Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2

Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) is an inactive rocket launch site pending upgrades at Vandenberg Air 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 AFB
Location34.7545°N
120.6198°W
Short nameSLC-2
OperatorUS Air Force
Total launchesTBC
Launch pad(s)2
Orbital inclination
range		51° – 145°
SLC-2W launch history
StatusInactive pending upgrades
Launches95
First launch17 September 1959
PGM-17 Thor
Last launch15 September 2018
Delta II / ICESat-2
Associated
rockets		PGM-17 Thor
Thor-Agena
Delta
Delta II
Firefly Alpha (future)
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 is being repurposed to launch Firefly Alpha for Firefly Aerospace, with a first launch expected in early 2021.[4] On October 15, 2020, the Delta II mobile service tower suffered a fire during demolition.[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. "Delta II concludes amazing legacy with ICESat-2 launch". NASA Space Flight. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  4. Foust, Jeff. "Falcon 9 launch ends long hiatus in Vandenberg launches". Space News. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  5. "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.
  6. Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg SLC2E". Astronautix. Retrieved 22 November 2020.


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