Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 Explained

Space Launch Complex 4
Site:	Vandenberg Space Force Base
Short:	SLC-4
Utc Offset:	−08:00
Time Zone:	PST
Utc Offset Dst:	−07:00
Time Zone Dst:	PDT
Tlaunches:	248
Pads:	2 (1 became a landing zone for Falcon 9)
Inclination:	43° – 145°
Paddetails:	Designation: SLC-4W (PALC-2-3) Status: Repurposed Launches: 94 First: 12 July 1963 Last: 18 October 2003 Designation: LZ-4 (PALC-2-3) Landing: yes Status: Active Landings: 20 (20 successful, 0 failure) First Landing: 7 October 2018 (SAOCOM 1A) Last Landing: 16 August 2024 (Transporter-11) Rockets: Falcon 9 Block 5 Designation: SLC-4E (PALC-2-4) Status: Active Launches: 154 First: 14 August 1964 First Details: Atlas-Agena D (OPS 3802) Last: 16 August 2024 Last Details: Falcon 9 Block 5 (Transporter-11)

Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4) is a launch and landing site at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, U.S. It has two pads, both of which are used by SpaceX for Falcon 9, one for launch operations, and the other as Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) for SpaceX landings.

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 PALC-2-3 and PALC-2-4 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 Titan launch vehicles.^[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.

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.^[4]

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.^[5] The first KH-11 Kennan satellite was launched from the complex on 19 December 1976.^[6] 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.^[7] SLC-4E hosted one of the most dramatic launch accidents in US history when a Titan 34D-9 carrying a KH-9 photoreconnaissance satellite exploded a few hundred feet above the pad on 18 April 1986. The enormous blast showered the launch complex with debris and toxic propellant (hydrazine and dinitrogen tetroxide), 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.^{[8] [9]}

Titan IV

The last Titan variant 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.^{[10] [11]}

Falcon 9

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. 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.^[12] As the pad was nearing completion in February 2013, the first launch was scheduled for summer 2013,^[13] but was delayed until September 2013.

Launch history

Statistics

Atlas (1964–1967)

Date/time (GMT)	Launch vehicle	Serial numbers			Trajectory	Result	Payload	Remarks
1964-10-08	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7103	LEO (target)		KH-7 Gambit 4012	Agena engine malfunction. RSO destruct
1964-12-04 18:57	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7105	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4014
1965-04-03 21:25	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7401	LEO		SNAPSHOT	First and only nuclear reactor powered American satellite.
1965-04-28 20:17	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7107	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4017
1965-05-27 19:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7108	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4018
1965-06-25 19:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7109	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4019
1965-07-12 19:00	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7112	LEO (target)		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	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4021
1965-09-30 19:20	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7110	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4022
1965-11-08 19:26	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7113	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4023
1966-01-19 20:10	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7114	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4024
1966-02-15 20:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7115	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4025
1966-03-18 20:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7116	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4026
1966-04-19 19:12	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7117	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4027
1966-05-14 18:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7118	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4028
1966-06-03 19:25	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7119	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4029
1966-07-12 17:57	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7120	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4030
1966-08-16 18:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7121	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4031
1966-08-19 19:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7202	LEO		Midas 11
1966-09-16 17:59	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7123	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4032
1966-10-12 19:15	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7122	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4033
1966-11-02 20:23	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7124	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4034
1966-12-05 21:09	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7125	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4035
1967-02-02 20:00	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7126	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4036
1967-05-22 18:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7127	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4037
1967-06-04 18:07	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7128	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4038

Titan IIID / 34D (1971–1988)

Date/time (GMT)	Launch vehicle	Serial numbers			Trajectory	Result	Payload	Remarks
1971-06-15 18:41	Titan III(23)D	23D-1	LEO		OPS-8709 (KH-9)	Maiden flight of Titan IIID
1972-01-20 18:36	Titan III(23)D	23D-2	LEO		OPS-1737 (KH-9) SSF-B-22
1972-07-07 17:46	Titan III(23)D	23D-5	LEO		OPS-7293 (KH-9) SSF-B-23
1972-10-10 18:03	Titan III(23)D	23D-3	LEO		OPS-8314 (KH-9) SSF-C-3
1973-03-09 21:00	Titan III(23)D	23D-6	LEO		OPS-8410 (KH-9)
1973-06-13 20:24	Titan III(23)D	23D-7	LEO		OPS-8261 (KH-9)
1973-11-10 20:09	Titan III(23)D	23D-8	LEO		OPS-6630 (KH-9) SSF-B-24 SSF-C-4
1974-04-10 20:20	Titan III(23)D	23D-9	LEO		OPS-6245 (KH-9) SSF-B-25 IRCB
1974-10-29 19:30	Titan III(23)D	23D-4	LEO		OPS-7122 (KH-9) OPS-8452 (S3) SSF-B-26
1975-06-08 18:30	Titan III(23)D	23D-10	LEO		OPS-6381 (KH-9) SSF-C-5
1975-12-04 20:38	Titan III(23)D	23D-13	LEO		OPS-4428 (KH-9) OPS-5547 (S3)
1976-07-08 18:30	Titan III(23)D	23D-14	LEO		OPS-4699 (KH-9) OPS-3986 (S3) SSF-D-1
1976-12-19 18:19	Titan III(23)D	23D-15	LEO		OPS-5705 (KH-11)
1977-06-27 18:30	Titan III(23)D	23D-17	LEO		OPS-4800 (KH-9)
1978-03-16 18:43	Titan III(23)D	23D-20	LEO		OPS-0460 (KH-9) SSF-D-2
1978-06-14 18:28	Titan III(23)D	23D-18	LEO		OPS-4515 (KH-11)
1979-03-16 18:30	Titan III(23)D	23D-21	LEO		OPS-3854 (KH-9) SSF-D-3
1980-02-07 21:10	Titan III(23)D	23D-19	LEO		OPS-2581 (KH-11)
1980-06-18 18:29	Titan III(23)D	23D-16	LEO		OPS-3123 (KH-9) SSF-C-6
1981-09-03 18:29	Titan III(23)D	23D-22	LEO		OPS-3984 (KH-11)
1982-05-11 18:45	Titan III(23)D	23D-24	LEO		OPS-5642 (KH-9) SSF-D-4
1982-11-17 21:22	Titan III(23)D	23D-23	LEO		OPS-9627 (KH-11)	Final flight of Titan IIID
1983-06-20 18:45	Titan 34D	4D-3	34D-5		LEO		OPS-0721 (KH-9) SSF-C-7
1984-06-25 18:43	Titan 34D	4D-1	34D-4		LEO		USA-2 (KH-9) USA-3 (SSF-D)
1984-12-04 18:00	Titan 34D	4D-4	34D-6		LEO		USA-6 (KH-11)
1985-08-28 21:20	Titan 34D	4D-6	34D-7		LEO (target)		KH-11	First stage propellant leak leading to turbopump failure and RSO destruct
1986-04-18 17:45	Titan 34D	4D-2	34D-9		LEO (target)		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		LEO		USA-27 (KH-11)
1988-11-06 18:03	Titan 34D	4D-7	34D-14		LEO		USA-33 (KH-11)

Titan IV (1991–2005)

Date/time (GMT)	Launch vehicle	Serial numbers			Trajectory	Result	Payload	Remarks
1991-03-08 12:03	Titan IV(403)A	45F-1	4A-5	K-5	LEO		USA-69 (Lacrosse)	Maiden flight of Titan 403A
1991-1108 07:07	Titan IV(403)A	45F-2	4A-8	K-8	LEO		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	LEO		USA-86 (KH-12)	Maiden flight of Titan 404A
1993-08-02 19:59	Titan IV(403)A	45F-9	4A-11	K-11	LEO (target)		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	LEO		USA-116 (KH-12)
1996-05-12 21:32	Titan IV(403)A	45F-11	4A-22	K-22	LEO		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	LEO		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	LEO		USA-133 (Lacrosse)	Final flight of Titan 403A
1999-05-22 09:36	Titan IV(404)B		4B-12	K-12	LEO		USA-144 (Misty)	Maiden flight of Titan 404B
2000-08-17 23:45	Titan IV(403)B		4B-28	K-25	LEO		USA-152 (Onyx)	NRO L-11, Maiden flight of Titan 403B
2001-10-05 21:21	Titan IV(404)B		4B-34	K-34	LEO		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	LEO		USA-186 (KH-12)	NRO L-20, Final flight of Titan IV

Falcon 9 (since 2013)

Date/time (GMT)	Launch vehicle	Trajectory	Payload	Result	Remarks
2013-09-29 16:00	F9 v1.1 B1003	Polar orbit	CASSIOPE^[14] ^[15]		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^[16]	F9 v1.1 B1017	SSO	Jason-3^[17]		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	F9 FT B1029.1	Polar orbit	Iridium-1		First batch of ten satellites for the Iridium NEXT constellation.
2017-06-25 20:25	F9 FT B1036.1	Polar orbit	Iridium-2		Second batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites
2017-08-24 18:50	F9 FT B1038.1	SSO	FORMOSAT-5^[18]		Formosat-5 was originally scheduled to launch on a Falcon 1e from Omelek Island in 2013.
2017-10-09 12:37	F9 B4 B1041.1	Polar orbit	Iridium-3		Third batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites
2017-12-23 01:27	F9 FT ♺ B1036.2	Polar orbit	Iridium-4		First west-coast return-to-launch-site landing planned but later cancelled.^[19] The first-stage booster was expended after a controlled ocean splashdown.^[20]
2018-02-22 14:17^[21]	F9 FT ♺ B1038.2	SSO	Paz^[22] & Tintin A, B (Starlink)		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	F9 B4 ♺ B1041.2	Polar orbit	Iridium-5		Fifth batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites. The first stage was expended after a simulated ocean landing.^[23]
2018-05-22 19:47	F9 B4 ♺ B1043.2	Polar orbit	Iridium-6 & Grace-FO		Sixth batch of 5 Iridium NEXT satellites. The two GRACE-FO satellites were a rideshare on this flight. The first stage was expended and flew w/o legs, but with aluminum grid fins.
2018-07-25 11:39	F9 B5 B1048.1	Polar orbit	Iridium-7		Seventh batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites. First Falcon 9 Block 5 to launch from Vandenberg AFB.
2018-10-08 02:21	F9 B5 ♺ B1048.2	SSO	SAOCOM 1A		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.
2018-12-03 18:34	F9 B5 ♺ B1046.3	SSO	Spaceflight SSO-A		Rideshare mission during which 64 small satellites were successfully deployed. First time a booster (B1046) was used for a third flight.
2019-01-11 15:31	F9 B5 ♺ B1049.2	Polar orbit	Iridium-8		Eighth and the last Iridium NEXT mission with ten satellites.
2019-06-12 14:17	F9 B5 ♺ B1051.2	SSO	RADARSAT Constellation		Set of three Earth observation satellites by the Canadian Space Agency.
2020-11-21 17:17	F9 B5 B1063.1	LEO	Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich		First of two Sentinel 6 satellites to measure sea-level change. Launched to a 1336 km at 66° inclination orbit.
2021-09-14 03:55	F9 B5 ♺ B1049.10	LEO	Starlink × 51 (Group 2-1)		First Starlink mission to launch from Vandenberg SLC-4, to a 70-degree orbital inclination.
2021-11-24 01:21	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.3	Heliocentric	DART		First mission to demonstrate asteroid reduction capability. Originally planned for 22 July 2021, but was pushed back to 24 November 2021.^[24]
2021-12-18 12:41	F9 B5 ♺ B1051.11	LEO	Starlink × 52 (Group 4-4)		First West coast and third overall 53.2-degree inclination Starlink launch. First time a Falcon 9 first stage booster flew for an eleventh time.
2022-02-02 20:27	F9 B5 B1071.1	SSO	NROL-87		Classified US military satellite
2022-02-25 17:12	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.4	LEO	Starlink × 50 (Group 4–11)
2022-04-17 13:13	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.2	SSO	NROL-85		Two classified US military satellites
2022-05-13 22:07	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.5	LEO	Starlink × 53 (Group 4-13)
2022-06-18 14:19	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.3	SSO	SARah 1
2022-07-11 01:39	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.6	SSO	Starlink x 46 (Group 3-1)		First dedicated mission deploying Starlink satellites to Sun-synchronous orbit.
2022-07-22 17:39	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.4	SSO	Starlink x 46 (Group 3-2)
2022-08-12 21:40	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.10	SSO	Starlink x 46 (Group 3-3)
2022-08-31 05:40	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.7	SSO	Starlink x 46 (Group 3-4)
2022-10-05 23:10	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.5	LEO	Starlink x 52 (Group 4-29)
2022-10-28 01:14	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.8	LEO	Starlink x 53 (Group 4-31)
2022-12-16 11:46	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.6	Polar orbit	SWOT		Joint mission of NASA and CNES
2022-12-30 07:38	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.11	LEO	EROS-C3
2023-01-19 15:43	F9 B5 B1075.1	LEO	Starlink x 51 (Group 2-4)
2023-01-31 16:15	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.7	LEO	Starlink x 49 (Group 2-6) & ION SCV-009		The launch carried also the ION SCV-009 cubesat deployer with a mass simulator and some experiments onboard.
2023-02-17 19:12	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.9	LEO	Starlink x 51 (Group 2-5)
2023-03-03 18:38	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.12	LEO	Starlink x 51 (Group 2-7)
2023-03-17 19:26	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.8	LEO	Starlink x 52 (Group 2-8)
2023-04-02 14:29	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.2	Polar Orbit	SDA Tranche 0A
2023-04-15 06:48	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.10	SSO	Transporter 7
2023-04-27 13:40	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.13	SSO	Starlink x 46 (Group 3-5)
2023-05-10 20:09	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.3	LEO	Starlink x 51 (Group 2-9)
2023-05-20 13:16	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.11	Polar Orbit	Iridium-9 & OneWeb #19
2023-05-31 06:02	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.14	LEO	Starlink x 52 (Group 2-10)
2023-06-12 21:35	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.9	SSO	Transporter 8
2023-06-22 07:19	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.4	LEO	Starlink x 47 (Group 5-7)
2023-07-07 19:29	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.12	LEO	Starlink x 48 (Group 5-13)
2023-07-20 04:09	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.10	LEO	Starlink x 15 (Group 6-15)
2023-08-08 03:57	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.5	LEO	Starlink x 15 (Group 6-20)
2023-08-22 09:37	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.15	LEO	Starlink x 21 (Group 7-1)
2023-09-02 14:25	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.13		SDA Tranche 0B
2023-09-12 06:57	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.11	LEO	Starlink x 21 (Group 7-2)
2023-09-25 08:48	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.6	LEO	Starlink x 21 (Group 7-3)
2023-10-09 07:23	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.14	LEO	Starlink x 21 (Group 7-4)
2023-10-21 08:23	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.16	LEO	Starlink x 21 (Group 7-5)
2023-10-29 09:00	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.7	LEO	Starlink x 22 (Group 7-6)
2023-11-11 18:49	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.12	SSO	Transporter 9
2023-11-20 10:30	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.15	LEO	Starlink x 22 (Group 7-7)
2023-12-01 18:19	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.17	SSO	425 Project Flight 1 and 24 Secondary Payloads
2023-12-08 08:03	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.13	LEO	Starlink x 22 (Group 7-8)		Fastest turnaround of this launch pad.
2023-12-24 13:11	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.8	SSO	SARah 2 & 3^[25]
2024-01-03 03:44	F9 B5 B1082.1	LEO	Starlink x 21 (Group 7-9)
2024-01-14 08:59	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.18	LEO	Starlink x 22 (Group 7-10)
2024-01-24 00:35	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.16	LEO	Starlink x 22 (Group 7-11)
2024-01-29 05:57	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.9	LEO	Starlink x 22 (Group 7-12)		This landing marked the fastest turnaround of a droneship at just over 5 days. The launch also marked the fastest turnaround time from SLC-4E at 5 days, 5 hours, 22 minutes, and 20 seconds, previously being at 6.5 days.
2024-02-10 00:34	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.14	LEO	Starlink x 22 (Group 7-13)
2024-02-15 21:34	F9 B5 ♺ B1082.2	LEO	Starlink x 22 (Group 7-14)
2024-02-23 04:11	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.19	LEO
2024-03-04 22:05	F9 B5 ♺ B1081.5	SSO	Transporter 10
2024-03-11 04:09	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.17	LEO	Starlink x 23 (Group 7-17)
2024-03-19 02:28	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.10	LEO	Starlink x 20 and Starshield x 2^[26] (Group 7-16)		Carried two Starshield as rideshare.^[27]
2024-04-02 02:30	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.15	LEO	Starlink x 22 (Group 7-18)
2024-04-07 02:25	F9 B5 ♺ B1081.6	LEO	Starlink x 21 (Group 8-1)
2024-04-11 14:25	F9 B5 ♺ B1082.3	SSO	USSF-62 (WSF-M 1)
2024-05-02 18:36	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.20	SSO	WorldView Legion 1 & 2 (2 Sats)
2024-05-10 04:30	F9 B5 ♺ B1082.4	LEO	Starlink x 20 (Group 8-2)
2024-05-14 18:39	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.18	LEO	Starlink x 20 (Group 8-7)
2024-05-22 08:00	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.16	LEO	NROL-146
2024-05-28 22:20	F9 B5 ♺ B1081.7	SSO	EarthCARE
2024-06-08 12:58	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.21	LEO	Starlink x 20 (Group 8-8)
2024-06-19 03:40	F9 B5 ♺ B1082.5	LEO	Starlink x 20 (Group 9-1)
2024-06-24 03:47	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.11	LEO	Starlink x 20 (Group 9-2)
2024-06-29 03:14	F9 B5 ♺ B1081.8	LEO	NROL-186
2024-07-12 02:35	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.19	LEO	Starlink x 20 (Group 9-3)
2024-07-28 09:22	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.17	LEO	Starlink x 21 (Group 9-4)
2024-08-04 07:24	F9 B5 ♺ B1082.6	LEO	Starlink x 23 (Group 11-1)
2024-08-12 02:02	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.22	Molniya	ASBM 1 & ASBM 2		Two identical satellites to be operated by NOSA, in order to provide communication coverage to the far north areas of Norway, which is presently not served by geosynchronous satellites.
2024-08-16 18:56	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.12	SSO	Transporter 11

Upcoming launches

Planned date (UTC)	Launch vehicle	Trajectory	Payload	width=30%	Remarks
23 August 2024	F9 B5	LEO	Starlink x 20 (Group 9-5)
August 2024	F9 B5	LEO	Starlink x ? (Group 7-19)
August 2024	F9 B5	LEO	Starlink x ? (Group 7-20)
August 2024	F9 B5	LEO	Starlink x ? (Group 7-21)
August 2024	F9 B5	LEO	Starlink x ? (Group 7-22)
August 2024	F9 B5	LEO	Starlink x ? (Group 7-23)
August 2024	F9 B5	LEO	Starlink x ? (Group 7-24)
Net 2024	F9 B5	SSO	NAOS (LUXEOSys)
April 2025^[28]	F9 B5	Geocentric	SPHEREx & PUNCH
November 2025	F9 B5	SSO	Sentinel-6B

SLC-4W

SLC-4W started operations in 1963 as Space Launch Complex 4W, and continued as an operational launch site through 2003. In 2015, SpaceX started conversion of the launch site into Landing Zone LZ-4. 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 PALC-2-3. Twelve Atlas-Agenas launches were conducted from PALC-2-3, 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 68 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			Trajectory	Result	Payload	Remarks
1963-07-12 20:46	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	201D	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4001
1963-09-06 19:30	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	212D	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4002
1963-10-25 18:59	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	224D	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4003
1963-12-18 21:45	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	227D	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4004
1964-02-25 18:59	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	285D	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4005
1964-03-11 20:14	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	296D	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4006
1964-04-23 16:19	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	351D	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4007
1964-05-19 19:21	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	350D	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4008
1964-07-06 18:51	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	352D	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4009
1964-08-14 22:00	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	7101	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4010
1964-09-23 20:06	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	7102	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4011
1964-10-23 18:30	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	353D	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4013
1965-01-23 20:09	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7106	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4015
1965-03-12 19:25	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7104	LEO		KH-7 Gambit 4016
29 July 1966 18:43	Titan IIIB	3B-1	4751	LEO		OPS-3014 (KH-8)	Maiden flight of Titan IIIB
28 September 1966 19:12	Titan IIIB	3B-2	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-4096 (KH-8)
14 December 1966 18:14	Titan IIIB	3B-3	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-8968 (KH-8)
24 February 1967 19:55	Titan IIIB	3B-4	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-4204 (KH-8)
26 April 1967 18:00	Titan IIIB	3B-5	<		--Agena-->	LEO (target)		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	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-4282 (KH-8)
16 August 1967 17:02	Titan IIIB	3B-9	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-4886 (KH-8)
19 September 1967 18:28	Titan IIIB	3B-10	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-4941 (KH-8)
25 October 1967 19:15	Titan IIIB	3B-11	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-4995 (KH-8)
5 December 1967 18:45	Titan IIIB	3B-12	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-5000 (KH-8)
18 January 1968 19:04	Titan IIIB	3B-13	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-5028 (KH-8)
13 March 1968 19:55	Titan IIIB	3B-14	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-5057 (KH-8)
7 April 1968 17:00	Titan IIIB	3B-15	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-5105 (KH-8)
5 June 1968 17:31	Titan IIIB	3B-16	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-5138 (KH-8)
6 August 1968 16:33	Titan IIIB	3B-17	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-5187 (KH-8)
10 September 1968 18:30	Titan IIIB	3B-18	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-5247 (KH-8)
6 November 1968 19:10	Titan IIIB	3B-19	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-5296 (KH-8)
4 December 1968 19:23	Titan IIIB	3B-20	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-6518 (KH-8)
22 January 1969 19:10	Titan IIIB	3B-6	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-7585 (KH-8)
4 March 1969 19:30	Titan IIIB	3B-7	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-4248 (KH-8)
15 April 1969 17:30	Titan IIIB	3B-21	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-5310 (KH-8)
3 June 1969 16:49	Titan IIIB	3B-22	<		--Agena-->	LEO		OPS-1077 (KH-8)
23 August 1969 16:00	Titan III(23)B	23B-1	3B-23		LEO		OPS-7807 (KH-8A)	Maiden flight of Titan 23B
14 October 1969 18:10	Titan III(23)B	23B-2	3B-24		LEO		OPS-8455 (KH-8A)
14 January 1970 18:43	Titan III(23)B	23B-3	3B-24		LEO		OPS-6531 (KH-8A)
15 April 1970 15:52	Titan III(23)B	23B-4	3B-26		LEO		OPS-2863 (KH-8A)
25 June 1970 14:50	Titan III(23)B	23B-5	3B-27		LEO		OPS-6820 (KH-8A)
18 August 1970 14:45	Titan III(23)B	23B-6	3B-28		LEO		OPS-7874 (KH-8A)
23 October 1970 17:40	Titan III(23)B	23B-7	3B-29		LEO		OPS-7568 (KH-8A)
21 January 1971 18:28	Titan III(23)B	23B-8	3B-30		LEO		OPS-7776 (KH-8A)
21 March 1971 03:45	Titan III(33)B	33B-1	3B-36		Molniya			Maiden flight of Titan 33B
22 April 1971 15:30	Titan III(23)B	23B-9	3B-31		LEO		OPS-7899 (KH-8A)	Final flight of Titan 23B
12 August 1971 15:30	Titan III(24)B	24B-1	3B-32		LEO		OPS-8607 (KH-8A)	Maiden flight of Titan 24B
23 October 1971 17:16	Titan III(24)B	24B-2	3B-33		LEO		OPS-7616 (KH-8A)
16 February 1972 09:59	Titan III(33)B	33B-2	3B-37		Molniya (target)		OPS-1844 (Jumpseat)	Failed to reach orbit
17 March 1972 17:00	Titan III(24)B	24B-3	3B-34		LEO		OPS-1678 (KH-8A)
20 May 1972 15:30	Titan III(24)B	24B-4	3B-35		LEO (target)		OPS-6574 (KH-8A)	Agena pressurization failure
1 September 1972 17:44	Titan III(24)B	24B-5	3B-39		LEO		OPS-8888 (KH-8A)
21 December 1972 17:45	Titan III(24)B	24B-6	3B-40		LEO		OPS-3978 (KH-8A)
16 May 1973 16:40	Titan III(24)B	24B-7	3B-41		LEO		OPS-2093 (KH-8A)
26 June 1973 17:00	Titan III(24)B	24B-9	3B-43		LEO (target)		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		Molniya		OPS-7724 (Jumpseat)	Final flight of Titan 33B
27 September 1973 17:15	Titan III(24)B	24B-8	3B-42		LEO		OPS-6275 (KH-8A)
13 February 1974 18:00	Titan III(24)B	24B-10	3B-44		LEO		OPS-6889 (KH-8A)
6 June 1974 16:30	Titan III(24)B	24B-11	3B-45		LEO		OPS-1776 (KH-8A)
14 August 1974 15:35	Titan III(24)B	24B-12	3B-46		LEO		OPS-3004 (KH-8A)
10 March 1975 04:41	Titan III(34)B	34B-1	3B-50		Molniya		OPS-2439 (Jumpseat)	Maiden flight of Titan 34B
18 April 1975 16:48	Titan III(24)B	24B-14	3B-48		LEO		OPS-4883 (KH-8A)
9 October 1975 19:15	Titan III(24)B	24B-13	3B-47		LEO		OPS-5499 (KH-8A)
22 March 1976 18:14	Titan III(24)B	24B-18	3B-52		LEO		OPS-7600 (KH-8A)
2 June 1976 20:56	Titan III(34)B	34B-5	3B-55		Molniya		OPS-7837 (SDS)
6 August 1976 22:21	Titan III(34)B	34B-6	3B-56		Molniya		OPS-7940 (SDS)
15 September 1976 18:50	Titan III(24)B	24B-17	3B-51		LEO		OPS-8533 (KH-8A)
13 March 1977 18:41	Titan III(24)B	24B-19	3B-54		LEO		OPS-4915 (KH-8A)
23 September 1977 18:34	Titan III(24)B	24B-23	3B-58		LEO		OPS-7471 (KH-8A)
25 February 1978 05:00	Titan III(34)B	34B-2	3B-49		Molniya		OPS-6031 (Jumpseat)
5 August 1978 05:00	Titan III(34)B	34B-7	3B-57		Molniya		OPS-7310 (SDS)
28 May 1979 18:14	Titan III(24)B	24B-25	3B-61		LEO		OPS-7164 (KH-8A)
13 December 1980 16:04	Titan III(34)B	34B-3	3B-53		Molniya		OPS-5805 (SDS)
28 February 1981 19:15	Titan III(24)B	24B-24	3B-59		LEO		OPS-1166 (KH-8A)
24 April 1981 21:32	Titan III(34)B	34B-8	3B-60		Molniya		OPS-7225 (Jumpseat)	Spacecraft failed to separate
21 January 1982 19:36	Titan III(24)B	24B-26	3B-62		LEO		OPS-2849 (KH-8A HB)
15 April 1983 18:45	Titan III(24)B	24B-27	3B-63		LEO		OPS-2925 (KH-8A)
31 July 1983 15:41	Titan III(34)B	34B-9	3B-65		Molniya		OPS-7304 (Jumpseat)
17 April 1984 18:45	Titan III(24)B	24B-28	3B-67		LEO		OPS-8424 (KH-8A)	Final flight of Titan 24B
28 August 1984 18:03	Titan III(34)B	34B-4	3B-64		Molniya		USA-4 (SDS)
8 February 1985 06:10	Titan III(34)B	34B-10	3B-69		Molniya		USA-9 (SDS)
12 February 1987 06:40	Titan III(34)B	34B-51	3B-66		Molniya		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	LEO		USA-32 (Bernie)	Maiden flight of Titan 23G
6 September 1989 01:49	Titan II(23)G	23G-2	B-99	B-75	LEO		USA-45 (Bernie)
25 April 1992 08:53	Titan II(23)G	23G-3	B-102	LEO		USA-81 (Bernie)
5 October 1993 17:56	Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP	23G-5	B-65		LEO (target)		Landsat 6	Star-37 failed to ignite
25 January 1994 16:34	Titan II(23)G	23G-11	B-67	B-89	LEO^[29]		Clementine DSPSE-ISA
4 April 1997 16:47	Titan II(23)G/Star-37S	23G-6	B-106		LEO		USA-131 (DMSP)
13 May 1998 15:52	Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP	23G-12	B-72	B-80	LEO		NOAA-15
20 June 1999 02:15	Titan II(23)G	23G-7	B-75	LEO		QuickSCAT
12 December 1999 17:38	Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP	23G-8	B-44	B-94	LEO		USA-147 (DMSP)
21 September 2000 10:22	Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP	23G-13	B-39	B-96	LEO		NOAA-16
24 June 2002 18:23	Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP	23G-14	B-92	B-71	LEO		NOAA-17
6 January 2003 14:19	Titan II(23)G	23G-4	B-72	LEO		Coriolis
18 October 2003 16:17	Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP	23G-9	B-107		LEO		USA-172 (DMSP)	Final flight of Titan II

LZ-4

Development history

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.^[30] 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.^[31]

Principal structures on the pad were demolished in September 2014 as construction of the landing pad began and was completed sometime around 2017.^[32]

Landing statistics

Landing outcomes (Falcon 9)

Detailed landing history

For landings at sea, see Autonomous spaceport drone ship

After performing return-to-launch-site (RTLS) landings at its two Cape Canaveral Space Force Station landing pads, Landing Zones 1 and 2,^{[30] [33]} the company initially planned to attempt the first West Coast booster landing at Vandenberg AFB with the fourth Iridium NEXT satellite launch in December 2017, but ultimately opted for an expendable mission.^{[34] [35]}

In July 2018, SpaceX filed an FCC permit to communicate with a Falcon 9 first stage post-landing at SLC-4W, hinting at a potential RTLS landing, for the SAOCOM 1A mission.^[36] This launch was later rescheduled to October 8, 2018. Publicly announced through FCC permits and sonic boom warnings, SpaceX renamed SLC-4W as Landing Zone 4 ahead of the first landing attempt. The landing of a Falcon 9 first stage booster successfully occurred at Landing Zone 4 in October 2018, following the launch of the Argentinian SAOCOM 1A satellite.^[37]

Date/time (UTC)	Rocket body	Launch site	Trajectory	Payload	Result	Remarks	Image
8 October 2018	Falcon 9 B5 (B1048.2)	SLC-4E	SSO	SAOCOM 1A		First landing at LZ-4
12 June 2019	Falcon 9 B5 (B1051.2)	SLC-4E	SSO	RADARSAT Constellation
21 November 2020	Falcon 9 B5 (B1063.1)	SLC-4E	SSO	Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich
2 February 2022	Falcon 9 B5 (B1071.1)	SLC-4E	SSO	NROL-87
17 April 2022	Falcon 9 B5 (B1071.2)	SLC-4E	LEO	NROL-85
18 June 2022	Falcon 9 B5 (B1071.3)	SLC-4E	SSO	SARah 1
16 December 2022	Falcon 9 B5 (B1071.6)	SLC-4E	Polar Orbit (PO)	SWOT
30 December 2022	Falcon 9 B5 (B1063.11)	SLC-4E	LEO	EROS-C3
2 April 2023	Falcon 9 B5 (B1075.2)	SLC-4E	Polar Orbit (PO)	SDA Tranche 0A
15 April 2023	Falcon 9 B5 (B1063.10)	SLC-4E	SSO	Transporter 7
12 June 2023	Falcon 9 B5 (B1071.9)	SLC-4E	SSO	Transporter 8
2 September 2023	Falcon 9 B5 (B1063.13)	SLC-4E	Polar Orbit (PO)	SDA Tranche 0B
11 November 2023	Falcon 9 B5 (B1071.12)	SLC-4E	SSO	Transporter 9
1 December 2023	Falcon 9 B5 (B1061.17)	SLC-4E	SSO	425 Project Flight 1 and 24 Secondary Payloads
24 December 2023	Falcon 9 B5 (B1075.8)	SLC-4E	SSO	SARah 2 & 3
4 March 2024	Falcon 9 B5 (B1081.5)	SLC-4E	SSO	Transporter 10
11 April 2024	Falcon 9 B5 (B1082.3)	SLC-4E	SSO	USSF-62 (WSF-M 1)
2 May 2024	Falcon 9 B5 (B1061.20)	SLC-4E	SSO	WorldView Legion 1 & 2 (2 Sats)
28 May 2024	Falcon 9 B5 (B1081.7)	SLC-4E	SSO	EarthCARE
16 August 2024	Falcon 9 B5 (B1075.12)	SLC-4E	SSO	Transporter 11

External links

• Web site: Vandenberg SLC4W . https://web.archive.org/web/20081016062053/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/vanslc4w.htm . dead . 16 October 2008 . Mark . Wade . Encyclopedia Astronautica . 1 September 2008.
• Web site: Vandenberg SLC4E . https://web.archive.org/web/20081015235128/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/vanslc4e.htm . dead . 15 October 2008 . Mark . Wade . Encyclopedia Astronautica . 1 September 2008.

Notes and References

1. News: NROL-85 Launch. National Reconnaissance Office. April 2, 2023.
2. News: Report: Falcon plan OK for environment . Scully . Janene . 5 February 2011 . Santa Maria Times . 7 February 2011.
3. Web site: SpaceX . 15 August 2011 . 15 August 2011 . SpaceX . https://web.archive.org/web/20110817041652/http://www.spacex.com/updates.php . 17 August 2011 . dead.
4. News: SpaceX Launch Success Trials New Rocket, New Engine, New-Look Falcon 9. Ben Evans. americaspace.com. April 2, 2023.
5. Web site: Titan . https://web.archive.org/web/20080805095233/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/titan.htm . dead . 5 August 2008 . Wade . Mark . Encyclopedia Astronautica . 25 January 2009.
6. Web site: Titan 3D . Gunther's Space Page . 17 October 2013.
7. Web site: Space Launch Complex 4 East. Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum. 23 December 2023.
8. Web site: The Space Review: Death of a monster . thespacereview.com . 3 September 2015.
9. News: The New York Times: TITAN ROCKET EXPLODES OVER CALIFORNIA AIR BASE . . 19 April 1986 . 21 September 2019. Broad . William J. .
10. News: SpaceX Primed for Final Falcon 9 v1.1 Launch on Sunday. AmericaSpace. 23 December 2023.
11. News: Vandenberg: Space Launch Complex PALC2-4 (4E). collectSPACE. 23 December 2023.
12. News: SpaceX Gears Up for Launches at Vandenberg Air Force Base . 9 February 2013 . Space News . 12 November 2012.
13. News: First look/SpaceX Launch Complex/Vandenberg AFB . 1 April 2013 . dailybreeze.com . 11 February 2013.
14. News: Lindsey . Clark . NewSpace flights in 2013 . 3 January 2013 . NewSpace Watch . 4 January 2013 . 26 May 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130526045649/http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/newspace-flights-in-2013.html . dead .
15. Web site: Dragon Mission Report | Q&A with SpaceX founder and chief designer Elon Musk . Spaceflight Now . 18 May 2012 . 25 May 2012.
16. Web site: Launch Schedule Spaceflight Now. spaceflightnow.com. 23 January 2016.
17. Web site: SpaceX: Jason-3 Mission . spacex.com . SpaceX . 23 January 2016.
18. Web site: Formosat5 program description . . 10 May 2014.
19. Web site: @ChrisG_NSF . Chris G - NSF Tweet . Twitter . en . 2017.
20. News: Used SpaceX Rocket Launches 10 Communications Satellites Once Again . . 22 December 2017 . 23 December 2017.
21. News: Graham . William . SpaceX launches Falcon 9 with PAZ, Starlink demo and new fairing – NASASpaceFlight.com . NASASpaceFlight.com . 22 February 2018.
22. News: SpaceX lanzará el satélite Paz de Hisdesat a finales de año . Infoespacial.com . 7 March 2017 . 9 March 2017 . es . SpaceX will launch the Paz satellite of Hisdesat at the end of the year.
23. News: Liftoff! Used SpaceX Rocket Launches 10 Iridium Satellites into Orbit. Tariq Malik . March 30, 2018 . space.com. April 2, 2023.
24. Web site: Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) . 17 July 2021.
25. Web site: SARah 2/3 . Krebs . Gunter . Gunter's Space Page . 22 November 2020.
26. Web site: BTW it looks all but certain 2 out of 22 Starlink satellites on just-launched Group 7-16 are actually "Starshield" sats of the US military: * Mysterious drop outs in live cam feeds from the 2nd stage during ascent * No forward looking camera views seen as per usual practices . X (Formerly Twitter).
27. Web site: BTW it looks all but certain 2 out of 22 Starlink satellites on just-launched Group 7-16 are actually "Starshield" sats of the US military:* Mysterious drop outs in live cam feeds from the 2nd stage during ascent* No forward looking camera views seen as per usual practices . X (Formerly Twitter).
28. Web site: SPHEREx . 28 October 2022 . jpl.nasa.gov.
29. Web site: Satellite Catalogue . McDowell . Jonathan . Jonathan's Space Page . 7 February 2009.
30. News: Clark . Stephen . SpaceX leases property for landing pads at Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg . 19 February 2015 . Spaceflight Now . 17 February 2015.
31. News: Bergin . Chris . SpaceX Roadmap building on its rocket business revolution . 28 July 2014 . NASASpaceFlight.com . 28 July 2014 . 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.
32. SpaceX Demolishes SLC-4W Titan Pad . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/RYpDwS7HgEk . 2021-12-21 . live. 18 September 2014 . YouTube . 3 September 2015.
33. News: Gebhardt . Chris . SpaceX successfully debuts Falcon Heavy in demonstration launch from KSC . 27 February 2018 . NASASpaceFlight.com . 6 February 2018.
34. News: SpaceX adds mystery "Zuma" mission, Iridium-4 aims for Vandenberg landing . Chris . Gebhardt . NASASpaceFlight.com . 16 October 2017 . 17 October 2017.
35. News: SpaceX close out 2017 campaign with Iridium-4 launch . Gebhardt . Chris . NASASpaceFlight.com . 27 February 2018 . 22 December 2017.
36. News: Gebhardt . Chris . SpaceX, ULA near-term manifests take shape, SpaceX aims for 1st RTLS at Vandenberg . 9 July 2018 . NASASpaceFlight.com . 6 July 2018.
37. Web site: SpaceX Falcon 9 launches with SAOCOM 1A and nails first West Coast landing . NASASpaceFlight.com . 7 October 2018 . 8 October 2018.