Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2
 SLC-2W in July 2024, launching Firefly Alpha VCLS Demo-2FB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch site | Vandenberg Space Force Base | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 34°45′16″N 120°37′11″W / 34.7545°N 120.6198°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time zone | UTC−08:00 (PST) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
• Summer (DST) | UTC−07:00 (PDT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Short name | SLC-2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | United States Space Force (owner) Firefly Aerospace (tenant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total launches | 157 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch pad(s) | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orbital inclination range | 51° – 145° | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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: Space Launch Complex 2 East (SLC-2E, originally LC 75-1-1), used by the PGM-17 Thor missile and several of its derivatives from 1958 to 1972; and Space Launch Complex 2 West (SLC-2W, originally LC 75-1-2), which has been in use since 1959 to launch the Thor-Delta family and Delta II, and is currently used by the Firefly Alpha.
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.[1]
SLC-2E and SLC-2W are located approximately 2,000 feet (610 m) apart.[2]
SLC-2W
[edit]Thor and Thor-Agena (1959–1968)
[edit]Space Launch Complex 2 West (originally Launch Complex 75-1-2) was built in the late 1950s to launch the PGM-17 Thor for use in suborbital tests, being jointly operated by the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force in accordance to the IRBM's stationing in Britain as part of Project Emily. It saw its first launch on September 17, 1959, with launches being held over the next four months and all but one being successful. Following the last flight on January 21, 1960, the pad underwent the conversion into an orbital launch complex, as the Thor got decommissioned from missile use and was replaced by ICBMs such as the LGM-25C Titan II.
As per its new use, LC 75-1-2 was subsequently designed to launch the Thor-Agena and the Thor-Ablestar to compliment the nearby SLC-1E and 1W in its capabilities of putting satellites into polar orbit. Over the next seven years, it was put into use 21 times for nineteen Agena and two Ablestar launches, with the overwhelming majority of payloads being reconnaissance satellites such as the KH-4 for military customers like the National Reconnaissance Office.
Early Delta (1969–1989)
[edit]With the Department of Defense seeing its payloads grow in size throughout the late 1960s (as seen by satellites such as the KH-9 and KH-11 getting developed), both the Thor-Agena and Thor-Ablestar were retired and the pad received another modification under the SLC-2W name, this time to act as the west coast site of the Thor-Delta and its derivatives to complement LC-17 at Cape Canaveral. Throughout this period of the pad's history, 26 Delta launches were performed at the site, carrying various payloads for the DoD, NASA, NOAA, and a handful of international agencies such as ESA. During the late 70s, a mobile service tower was constructed at SLC-2W to help support the various Delta evolutions by creating an enclosed environment.[3]
As the 1980s arrived and went along, the site gradually saw slowing use in the wake of the Delta family's expected replacement with the Space Shuttle, which was slated to have its own west coast launch site at SLC-6. Despite all California Shuttle plans getting axed following the Challeneger disaster in 1986, SLC-2W only saw one last liftoff in this configuration on November 18, 1989, with a Delta 5000 being used to launch the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) for NASA.
Delta II (1995–2018)
[edit]After getting mothballed for a half decade, McDonnell Douglas revived SLC-2W in 1994 for use as the polar orbit site of their successor to the Thor-Delta rockets, the Delta II.[4] The first launch in this new era was on November 4, 1995, carrying Radarsat-1 for the Canadian Space Agency and a Deep Space Network test satellite for NASA. Over the next 23 years, the pad saw 45 Delta II launches and delivered various payloads to polar orbit for numerous governmental agencies and commercial customers. Among the more notable payloads of this era are Aqua, Aura, Gravity Probe B, and the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE).
Additionally, SLC-2W followed the Delta II in changing hands regarding operation; it went from McDonnell Douglas to Boeing following their merger in 1997, and was subsequently passed to United Launch Alliance following the 2006 formation of the Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture. The site eventually wound down in use again throughout the 2010s following the Delta II's retirement from Cape Canaveral in 2011, and saw its last flight of a Thor-derived vehicle (and last launch of one in general) with the launch of ICESat-2 on September 12, 2018.[5]
Firefly Aerospace (2019–present)
[edit]Following the Delta II's retirement, SLC-2W was leased out to Firefly Aerospace and repurposed to launch the Firefly Alpha. During the demolition process, a fire broke out inside the Delta II mobile service tower on October 15, 2020, though no injuries were reported.[6] The maiden flight of Alpha took place on September 3, 2021, and resulted in a flight failure following an engine failure causing a range safety activation at transonic speeds.[7] Firefly would not attempt a second flight until October 1, 2022, which was successful in reaching orbit. That same year, Firefly and Northrop Grumman announced their collaborative Medium Launch Vehicle was in development, and that it will also be using SLC-2W as a polar launch site.
Gallery
[edit]-
SLC-2W in 1972, preparing to launch Landsat-1 -
A Delta 5000 carrying COBE launching from SLC-2W in 1989 -
SLC-2W during its Delta II years, carrying Gravity Probe B in 2004 -
Another view of SLC-2W launching Gravity Probe B -
The maiden flight of Firefly Alpha, launching from SLC-2W in 2021
SLC-2E
[edit]
Space Launch Complex 2 East, originally built as Launch Complex 75-1-1, was similar to its western counterpart through its use by the USAF and RAF for Thor missile tests. During this initial period, the pad hosted its first launch on December 18, 1958, and saw three additional flights throughout the next year. Following the retirement of the Thor, LC 75-1-1 got modified in 1960 to launch the Thor-Agena and Thor-Ablestar to increase launch cadence for the military at the base, and each rocket saw 23 and 6 launches from there respectively. Among the most notable launches of that era includes Alouette 1, the first Canadian satellite. In 1966, the pad got renamed to SLC-2E.
As the Thor-Agena and Thor-Ablestar got phased out from use in the late 1960s, SLC-2E likewise saw a gradual conversion for use by the Thor-Delta and Thorad-Agena. During this era, the pad witnessed a total of 19 launches of various government satellites, with fourteen being from the Delta line and five being from the Thorad family. The last launch from SLC-2E came on March 12, 1972, seeing a Delta N propel TD-1A into orbit for ESRO. Much like SLC-1E and 1W, SLC-2E got mothballed to concentrate launches in the area at SLC-2W.[8]
In the years following its deactivation, most structures at SLC-2E have been demolished.
Launch statistics
[edit]SLC-2W
[edit]Statistics
[edit]
List of launches
[edit]Thor and derivatives
[edit]All launches operated by the United States Air Force.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Configuration | Payload | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 September 1959 | 21:09 | PGM-17 Thor | DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | First launch from LC-75-1-2. Test conducted with the Royal Air Force. |
| 2 | 12 November 1959 | 19:24 | PGM-17 Thor | DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | Test conducted with the Royal Air Force. |
| 3 | 15 December 1959 | 02:14 | PGM-17 Thor | DM-18A | Suborbital test | Failure | Test conducted with the Royal Air Force. Flight control failure led to missile breakup 60 seconds after launch. |
| 4 | 21 January 1960 | 20:10 | PGM-17 Thor | DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | Test conducted with the Royal Air Force. Final missile test at LC-75. |
| 5 | 29 August 1962 | 01:00 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-D | FTV 1153 (KH-4) | Success | First orbital launch and first Thor-Agena flight from LC-75-1-2. |
| 6 | 29 September 1962 | 23:34 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-D | FTV 1154 (KH-4) | Success | |
| 7 | 26 October 1962 | 16:14 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-D | STARAD | Success | Radiation monitoring satellite, designed to monitor the artificial Van Allen belt created by the nuclear test Starfish Prime. |
| 8 | 4 December 1962 | 21:30 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-D | FTV 1155 (KH-4) | Success | |
| 9 | 27 June 1963 | 00:37 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-0999 (KH-4) | Success | Carried Hitchhiker 1 as a secondary payload. |
| 10 | 31 July 1963 | 00:00 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-1370 (KH-4) | Success | |
| 11 | 23 September 1963 | 23:00 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-1353 (KH-4) | Success | |
| 12 | 9 November 1963 | 20:27 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2 / Agena-D | OPS-2268 (KH-4) | Failure | Heat shield failure led to high temperatures at thrust sections, leading to eventual control loss 119 seconds after launch. |
| 13 | 21 December 1963 | 21:45 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-2268 (KH-4) | Success | Carried Hitchhiker 3 as a secondary payload. |
| 14 | 19 January 1964 | 10:59 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-3367 | Success | Two weather satellites, designated OPS-3367A and B. |
| 15 | 13 June 1964 | 15:47 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-3236 (KH-5) | Success | |
| 16 | 21 August 1964 | 15:45 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-2739 (KH-5) | Success | |
| 17 | 6 October 1964 | 17:04 | Thor-Ablestar | DSV-2A / Ablestar | OPS 5796 (Transit O-1) | Success | Part of the Transit Satellite System. First Thor-Ablestar flight from LC-75-1-2. |
| 18 | 13 December 1964 | 00:08 | Thor-Ablestar | DSV-2A / Ablestar | OPS 6582 (Transit O-2) | Success | Part of the Transit Satellite System. Second and final Thor-Ablestar flight from LC-75-1-2. |
| 19 | 9 March 1965 | 18:29 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | Rideshare payload | Success | Consisted of eight separate satellites, including SOLRAD and POPPY probes. |
| 20 | 17 July 1965 | 05:55 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-8411 (SAMOS-F) | Success | |
| 21 | 9 February 1966 | 19:45 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-1439 (SAMOS-F) | Success | |
| 22 | 29 December 1966 | 12:00 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-1584 (SAMOS-F) | Success | First launch under the name SLC-2W. |
| 23 | 14 January 1967 | 21:28 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-1664 (KH-4A) | Success | |
| 24 | 22 February 1967 | 22:02 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-4750 (KH-4A) | Success | |
| 25 | 30 March 1967 | 18:54 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-4779 (KH-4A) | Success | |
| 26 | 31 May 1967 | 09:30 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-D | Rideshare payload | Success | Consisted of nine separate satellites, including POPPY and Calsphere probes. |
| 27 | 25 July 1967 | 03:48 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-1879 (SAMOS-F) | Success | |
| 28 | 17 January 1968 | 10:12 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-1965 (SAMOS-F) | Success | Final flight of the Thor-Agena. |
Early Delta
[edit]All launches operated by NASA.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Configuration | Payload | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 21 June 1969 | 08:53 | Delta E | Thor-Delta E1 | Explorer 41 | Success | Part of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying the interplanetary magnetic field. First civilian launch from SLC-2W, and first Thor-Delta flight from the pad. |
| 30 | 23 January 1970 | 11:52 | Delta N | Thor-Delta N6 | TIROS-M | Success | Part of the ITOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA. |
| 31 | 11 December 1970 | 11:35 | Delta N | Thor-Delta N6 | NOAA-1 | Success | Part of the ITOS series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as ITOS-A. |
| 32 | 23 July 1972 | 18:06 | Delta 0100 | Thor-Delta 904 | Landsat 1 | Success | First launch of the Landsat program, aimed at providing research-oriented photographs of Earth. Notable for discovering Landsat Island off the coast of Labrador. |
| 33 | 15 October 1972 | 17:17 | Delta 0100 | Thor-Delta 300 | NOAA-2 | Success | Part of the ITOS series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as ITOS-D. |
| 34 | 11 December 1972 | 07:56 | Delta 0100 | Thor-Delta 900 | Nimbus 5 | Success | Part of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites. |
| 35 | 16 July 1973 | 17:10 | Delta 0100 | Thor-Delta 300 | ITOS-E | Failure | Part of the ITOS series of weather satellites for NOAA. Hydraulic pump malfunction on the second stage led to loss of altitude control system and failure to achieve orbit. |
| 36 | 6 November 1973 | 14:02 | Delta 0100 | Thor-Delta 300 | NOAA-3 | Success | Part of the ITOS series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as ITOS-F. |
| 37 | 16 December 1973 | 06:18 | Delta 1000 | Thor-Delta 1900 | Explorer 51 | Success | Part of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying the therrmosphere. |
| 38 | 15 November 1974 | 17:11 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2310 | NOAA-4 and Intasat | Success | Part of the ITOS series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as ITOS-G. Included Intasat, Spain's first satellite, as a secondary payload. |
| 39 | 22 January 1975 | 17:56 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2310 | Landsat 2 | Success | Part of the Landsat program, aimed at providing research-oriented photographs of Earth. |
| 40 | 10 April 1975 | 23:50 | Delta 1000 | Thor-Delta 1410 | GEOS-C | Success | |
| 41 | 12 June 1975 | 08:12 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2910 | Nimbus 6 | Success | Part of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites. |
| 42 | 9 August 1975 | 01:47 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2913 | COS-B | Success | Space telescope aimed at detecting gamma ray sources. First launch from SLC-2W for the ESRO. |
| 43 | 6 October 1975 | 09:01 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2910 | Explorer 54 | Success | Part of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying the structure of Earth's atmosphere. |
| 44 | 4 May 1976 | 08:00 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2913 | LAGEOS-1 | Success | |
| 45 | 29 July 1976 | 17:07 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2310 | NOAA-5 | Success | Part of the ITOS series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as ITOS-H. |
| 46 | 5 March 1978 | 17:54 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2910 | Landsat 3 | Success | Part of the Landsat program, aimed at providing research-oriented photographs of Earth. |
| 47 | 24 October 1978 | 08:14 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2910 | Nimbus 7 | Success | Part of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites. |
| 48 | 3 August 1981 | 09:56 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3913 | Dynamics Explorer 1 and 2 | Success | Two spacecraft. Part of the Explorers Program, designated Explorer 62 and 63, aimed at studying Earth's upper atmosphere. Early shutdown of main engine placed DE-2 into lower than intended orbit. |
| 49 | 6 October 1981 | 11:27 | Delta 2000 | Thor-Delta 2310 | Solar Mesosphere Explorer | Success | Part of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying the processes of ozone in the mesosphere. |
| 50 | 16 July 1982 | 17:49 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3920 | Landsat 4 | Success | Part of the Landsat program, aimed at providing research-oriented photographs of Earth. |
| 51 | 23 January 1983 | 02:17 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3910 | IRAS | Success | Space telescope aimed at observing infrared light. Partnership between NASA, the NIVR, and SERC. Provided first ever infrared sky survey. |
| 52 | 26 May 1983 | 15:18 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3914 | EXOSAT | Success | Space telescope aimed at detecting x-ray sources. First launch from SLC-2W for ESA. |
| 53 | 1 March 1984 | 17:59 | Delta 3000 | Thor-Delta 3920 | Landsat 5 | Success | Part of the Landsat program, aimed at providing research-oriented photographs of Earth. |
| 54 | 18 November 1989 | 14:34 | Delta 5000 | Thor-Delta 5290 | COBE | Success | Part of the Explorers Program, a space telescope aimed at performing an astronomical survey of the cosmic microwave background. Intended to launch from the Space Shuttle, but plans were changed following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Only Delta 5000 flight, and last Delta I launch from SLC-2W. |
Delta II
[edit]All launches until July 1997 operated by McDonnell Douglas. All launches from August 1997 to April 2006 operated by Boeing. All launches since December 2006 operated by United Launch Alliance.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Configuration | Payload | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 4 November 1995 | 14:22 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10 | RADARSAT-1 | Success | Earth observation satellite for the CSA. First launch of the Delta II from Vandenberg, and first flight from SLC-2W operated by a private company. |
| 56 | 24 February 1996 | 11:24 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7925-10 | Polar | Success | Part of the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics Science Initiative, aimed at studying aurorae and Earth's magnetic fields at the poles. |
| 57 | 24 April 1996 | 12:27 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10 | Midcourse Space Experiment | Success | Infrared space telescope aimed at testing missile reconnaissance technology. First military launch from SLC-2W since 1968. |
| 58 | 5 May 1997 | 14:55 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | Iridium MS-1 | Success | First launch of the Iridium satellite constellation. |
| 59 | 9 July 1997 | 13:04 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | Iridium MS-2 | Success | |
| 60 | 21 August 1997 | 00:38 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | Iridium MS-3 | Success | First Delta II launch following the Boeing-McDonnell Douglas merger. |
| 61 | 27 September 1997 | 01:23 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | Iridium MS-4 | Success | |
| 62 | 9 November 1997 | 01:34 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | Iridium MS-5 | Success | |
| 63 | 20 December 1997 | 13:16 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | Iridium MS-6 | Success | |
| 64 | 18 February 1998 | 13:58 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | Iridium MS-7 | Success | |
| 65 | 30 March 1998 | 06:02 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | Iridium MS-8 | Success | |
| 66 | 17 May 1998 | 21:16 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | Iridium MS-9 | Success | |
| 67 | 8 September 1998 | 21:13 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | Iridium MS-10 | Success | |
| 68 | 6 November 1998 | 13:37 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | Iridium MS-11 | Success | |
| 69 | 23 February 1999 | 10:29 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10 | ARGOS, Ørsted, and SUNSAT | Success | First satellites for Denmark and South Africa with Ørsted and SUNSAT respectively. |
| 70 | 15 April 1999 | 18:32 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10 | Landsat 7 | Success | Part of the Landsat program, aimed at providing research-oriented photographs of Earth. |
| 71 | 25 March 2000 | 20:34 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7326-9.5 | IMAGE | Success | Part of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying the effects of solar wind on Earth's magnetosphere. |
| 72 | 21 November 2000 | 18:24 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7320-10 | EO-1 | Success | |
| 73 | 18 October 2001 | 18:51 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7320-10 | QuickBird | Success | |
| 74 | 7 December 2001 | 15:07 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10 | Jason-1 and TIMED | Success | Part of the Jason satellite series, aimed at studying ocean altimetry. Collaboration between NASA and CNES. |
| 75 | 11 February 2002 | 17:43 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | Iridium IS-1 | Success | |
| 76 | 4 May 2002 | 09:54 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10L | Aqua | Success | Part of the Large Strategic Science Missions, aimed at studying the water cycle. |
| 77 | 13 January 2003 | 00:45 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7320-10 | ICESat and CHIPSat | Success | Part of the Large Strategic Science Missions, aimed at studying ice sheets and sea ice. |
| 78 | 20 April 2004 | 16:57 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | Gravity Probe B | Success | Aimed at studying general relativity and confirming two predictions it made: frame-dragging and the geodetic effect. |
| 79 | 15 July 2004 | 10:02 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10L | Aura | Success | Part of the Large Strategic Science Missions, aimed at studying the ozone layer. |
| 80 | 20 May 2005 | 10:22 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7320-10C | NOAA-18 | Success | Part of the Advanced TIROS-N series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as NOAA-N. |
| 81 | 28 April 2006 | 10:02 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10C | CloudSat and CALIPSO | Success | |
| 82 | 14 December 2006 | 21:00 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10 | NROL-21 | Success | Launch for the National Reconnaissance Office, also known as USA-193. First acknowledged flight for the NRO from SLC-2W, and first classified launch from the pad since 1968. First rocket launch operated by United Launch Alliance. Satellite unexpectedly ceased operation early, leading to its destruction by an ASAT during Operation Burnt Frost. |
| 83 | 8 June 2007 | 02:34 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10 | COSMO-SkyMed 1 | Success | |
| 84 | 18 September 2007 | 18:35 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10 | DigitalGlobe WorldView-1 | Success | |
| 85 | 9 December 2007 | 02:31 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10 | COSMO-2 | Success | |
| 86 | 20 June 2008 | 07:46 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7320-10C | Jason-2 | Success | Part of the Jason satellite series, aimed at studying ocean altimetry. Collaboration between NASA and CNES. |
| 87 | 6 September 2008 | 18:50 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10 | GeoEye-1 | Success | |
| 88 | 25 October 2008 | 02:28 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10C | COSMO-3 | Success | |
| 89 | 6 February 2009 | 10:22 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7320-10C | NOAA-19 | Success | Part of the Advanced TIROS-N series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as NOAA-N' ("N Prime"). Final TIROS launch. |
| 90 | 5 May 2009 | 20:24 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | STSS-ATRR | Success | Also known as USA-205. Classified demonstration flight for testing early warning system architecture. |
| 91 | 8 October 2009 | 18:51 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | WorldView-2 | Success | |
| 92 | 14 December 2009 | 14:09 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7320-10C | WISE | Success | Part of the Explorers Program, a space telescope aimed at performing an astronomical survey in infrared. Helped discover numerous comets, asteroids, and brown dwarfs. |
| 93 | 6 November 2010 | 02:20 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10C | COSMO-4 | Success | |
| 94 | 10 June 2011 | 14:20 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7320-10C | SAC-D | Success | |
| 95 | 28 October 2011 | 09:48 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | Suomi NPP | Success | First launch of the Joint Polar Satellite System, aimed at providing environmental data used in numerical weather prediction. |
| 96 | 2 July 2014 | 09:56 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7320-10C | Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 | Success | Satellite aimed at measuring carbon dioxide composition in Earth's atmosphere. Was built to follow up on the failed launch of the first Orbiting Carbon Observatory in 2009. First Delta II launch following vehicle's retirement from Cape Canaveral. |
| 97 | 31 January 2015 | 14:22 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7320-10C | SMAP | Success | |
| 98 | 18 November 2017 | 09:47 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7920-10C | NOAA-20 | Success | Part of the Joint Polar Satellite System, aimed at providing environmental data used in numerical weather prediction. |
| 99 | 15 September 2018 | 13:02 | Delta II | Thor-Delta 7420-10C | ICESat-2 | Success | Successor to ICESat, aimed at studying ice sheets and sea ice. Final flight of the Delta II, and final flight of a Thor-derived launch vehicle. |
Alpha
[edit]All launches operated by Firefly Aerospace.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Mission name | Payload | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 3 September 2021 | 01:59 | Firefly Alpha | DREAM | Rideshare payload | Failure | Maiden flight of Firefly Alpha and first orbital launch conducted by Firefly Aerospace. Engine failure 15 seconds into flight led to loss of control at transonic speed, activating range safety protocols 2 minutes 30 seconds after launch. |
| 101 | 1 October 2022 | 07:01 | Firefly Alpha | To the Black | TechEdSat-15 and other payloads | Partial failure | Rideshare mission containing various educational payloads. First successful orbit insertion by Firefly and Alpha. Payloads deployed in lower than intended orbit, leading to reentry a week after launch. |
| 102 | 15 September 2023 | 02:28 | Firefly Alpha | Tactically Responsive Space-3 | VICTUS NOX | Success | Part of United States Space Force program to rapidly integrate and launch payloads after ordering. First fully successful Alpha launch. |
| 103 | 22 December 2023 | 17:32 | Firefly Alpha | Fly the Lightning | Tantrum | Partial failure | Demo satellite for Lockheed Martin. Issue with second stage relight placed payload in lower than intended orbit, noticeably reducing time before decay. |
| 104 | 4 July 2024 | 04:04 | Firefly Alpha | Noise of Summer | VCLS Demo-2FB | Success | |
| 105 | 29 April 2025 | 13:37 | Firefly Alpha | Message in a Booster | LM-400 Demo | Failure | Demo satellite for Lockheed Martin. Mishap during stage separation led to loss of second stage engine bell, greatly reducing thrust and failure to make orbit. |
SLC-2E
[edit]Statistics
[edit]List of launches
[edit]All Thor and derivative launches operated by the United States Air Force. All Delta and Thorad launches operated by NASA.
| No. | Date | Time (UTC) | Launch vehicle | Configuration | Payload | Result | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 December 1958 | 23:44 | PGM-17 Thor | DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | First launch from LC-75-1-1 and first Thor launch from Vandenberg. Test conducted with the Royal Air Force. |
| 2 | 3 August 1959 | 21:41 | PGM-17 Thor | DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | Test conducted with the Royal Air Force. |
| 3 | 21 October 1959 | 22:57 | PGM-17 Thor | DM-18A | Suborbital test | Success | Test conducted with the Royal Air Force. |
| 4 | 2 December 1959 | 05:29 | PGM-17 Thor | DM-18A | Suborbital test | Failure | Test conducted with the Royal Air Force. Final missile test from LC-75-1-1. |
| 5 | 16 June 1961 | 23:02 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-B | Discoverer 25 (KH-2) | Success | First orbital launch from LC-75-1, and first Thor-Agena flight from LC-75-1-1. |
| 6 | 4 August 1961 | 00:01 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-B | Discoverer 28 (KH-2) | Failure | Failure in Agena hydraulic pressure led to loss of control and failure to achieve orbit. |
| 7 | 17 September 1961 | 21:00 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-B | Discoverer 31 (KH-3) | Success | |
| 8 | 5 November 1961 | 20:00 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-B | Discoverer 34 (KH-3) | Failure | Failure with guidance program left payload in useless orbit. |
| 9 | 30 May 1962 | 01:00 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-B | FTV 1128 (KH-4) | Success | |
| 10 | 28 June 1962 | 01:09 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-D | FTV 1151 (KH-4) | Success | |
| 11 | 2 August 1962 | 00:17 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-D | FTV 1152 (KH-4) | Success | |
| 12 | 29 September 1962 | 06:05 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-B | Alouette 1 | Success | Satellite aimed at studying Earth's ionosphere. First satellite for Canada. First civilian launch from LC-75-1. |
| 13 | 13 December 1962 | 04:07 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-D | Rideshare payload | Success | Consisted of five separate satellites, including Calsphere and Injun probes. |
| 14 | 7 January 1963 | 21:09 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-D | OPS-0048 (KH-4) | Success | |
| 15 | 26 April 1963 | 20:13 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-D | OPS-1008 (KH-5) | Failure | Error in altitude adjustment sensor resulted in failure to achieve orbit. |
| 16 | 15 June 1963 | 14:29 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-D | Rideshare payload | Success | Consisted of five separate satellites, including SOLRAD and Surcal probes. |
| 17 | 19 July 1963 | 00:00 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-D | OPS-1266 (KH-4) | Success | |
| 18 | 28 September 1963 | 20:22 | Thor-Ablestar | DSV-2A / Ablestar | Transit 5E-1 and 5BN-1 | Success | Part of the Transit Satellite System. First of three launches of a Transit satellite carrying an RTG. First Thor-Ablestar flight from Vandenberg and from LC-75-1-1. |
| 19 | 5 December 1963 | 21:51 | Thor-Ablestar | DSV-2A / Ablestar | Transit 5E-3 and 5BN-2 | Success | Part of the Transit Satellite System. Second of three launches of a Transit satellite carrying an RTG. |
| 20 | 25 January 1964 | 13:59 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2 / Agena-B | Echo 2 | Success | Part of Project Echo, being a balloon satellite used for passive communication. |
| 21 | 21 April 1964 | 18:50 | Thor-Ablestar | DSV-2A / Ablestar | Transit 5E-4 and 5BN-3 | Failure | Part of the Transit Satellite System. Last of three launches of a Transit satellite carrying an RTG. Failure of launch led to decision for future Transit sats solely relying on solar panels. |
| 22 | 19 June 1964 | 23:18 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-3754 (KH-4A) | Success | |
| 23 | 28 August 1964 | 07:56 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2 / Agena-B | Nimbus 1 | Partial failure | First launch of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites. Shorter second stage burn placed payload in more eccentric than expected orbit. |
| 24 | 18 November 1964 | 20:35 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-3360 (KH-4A) | Success | |
| 25 | 21 December 1964 | 19:08 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OPS-3762 (Quill) | Success | Only launch of a Quill satellite. First spacecraft to use radar imaging. |
| 26 | 11 March 1965 | 13:39 | Thor-Ablestar | DSV-2A / Ablestar | OPS 7087 (Transit O-3) | Success | Part of the Transit Satellite System. |
| 27 | 24 June 1965 | 22:35 | Thor-Ablestar | DSV-2A / Ablestar | OPS 8480 (Transit O-4) | Success | Part of the Transit Satellite System. |
| 28 | 13 August 1965 | 22:11 | Thor-Ablestar | DSV-2A / Ablestar | OPS 8464 (Transit O-5) | Success | Part of the Transit Satellite System. Contained other secondary payloads, such as Calsphere and Surcal probes. Final flight of the Thor-Ablestar. |
| 29 | 14 October 1965 | 13:11 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OGO-2 | Success | Part of the Orbiting Geophysical Observatory program, aimed at studying Earth's magnetosphere. |
| 30 | 29 November 1965 | 04:48 | Thor-Agena | DM-21 / Agena-B | Alouette 2 and Explorer 31 | Success | Two satellites, both aimed at studying the ionosphere. Alouette 2 operated by the CSA, and Explorer 31 was part of the Explorers Program, |
| 31 | 15 May 1966 | 07:55 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-B | Nimbus 2 | Success | Part of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites. |
| 32 | 24 June 1966 | 00:12 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | PAGEOS-1 | Success | |
| 33 | 2 October 1966 | 10:34 | Delta E | Thor-Delta E | ESSA-3 | Success | Part of the TOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA. First Thor-Delta flight from Vandenberg, and first launch as SLC-2E. |
| 34 | 26 January 1967 | 17:31 | Delta E | Thor-Delta E | ESSA-4 | Success | Part of the TOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA. |
| 35 | 20 April 1967 | 11:17 | Delta E | Thor-Delta E | ESSA-5 | Success | Part of the TOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA. |
| 36 | 24 May 1967 | 14:06 | Delta E | Thor-Delta E1 | Explorer 34 | Success | Part of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying the interplanetary magnetic field. |
| 37 | 28 July 1967 | 14:21 | Thor-Agena | SLV-2A / Agena-D | OGO-4 | Success | Part of the Orbiting Geophysical Observatory program, aimed at studying Earth's magnetosphere. |
| 38 | 10 November 1967 | 18:00 | Delta E | Thor-Delta E1 | ESSA-6 | Success | Part of the TOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA. |
| 39 | 11 January 1968 | 16:19 | Delta E | Thor-Delta E1 | Explorer 36 | Success | Part of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying geodesy from orbit. |
| 40 | 18 May 1968 | 08:23 | Thorad-Agena | SLV-2G / Agena-D | Nimbus B | Failure | Part of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites. First Thorad-Agena launch from SLC-2E. Incorrectly installed gyro for yaw led to loss of control 101 seconds into flight, activating range safety. |
| 41 | 4 July 1968 | 17:31 | Delta J | Thor-Delta J | Explorer 38 | Success | Part of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying radio astronomy from orbit. |
| 42 | 16 August 1968 | 11:31 | Delta N | Thor-Delta N | ESSA-7 | Success | Part of the TOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA. Maiden flight of the Long Tank Thor design for Delta. |
| 43 | 15 December 1968 | 17:17 | Delta N | Thor-Delta N | ESSA-8 | Success | Part of the TOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA. |
| 44 | 30 January 1969 | 06:43 | Delta E | Thor-Delta E1 | ISIS 1 | Success | |
| 45 | 14 April 1969 | 07:54 | Thorad-Agena | SLV-2G / Agena-D | Nimbus 3 | Success | Part of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites. |
| 46 | 5 June 1969 | 14:42 | Thorad-Agena | SLV-2H / Agena-D | OGO-6 | Success | Part of the Orbiting Geophysical Observatory program, aimed at studying Earth's magnetosphere. |
| 47 | 4 February 1970 | 02:59 | Thorad-Agena | SLV-2G / Agena-D | SERT 2 | Success | |
| 48 | 8 April 1970 | 08:17 | Thorad-Agena | SLV-2G / Agena-D | Nimbus 4 | Success | Part of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites. Final Thorad-Agena flight from SLC-2. |
| 49 | 1 April 1971 | 02:53 | Delta E | Thor-Delta E1 | ISIS 2 | Success | |
| 50 | 21 October 1971 | 11:32 | Delta N | Thor-Delta N6 | ITOS-B | Failure | Part of the ITOS series of weather satellites for NOAA. Oxidizer leak in second stage led to altitude control system running out of propellant trying to compensate, resulting in failure to achieve orbit. |
| 51 | 31 January 1972 | 17:20 | Delta L | Thor-Delta L | HEOS 2 | Success | |
| 52 | 12 March 1972 | 00:00 | Delta N | Thor-Delta N | TD-1A | Success | Final Delta launch from SLC-2E. Most recent launch conducted from SLC-2E. |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg SLC2E". Astronautix. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ "Archived copy". www.fas.org. Archived from the original on April 16, 2008. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum". ccspacemuseum.org. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ "SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX 2 WEST". Air Force Space & Missile Museum. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ Graham, William (September 15, 2018). "Delta II concludes amazing legacy with ICESat-2 launch". NASA Space Flight. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ "Crews extinguish fires at Vandenberg Air Force Base rocket launch complex". Lompoc Record. Santa Maria Times. October 16, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ Neal, Mihir (September 2, 2021). "Firefly Aerospace's maiden flight of Alpha launch vehicle ends in failure". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ "Space Launch Complex 2 East". Air Force Space & Missile Museum. Retrieved November 22, 2020.