Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 5

Space Launch Complex 5

A Scout rocket launches Explorer 19 from SLC-5.
Launch site	Vandenberg Space Force Base
Location	34.6080°N 120.6247°W / 34.6080; -120.6247
Time zone	UTC−08:00 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−07:00 (PDT)
Short name	SLC-5
Operator	United States Space Force
Orbital inclination range	51° – 145°
Launch history Status Inactive Launches 69 First launch 26 April 1962 Scout X-2 / Solrad 4B Last launch 9 May 1994 Scout G-1 / MSTI-2

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.

Between 2009 and 2012, the original complex architecture was demolished and was left untouched for the rest of the decade. In 2024, it was announced that the United States Space Force had leased the site to Phantom Space Corporation for their Daytona line of launch vehicles, with its inaugural launch slated for Q4 2025.

SLC-5 launches

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.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

'63

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

•   Scout
•   Daytona

Sources

• Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg SLC5". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 10 September 2003. Retrieved 28 September 2008.