Rocket launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base in the USA
Space Launch Complex 2
Delta II at SLC-2W, with Gravity Probe B
Launch site
Vandenberg SFB
Location
34.7545°N 120.6198°W
Short name
SLC-2
Operator
US Space Force
Total launches
151
Launch pad(s)
2
Orbital inclination range
51° – 145°
SLC-2W launch history
Status
Active
Launches
99
First launch
17 September 1959 PGM-17 Thor
Last launch
22 December 2023 Firefly Alpha / "Fly the Lightning"
Associated rockets
PGM-17 Thor Thor-Agena Delta Delta II Firefly Alpha
SLC-2E launch history
Status
Inactive
Launches
52
First launch
16 December 1958 PGM-17 Thor
Last launch
12 March 1972 Delta N / TD-1A
Associated rockets
PGM-17 Thor Delta Thor-Agena Thorad-Agena
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 2,000 feet (610 m) apart.[7]
^"Space Launch Complex 2 East". Air Force Space & Missile Museum. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
^"SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX 2 WEST". Air Force Space & Missile Museum. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
^Graham, William (15 September 2018). "Delta II concludes amazing legacy with ICESat-2 launch". NASA Space Flight. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
^"Crews extinguish fires at Vandenberg Air Force Base rocket launch complex". Lompoc Record. Santa Maria Times. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
^Neal, Mihir (2 September 2021). "Firefly Aerospace's maiden flight of Alpha launch vehicle ends in failure". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
^Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg SLC2E". Astronautix. Archived from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
^"Archived copy". www.fas.org. Archived from the original on 16 April 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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