8 Success Part of the Global Positioning System. First GPS launch from SLC-3W.
46 18 November 1983 06:32 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS OPS-1294 (DMSP 5D-2/F7) Success
47 13 June 1984 11:37 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / SGS-2 USA-1 (GPS-9) Success Part of the Global Positioning System. First satellite to receive a USA designation.
48 8 September 1984 21:41 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / SGS-2 USA-5 (GPS-10) Success Part of the Global Positioning System.
49 12 December 1984 10:42 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / SGS-2 NOAA-9 Success Part of the Advanced TIROS-N series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as NOAA-F.
50 13 March 1985 02:00 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / OIS Geosat Success
51 9 October 1985 02:53 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / SGS-2 USA-10 (GPS-11) Success Part of the Global Positioning System.
52 17 September 1986 15:52 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS NOAA-10 Success Part of the Advanced TIROS-N series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as NOAA-G.
53 20 June 1987 02:34 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS USA-26 (DMSP 5D-2/F8) Success
54 3 February 1988 05:53 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS USA-29 (DMSP 5D-2/F9) Success
55 24 September 1988 10:02 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS NOAA-11 Success Part of the Advanced TIROS-N series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as NOAA-H.
56 11 April 1990 15:00 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Altair USA-56 to USA-58 (Stacksat/P87-2) Success
57 1 December 1990 15:57 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS USA-68 (DMSP F-10) Success
58 14 May 1991 15:52 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS NOAA-12 Success Part of the Advanced TIROS-N series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as NOAA-D.
59 28 November 1991 13:23 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS USA-73 (DMSP F-11) Success
60 9 August 1993 10:02 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS NOAA-13 Success Part of the Advanced TIROS-N series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as NOAA-I.
61 29 August 1994 17:38 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS USA-106 (DMSP F-12) Success
62 30 December 1994 10:02 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS NOAA-14 Success Part of the Advanced TIROS-N series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as NOAA-J.
63 24 March 1995 14:05 Atlas E/F Atlas E/F / Star-37S-ISS USA-109 (DMSP F-13) Success Last flight of the Atlas E/F. Most recent launch from SLC-3W.
[edit]
  • The first Atlas H launching from SLC-3E.
    The first Atlas H launching from SLC-3E.
  • A Falcon 1 at SLC-3W.
    A Falcon 1 at SLC-3W.
  • The first Atlas V to launch from Vandenberg at SLC-3E in 2008.
    The first Atlas V to launch from Vandenberg at SLC-3E in 2008.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Ray, Justin (January 20, 2000). "Vandenberg launch pad demolition set for Sunday". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  2. ^ "Launch Sites". NASA Human Spaceflight Office. Archived from the original on October 13, 1999.
  3. ^ Clark, Stephen (December 19, 2013). "Mars lander to launch from California on Atlas 5 in 2016". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  4. ^ NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details. NASA.
  5. ^ NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details. NASA.
  6. ^ NASA – NSSDC – Spacecraft – Details. NASA.
  7. ^ "ILS Successfully Launches Atlas IIAS with NRO Payload". International Launch Services. December 2, 2003. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
  8. ^ Justin Ray (December 4, 2003). "Vandenberg's Atlas Launchpad Getting Extensive Facelift".
  9. ^ "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. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011.
  10. ^ "Lockheed Martin Marks Major Milestone At West Coast Atlas V Launch Pad". PR Newswire. July 27, 2004.
  11. ^ "Lockheed Martin Delivers First Atlas Five Booster to West Coast Launch Site". Lockheed Martin. February 11, 2005. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011.
  12. ^ "ULA Inaugural Atlas V West Coast Launch a Success". ULA. Associated Press. March 13, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  13. ^ Clark, Stephen. "ULA selects launch pads for new Vulcan rocket – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  14. ^ Gebhardt, Chris (November 9, 2022). "Atlas rocket bids farewell to California as ULA readies for Vulcan". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  15. ^ Gebhardt, Chris (August 21, 2020). "ULA updates Vulcan status, readiness for certification missions". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  16. ^ Erwin, Sandra (June 8, 2023). "Space Force assigns 12 national security missions to SpaceX and ULA". SpaceNews. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  17. ^ "West Coast Vulcan Construction Update". ULA. December 3, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  18. ^ Federal Register /Vol. 73, No. 245 / Friday, December 19, 2008 / Proposed Rules, page 77579.
[edit]
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