Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2
Space Launch Complex 2 (SLC-2) is an inactive rocket launch site 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. 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.
Delta II at SLC-2W, with Gravity Probe B | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Launch site | Vandenberg AFB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Location | 34.7545°N 120.6198°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Short name | SLC-2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operator | US Air Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total launches | TBC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Launch pad(s) | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Orbital inclination range | 51° – 145° | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SLC-2W is being repurposed to launch Firefly Alpha for Firefly Aerospace, with a first launch expected in early 2020.
Space Launch Complex 2 was originally part of Launch Complex 75. When this complex was split up in 1966, the first launch to be made from the newly redesignated Space Launch Complex 2 was that of a Delta E with ESSA-3 on 2 October 1966 from SLC-2E. The first launch from SLC-2W after redesignation was of a Thor-Agena with OPS 1584 on 29 December 1966.
SLC-2E and SLC-2W are located approximately 2,000 feet (610 m) apart.