List of Vandenberg Space Force Base launch facilities

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Vandenberg Space Force Base, located at Point Arguello in Santa Barbara County, California, is home to the United States' Western Range and is considered the second most active rocket range and spaceport in the country (following Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island in Florida). At the military base are several Space Launch Complexes (SLC) used for launching payloads into polar orbits, with some of them currently active and more slated for future reactivation. Additionally, there are dozens of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Launch Facilities (LF) at Vandenberg used for testing the missiles over the Pacific.

Orbital launch sites

Active sites

Complex Status Uses Notable Launches Coordinates
Space Launch Complex 2 West Active

Leased to Firefly Aerospace

 Current: Alpha[1]

Future: MLV

Retired: Thor, Thor-Agena, Thor-Ablestar, Thor-Delta, Delta II

Landsat 1, Intelsat 1, COBE, Aqua, Aura, Gravity Probe B, USA-193, WISE, ICESat-2 34°45′19″N 120°37′20″W / 34.75528°N 120.62222°W / 34.75528; -120.62222 (SLC-2W)
Space Launch Complex 4 East Active
Leased to SpaceX 		Current: Falcon 9

Retired: Atlas-Agena, Titan IIID, Titan 34D, Titan IV, Falcon 9 v1.1

SNAP-10A, Jason-3, DART, SWOT, EarthCARE 34°37′55″N 120°36′36″W / 34.63194°N 120.61000°W / 34.63194; -120.61000 (SLC-4E)
Space Launch Complex 4 West

(Landing Zone 4)

Active
Leased to SpaceX 		Current: Falcon 9 first stage landing site

Retired: Atlas-Agena, Titan IIIB, Titan 23G

Clementine, QuickSCAT, SAOCOM-1A (landing) 34°37′59″N 120°36′56″W / 34.63306°N 120.61556°W / 34.63306; -120.61556 (SLC 4W)
Space Launch Complex 8 Active

Tenanted by Northrop Grumman

Current: Minotaur I, Minotaur IV

No launches have been made since 2011.

34°34′34″N 120°37′56″W / 34.57611°N 120.63222°W / 34.57611; -120.63222 (SLC-8)
Launch Complex 576E Active

Tenanted by Northrop Grumman

Current: Minotaur-C

Retired: Atlas F

Cancelled: RS1[2]

No launches have been made since 2017.

34°44′22″N 120°37′08″W / 34.73944°N 120.61889°W / 34.73944; -120.61889 (LC 576-E)

Sites leased for future use

Site Status Uses Notable Launches Coordinates
Space Launch Complex 3 East Undergoing renovation

Used by United Launch Alliance

Future: Vulcan Centaur

Retired: Atlas-Agena, Atlas F/G, Atlas H, Atlas II, Atlas V

Navstar 1, Terra, InSight 34°38′25″N 120°35′23″W / 34.64028°N 120.58972°W / 34.64028; -120.58972 (SLC-3E)
Space Launch Complex 5 Inactive

Leased to Phantom Space[3]

Future: Daytona I

Retired: Scout

Explorer 19, HCMM, SAMPEX 34°36′28″N 120°37′27″W / 34.60778°N 120.62417°W / 34.60778; -120.62417 (SLC-5)
Space Launch Complex 6 Undergoing renovation

Leased to SpaceX

Future: Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy

Retired: Athena I, Athena II, Delta IV, Delta IV Heavy

Cancelled: Titan IIIM MOL, Space Shuttle

STS-62-A (cancelled) 34°34′52″N 120°37′39″W / 34.58111°N 120.62750°W / 34.58111; -120.62750 (SLC-6)
Space Launch Complex 9 Planned

Leased to Blue Origin[4]

Future: New Glenn 34°39′27″N 120°35′26″W / 34.6575664°N 120.5905999°W / 34.6575664; -120.5905999 (SLC-9)

Inactive and greenfield sites

Site Status Uses Notable Launches Coordinates
Space Launch Complex 1 East Inactive Retired: Thor-Agena, Thorad-Agena Discoverer 2, Discoverer 14 34°45′22″N 120°37′35″W / 34.75611°N 120.62639°W / 34.75611; -120.62639 (SLC-1E)
Space Launch Complex 1 West Inactive Retired: Thor-Agena, Thorad-Agena Discoverer 13 34°45′26″N 120°37′50″W / 34.75722°N 120.63056°W / 34.75722; -120.63056 (SLC-1W)
Space Launch Complex 2 East Inactive Retired: Delta, Thor-Agena, Thorad-Agena Alouette 1, Nimbus 1 34°45′05″N 120°37′09″W / 34.75139°N 120.61917°W / 34.75139; -120.61917 (SLC-2E)
Space Launch Complex 3 West Inactive Retired: Atlas-Agena, Thorad-Agena, Thor-Agena, Atlas E

Cancelled: Falcon 1[5][6]

Solwind 34°38′37″N 120°35′34″W / 34.64361°N 120.59278°W / 34.64361; -120.59278 (SLC-3W)
Space Launch Complex 7 Greenfield 34°34′24″N 120°36′19″W / 34.5734674°N 120.6052199°W / 34.5734674; -120.6052199 (SLC-7)
Space Launch Complex 10 East Inactive Retired: Thor

Now part of the Space and Missile Heritage Center.

34°45′45″N 120°37′17″W / 34.76250°N 120.62139°W / 34.76250; -120.62139 (SLC-10E)
Space Launch Complex 10 West Inactive Retired: Thor, Thor-Burner, Thor DSV-2U

Now part of the Space and Missile Heritage Center.

34°45′49″N 120°37′29″W / 34.76361°N 120.62472°W / 34.76361; -120.62472 (SLC-10W)
Space Launch Complex 11 Greenfield Cancelled: Terran 1, Terran R[4] 34°33′58″N 120°37′49″W / 34.5659974°N 120.6303609°W / 34.5659974; -120.6303609 (SLC-11)
Space Launch Complex 12 Greenfield 34°33′23″N 120°37′29″W / 34.5562834°N 120.6246229°W / 34.5562834; -120.6246229 (SLC-12)
Space Launch Complex 14 Greenfield 34°33′30″N 120°34′47″W / 34.5583044°N 120.5796669°W / 34.5583044; -120.5796669 (SLC-14)
Space Launch Complex 15 Greenfield 34°36′45″N 120°33′33″W / 34.6125754°N 120.5591769°W / 34.6125754; -120.5591769 (SLC-15)

ICBM testing sites

Active sites

Site Uses
LF-03 (former 394-A2) 34°50′46″N 120°34′52″W / 34.84611°N 120.58111°W / 34.84611; -120.58111 (LF-03)
394-A2 (April – December 1963), LF-03 (January 1964 – present)
LGM-30 Minuteman I/II; Minotaur II testing. Originally a Minuteman 394th SMS silo, first launch in April 1963. Upgraded for use as a Launch Facility in 1964, used for Minuteman testing until July 2001. Currently modified to launch the Minotaur. 97 launches.[7]
LF-04 (former 394-A3) 34°51′32″N 120°36′24″W / 34.85889°N 120.60667°W / 34.85889; -120.60667 (LF-04)
394-A3 (September 1962 – December 1963), LF-04 (January 1964 – present)
LGM-30 Minuteman I/II/III testing; first launch in September 1962.[7]
LCC-01 (former LF-10) 34°51′39″N 120°35′00″W / 34.86083°N 120.58333°W / 34.86083; -120.58333 (LF-10)
LGM-30G Minuteman III, first launch in July 1987. Currently two Launch Control Centers: LCC 01-A on the left, and LCC 01-B on the right.[7]
LF-09 34°52′43″N 120°38′01″W / 34.87861°N 120.63361°W / 34.87861; -120.63361 (LF-09)
LGM-30 Minuteman I/II/III testing; first launch in June 1964, Inactivated in 2006,[7] Minuteman III launch on 26 September 2013.[8]
LF-10 (former LF-22) 34°51′02″N 120°35′38″W / 34.85056°N 120.59389°W / 34.85056; -120.59389 (LF-22)
LGM-30 Minuteman I/II testing; first launch in October 1965, Inactivated in 1975,[7] Minuteman III launch on 22 September 2013.[9]
LF-21 34°51′39″N 120°35′44″W / 34.86083°N 120.59556°W / 34.86083; -120.59556 (LF-21)
LGM-30 Minuteman I/II, Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) testing; first launch in August 1965.[7]
LF-23 34°51′20″N 120°35′49″W / 34.85556°N 120.59694°W / 34.85556; -120.59694 (LF-23)
LGM-30F Minuteman II. One Minuteman launch, on 26 August 1966. Since 2003, it has been used for Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) launches.[7]
LF-24 34°51′24″N 120°36′08″W / 34.85667°N 120.60222°W / 34.85667; -120.60222 (LF-24)
LGM-30F Minuteman II testing; first launch in December 1965. Mothballed in 1971.
TP-01 34°48′15″N 120°35′20″W / 34.80417°N 120.58889°W / 34.80417; -120.58889 (TP-01)
LGM-118 Peacekeeper, MGM-134 Midgetman SICBM (Small Intercontinental Ballistic Missile); first launch in June 1983. It is also a candidate site for Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) launches.[7]

Inactive sites

Site Uses
395-A1, 395-A2, 395-A3 34°48′23″N 120°32′39″W / 34.80639°N 120.54417°W / 34.80639; -120.54417 (395 Alpha 1) 395 Alpha 1 (September 1961 – December 1964)

34°48′19″N 120°32′42″W / 34.80528°N 120.54500°W / 34.80528; -120.54500 (395 Alpha 2) 395 Alpha 2 (March 1963 – March 1965)
34°48′23″N 120°32′42″W / 34.80639°N 120.54500°W / 34.80639; -120.54500 (395 Alpha 3) 395 Alpha 3 (January 1962 – January 1965)
HGM-25A Titan I, 3 operational alert sites. First Titan I launch on 3 May 1961, last on 14 January 1965. Primarily used for research and development launches.[7][10]

395-B 34°46′57″N 120°36′25″W / 34.78250°N 120.60694°W / 34.78250; -120.60694 (395-B)
LGM-25C Titan II, This was a test and training facility, between 1964 and 1969.[7][11]
395-C 34°44′02″N 120°35′47″W / 34.73389°N 120.59639°W / 34.73389; -120.59639 (395-C)
LGM-25C Titan II, This was a test and training facility and was the site of the first Titan II launch at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Most usage pre-1969.[7][11]
395-D 34°42′27″N 120°35′22″W / 34.70750°N 120.58944°W / 34.70750; -120.58944 (395-D)
LGM-25C Titan II, This was a test and training facility, between 1963 and 1969.[7][11]
Site A – 576 Alpha 1, 576 Alpha 2, 576 Alpha 3 34°46′36″N 120°36′06″W / 34.77667°N 120.60167°W / 34.77667; -120.60167 (576 Alpha 1) 576 Alpha 1 (October 1962 – September 1974)

34°46′51″N 120°36′00″W / 34.78083°N 120.60000°W / 34.78083; -120.60000 (576 Alpha 2) 576 Alpha 2 (September 1959 – August 1971)
34°46′39″N 120°35′48″W / 34.77750°N 120.59667°W / 34.77750; -120.59667 (576 Alpha 3) 576 Alpha 3 (January 1960 – October 1989)
SM-65D Atlas These above-ground sites, with open support towers, were the first to be used for Atlas D.[7]

Site B – 576 Baker 1, 576 Baker 2, 576 Baker 3 34°47′36″N 120°35′41″W / 34.79333°N 120.59472°W / 34.79333; -120.59472 (576 Baker 1) 576 Baker 1 (July 1960 – June 1966)

34°47′27″N 120°35′30″W / 34.79083°N 120.59167°W / 34.79083; -120.59167 (576 Baker 2) 576 Baker 2 (April 1960 – November 1967)
34°47′23″N 120°35′45″W / 34.78972°N 120.59583°W / 34.78972; -120.59583 (576 Baker 3) 576 Baker 3 (September 1960 – October 1967)
SM-65D Atlas, Site 1 was active from 22 July 1960 to 10 June 1966. Site 2 was active from 19 June 1959 to 7 November 1967. Site 3 was active from 12 September 1960 to 21 January 1965, then was used for the space program from 27 May 1965 to 11 October 1967.[7][12] As of 2016, satellite images showed these sites to have been demolished.

Site C – 576 Charlie 34°48′32″N 120°35′01″W / 34.80889°N 120.58361°W / 34.80889; -120.58361 (576 Charlie)
SM-65E Atlas, built 1963. The Atlas E site was unique because it was constructed above ground, not semi-buried.[7] Three Atlas demonstration and shakedown operations launches occurred July – September 1963 after which the site was inactivated.[7][12]
Site D – 576 Delta 34°49′14″N 120°33′25″W / 34.82056°N 120.55694°W / 34.82056; -120.55694 (576 Delta)
SM-65F Atlas, Built 1963, inactivated 1964. 2 Atlas demonstration and shakedown operations launches occurred March – August 1963 and the site was then inactivated.[7][12]
Site F – 576 Foxtrot (also known as OSTF-1) 34°47′46″N 120°35′20″W / 34.79611°N 120.58889°W / 34.79611; -120.58889 (576 Foxtrot (OSTF-1))
SM-65E Atlas, Operational Suitability Test Facility for Atlas E missiles. 10 Atlas research and development launches occurred between June 1961 and August 1964 and the site was then inactivated.[7][12]
Site G – 576 Golf (also known as OSTF-2) 34°49′21″N 120°33′37″W / 34.82250°N 120.56028°W / 34.82250; -120.56028 (576 Golf (OSTF-2))
SM-65F Atlas, Operational Suitability Test Facility for Atlas F missiles. Seven Atlas research and development launches occurred August 1962 – January 1965 and the site was then inactivated.[7][12]
BOM1, BOM2 34°48′02″N 120°35′57″W / 34.80056°N 120.59917°W / 34.80056; -120.59917 (BOM1/BOM2)
Used for CIM-10 Bomarc interceptors. Two Bomarc launchers with a third support building between the two shelters. United States Navy personnel at Vandenberg launched the missiles strictly as targets with the first launch taking place on 25 August 1966. The last two launches for a Navy test program occurred on 14 July 1982. BOM1 49 launches; BOM2 38 launches.[7]
HP-06 34°48′13″N 120°36′02″W / 34.80361°N 120.60056°W / 34.80361; -120.60056 (HP-06)
BGM-109 Tomahawk Ground Launched Cruise Missile
Used for one launch of a BGM-109 GCLM on 22 October 1985.[7]
OSTF-8 34°48′15″N 120°32′46″W / 34.80417°N 120.54611°W / 34.80417; -120.54611 (OSTF-8)
HGM-25A Titan I, Operational Suitability Test Facility. An elevator failure led to the destruction of this site on 3 December 1960.[7][10]
68-SLTF 34°48′25″N 120°32′57″W / 34.80694°N 120.54917°W / 34.80694; -120.54917 (68-SLTF)
LGM-25C Titan II, Silo Launch Test Facility for Titan II. Launched a Titan I on 3 May 1961. The facility was first built as a design and construction test for a mission-firing silo. Later, it became the Titan II Operations and Maintenance Missile Trainer (QMT).[7][11]
LC-A 34°39′50″N 120°36′08″W / 34.66389°N 120.60222°W / 34.66389; -120.60222 (LC-A)
formerly Launch Complex A, Naval Missile Facility, Point Arguello (PALC-A). Used for Blue Scout Jr; Nike Javelin; Honest John; Black Brant; Astrobee 1500, Nike Asp; Seagull, and Dac Roc sounding rockets from 1959 to 1966.[13]
LC-B 34°39′26″N 120°36′16″W / 34.65722°N 120.60444°W / 34.65722; -120.60444 (LC-B)
formerly Launch Complex B, Naval Missile Facility, Point Arguello (PALC-B). Used for Nike Viper I; Terrier Asp IV, Kiva/Hope; Deacon Arrow II; Nike Cajun, and Astrobee 1500 sounding rockets from 1960 to 1963.[13]
LF-02 (former 394-A1) 34°50′41″N 120°35′05″W / 34.84472°N 120.58472°W / 34.84472; -120.58472 (LF-02)
394-A1 (April – December 1963), LF-02 (January 1964 – July 2004)
LGM-30 Minuteman I/II/III; LGM-118 Peacekeeper testing. Originally a Minuteman 394th SMS silo, first launch in April 1963. Upgraded for use as a launch facility in 1964. Used for Minuteman until July 1975. Modified for Peacekeeper use in 1986. Used for LGM-118 until July 2004. 76 launches.[7]
LF-05 (former 394-A4) 34°51′44″N 120°36′34″W / 34.86222°N 120.60944°W / 34.86222; -120.60944 (LF-05)
394-A4 (September 1962 – December 1963), LF-05 (February 1964 – March 2000)
LGM-30 Minuteman I/II/III; LGM-118 Peacekeeper testing; first launch December 1962. Last Minuteman launch October 1976. Modified for use by Peacekeeper in 1989, first LGM-118 launch March 1990. Last launch March 2000.[7]
LF-06 (former 394-A5) 34°52′58″N 120°38′09″W / 34.88278°N 120.63583°W / 34.88278; -120.63583 (LF-06)
394-A5 (July – December 1963), LF-06 (February 1964 – August 2007)
LGM-30 Minuteman I/II/III. First launch April 1963. Last launch August 2007. LF-06 is also a candidate site for Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI) launches.[7]
LF-07 (former 394-A6) 34°53′09″N 120°38′01″W / 34.88583°N 120.63361°W / 34.88583; -120.63361 (LF-07)
394-A6 (May – November 1963), LF-07 (January 1964 – November 1987)
LGM-30 Minuteman I/II testing; first launch May 1963, last Launch November 1987.[7]
LF-08 (former 394-A7) 34°51′02″N 120°35′54″W / 34.85056°N 120.59833°W / 34.85056; -120.59833 (LF-08)
394-A7 (September 1963), LF-08 (August 1964–1994)
LGM-30 Minuteman I/II/III; LGM-118 Peacekeeper testing. First launch September 1963. Last Minuteman launch in January 1984. Modified for Peacekeeper use in 1986. Used for LGM-118 until June 1991. Converted for Astrid use in 1994. Silo has been filled half way with cement and is now a Minuteman III maintenance training facility for Tech School.[7]
LF-25 34°52′56″N 120°37′47″W / 34.88222°N 120.62972°W / 34.88222; -120.62972 (LF-25)
Minuteman II/III testing; first launch in February 1966, inactivated in 1976.[7]
LF-26 34°53′18″N 120°38′12″W / 34.88833°N 120.63667°W / 34.88833; -120.63667 (LF-26)
Minuteman II/III testing; first launch in January 1966, inactivated in 2006.[7]
LE-07 34°46′01″N 120°37′06″W / 34.76694°N 120.61833°W / 34.76694; -120.61833 (LE-07)
PGM-17 Thor Used by Royal Air Force (RAF) for 2 test launches: 6 September 1961 and 19 March 1962. Inactivated afterwards.[7]
LE-08 (former 75-2-8) 34°45′54″N 120°36′58″W / 34.76500°N 120.61611°W / 34.76500; -120.61611 (LE-08)
Used by: Thor-Delta. First launch 16 April 1959, last launch 19 June 1962. Originally a Thor 75 SMS PGM-17 Thor IRBM pad 75-2-8. Used by RAF for launch training. Number of launches 7. Upgraded for use as a launch emplacement in 1961, inactivated in June 1962 after 2 RAF test launches.[7]
PLC-C 34°36′34″N 120°37′42″W / 34.60944°N 120.62833°W / 34.60944; -120.62833 (PLC-C)
Probe Launch Complex C, used for Aerobee-170 and TE-416 Tomahawk sounding rockets.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Firefly Aerospace to take over Vandenberg Delta 2 pad". Firefly Aerospace. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  2. ^ Burghardt, Thomas (21 May 2021). "ABL Space Systems joining smallsat launch market with growing number of contracts". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  3. ^ @PhantomSpaceC (19 June 2024). "Phantom Space received a Finding Of No Significant Impact (FONSI) at SLC-5 at Vandenberg, where we are approved to conduct up to 60 launches annually. This is the final hurdle before we can start turning this former NASA Scout launch site into a two-pad site for Daytona launches" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 October 2024 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ a b "Staff Report" (PDF). California Coastal Commission. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  5. ^ NASASpaceFlight.com > General Space Flight (Atlas, Delta, ESA, Russian, Chinese) > Commercial Launchers (Space X, Sea Launch, etc.) > Topic: Elon Musk Q&A – Updates SpaceX status on Falcon and Dragon > Reply #2554
  6. ^ Federal Register /Vol. 73, No. 245 / Friday, 19 December 2008 / Proposed Rules, page 77579.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af "Vandenberg Air Force Base Launch sites". Asuwlink.uwyo.edu. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  8. ^ "Vandenberg Launches Another Minuteman III Test Missile". Vandenberg Air Force Base, United States Air Force. 26 September 2013. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ "Minuteman III test missile launches from Vandenberg". Vandenberg Air Force Base, United States Air Force. 24 September 2013. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  10. ^ a b "Titan I Missile Silo Coordinates". Techbastard.com. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  11. ^ a b c d "Titan II Missile Silo Coordinates". Techbastard.com. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Atlas Missile Silo Coordinates". Techbastard.com. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  13. ^ a b Missiles and Rockets Vol 5, September - December 1959. American Aviation. 1959.