Summary
Space Launch Complex 5 (SLC-5) was a launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States. It was previously part of the Point Arguello Naval Air Station, during which time it was designated Launch Complex D or LC-D. Constructed in 1961, it was used by 69 Scout launch vehicles between 1962 and 1994. Satellites launched from the complex included Transit, OV3, Explorer and P35 (DMSP) spacecraft. Most of the satellites launched from SLC-5 were placed into low Earth orbits, or low medium Earth orbits.
 A Scout rocket launches Explorer 19 from SLC-5. | |||||||||||
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| Launch site | Vandenberg Space Force Base | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 34°36′29″N 120°37′29″W / 34.6080°N 120.6247°W | ||||||||||
| Short name | SLC-5 | ||||||||||
| Operator | U.S. Space Force | ||||||||||
| Launch pad(s) | One | ||||||||||
| Orbital inclination range | 51° – 145° | ||||||||||
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As of 2009*, the complex is still standing, however the U.S. Air Force is considering demolishing it to salvage parts. If the complex is dismantled, there are plans to produce a Historic American Engineering Record of the site, and to preserve the tower.[1]
SLC-5 launches edit
| Date | Nickname | Op # | Payload | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 April 1962 | Blue Scout I V-112 | 9201 | GRAB | |
| 23 May 1962 | Blue Scout II V-117 | 1201 | DMSP Block-1 | Failure - 2nd stage exploded |
| 23 August 1962 | Blue Scout III V-126 | 2201 | DMSP Block-1 | |
| 18 December 1962 | Blue Scout IV V-121 | 5201 | Transit | |
| 19 February 1963 | Blue Scout V V-132 | 0240 | DMSP Block-1 | |
| 5 April 1963 | Blue Scout VI | 0804 | Transit 5A-2 | |
| 26 April 1963 | Blue Scout VII | 1298 | DMSP Block-1 | |
| 15 June 1963 | Blue Scout VIII | 1292 | Transit 5A-3 | |
| 27 September 1963 | Blue Scout IX | 1610 | DMSP Block-1 | |
| 19 December 1963 | Blue Scout X | 2843 | Explorer 19 / Atmosphere Density Experiment | |
| 3 June 1964 | ARROW PLANT | 4412 | Transit 5C-1 | |
| 25 June 1964 | CHERRY PIE | 4926 | Environmental Sciences Research Satellite (ESRS) | Launch failure |
| 25 August 1964 | HURRY BABY | 3826 | Explorer 20 / Ionosphere Explorer | |
| 9 October 1964 | GUS GOOSE | 6072 | ||
| 21 November 1964 | IMA BIRD | 6328 | ||
| 6 December 1965 | SQUEEKY HUB | 0542 | ||
| 21 December 1965 | SOCIAL CIRCLE | 1509 | ||
| 28 January 1966 | INVENTORY AID | 1593 | ||
| 25 March 1966 | BEST GIRL | 1117 | ||
| 22 April 1966 | LABRADOR RETRVR | 1527 | ||
| 18 May 1966 | DANCE LESSON | 0082 | ||
| 4 August 1966 | RUBBER MAT | 3140 | ||
| 17 August 1966 | MARBLE HALL | 2366 | ||
| 28 October 1966 | BUSY SERVICE | 3820 | ||
| 31 January 1967 | BUSY MASON | 5589 | ||
| 13 April 1967 | BUSY MINUTEMAN | 0100 | ||
| 5 May 1967 | BUSY WIFE | 7102 | ||
| 18 May 1967 | BUSY OCEAN | 7218 | ||
| 29 May 1967 | OLD FAD | 8086 |
- As of 19 July 2017, the complex appears to have been demolished, comparing 2009 to 2017 imagery in Google Earth.
References edit
- Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg SLC5". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 10 September 2003. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
- ^ "Base considers disassembling historical launch complex". Spaceflight Now. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2009.