Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2

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) was used for Delta, Thor-Agena and Thorad launches between 1966 and 1972 and has been demolished.[1] The West pad (SLC-2W) was used for Delta, Thor-Agena and Delta II launches from 1966 until 2018, when the Delta II performed its last flight.[2][3]

Space Launch Complex 2
Delta II at SLC-2W, with Gravity Probe B
Launch siteVandenberg SFB
Location34.7545°N
120.6198°W
Short nameSLC-2
OperatorUS Space Force
Total launches148
Launch pad(s)2
Orbital inclination
range		51° – 145°
SLC-2W launch history
StatusActive pending upgrades
Launches96
First launch17 September 1959
PGM-17 Thor
Last launch3 September 2021
Firefly Alpha / DREAM
Associated
rockets		PGM-17 Thor
Thor-Agena
Delta
Delta II
Firefly Alpha
SLC-2E launch history
StatusInactive
Launches52
First launch16 December 1958
PGM-17 Thor
Last launch12 March 1972
Delta N / TD-1A
Associated
rockets		PGM-17 Thor
Delta
Thor-Agena
Thorad-Agena

SLC-2W has been repurposed to launch Firefly Alpha for Firefly Aerospace and on October 15, 2020 the Delta II mobile service tower suffered a fire during demolition.[4] The maiden flight of Firefly Alpha took place on September 3, 2021 and resulted in a flight failure.[5]

Space Launch Complex 2 was originally part of Launch Complex 75. 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]

References
  1. "Space Launch Complex 2 East". Air Force Space & Missile Museum. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  2. "SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX 2 WEST". Air Force Space & Missile Museum. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  3. Graham, William (15 September 2018). "Delta II concludes amazing legacy with ICESat-2 launch". NASA Space Flight. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  4. "One of my Dad's FB friends who used to work on Delta and at the MST at SLC-2 posted this.s[ It looks like Firefly while taking it apart a fire broke out and it looks uncontrolled". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-10-16.
  5. Neal, Mihir (2 September 2021). "Firefly Aerospace's maiden flight of Alpha launch vehicle ends in failure". NASASpaceFlight. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  6. Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg SLC2E". Astronautix. Retrieved 22 November 2020.


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