Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 Explained

Space Launch Complex 2
Site:Vandenberg Space Force Base
Short:SLC-2
Location:34.7545°N -120.6198°W
Utc Offset:−08:00
Time Zone:PST
Utc Offset Dst:−07:00
Time Zone Dst:PDT
Operator:United States Space Force
Tlaunches:152
Pads:2
Inclination:51° – 145°
Paddetails:
Designation:SLC-2W
Status:Active
Launches:100
Last:4 July 2024
Last Details:Firefly Alpha / "Noise of Summer"
Designation:SLC-2E
Status:Inactive
Launches:52
First:16 December 1958
Last:12 March 1972

Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) is an active rocket launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base, in California, USA. It consists of two launch pads. The East pad (SLC-2E, originally LC 75-1-1) was used for Delta, Thor-Agena and Thorad launches between 1966 and 1972 and has been demolished.[1] The West pad (SLC-2W, originally LC 75-1-2) was used for Delta, Thor-Agena and Delta II launches from 1966 until 2018, when the Delta II performed its last flight.[2] [3]

SLC-2W has been repurposed to launch Firefly Alpha for Firefly Aerospace. During the demolition process, a fire broke out on October 15, 2020, inside the Delta II mobile service tower.[4] The maiden flight of Firefly Alpha took place on September 3, 2021 and resulted in a flight failure.[5] The second flight on 1 October 2022 was successful in reaching orbit.

Space Launch Complex 2 was originally part of Launch Complex 75 (LC 75) and was known by designation LC 75-1 or just 75-1 (and the launch pads were designated LC 75-1-1 and LC 75-1-2). The first launch out of the newly designated Space Launch Complex 2 was that of a Delta E with ESSA-3 on 2 October 1966 from SLC-2E.[6]

SLC-2E and SLC-2W are located approximately apart.[7]

External links

34.7545°N -120.6198°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Space Launch Complex 2 East . Air Force Space & Missile Museum . 22 November 2020.
  2. Web site: SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX 2 WEST . Air Force Space & Missile Museum . 22 November 2020.
  3. Web site: Graham . William . Delta II concludes amazing legacy with ICESat-2 launch . NASA Space Flight . 15 September 2018 . 22 November 2020.
  4. News: Crews extinguish fires at Vandenberg Air Force Base rocket launch complex . 16 January 2023 . Lompoc Record . Santa Maria Times . 16 October 2020.
  5. Web site: Neal . Mihir . Firefly Aerospace's maiden flight of Alpha launch vehicle ends in failure . . 2 September 2021 . 3 September 2021.
  6. Web site: Wade . Mark . Vandenberg SLC2E . https://web.archive.org/web/20161228003655/http://astronautix.com/v/vandenbergslc2e.html . dead . December 28, 2016 . Astronautix . 22 November 2020.
  7. Web site: Archived copy . www.fas.org . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080416215231/http://www.fas.org/spp/military/facility/vafb-slc-2.htm . 16 April 2008 . dead.