Jump to content

Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 1

Coordinates: 34°45′26″N 120°37′40″W / 34.757171°N 120.627796°W / 34.757171; -120.627796
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Space Launch Complex 1
Thorad-Agena at SLC-1W in December 1971, carrying various Poppy sattelites
Map
Launch siteVandenberg Space Force Base
Time zoneUTC−08:00 (PST)
• Summer (DST)
UTC−07:00 (PDT)
Short nameSLC-1
OperatorUnited States Space Force
Launch pad(s)Two
SLC-1W launch history
StatusInactive
Launches56
First launch21 January 1959
Thor-Agena A
Last launch14 December 1971
Thorad SLV-2G Agena D / OPS 7898
Associated
rockets
Thor-Agena
Thorad-Agena
SLC-1E launch history
StatusInactive
Launches45
First launch25 June 1959
Thor-Agena A / Discoverer 4
Last launch18 September 1968
Thorad SLV-2G Agena D / OPS 8595 KH-4
Associated
rockets
Thor-Agena
Thorad-Agena

Space Launch Complex 1 (SLC-1) is an inactive launch complex at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. It consists of two pads, SLC-1E (formerly Pad 75-3-5) and SLC-1W (formerly Pad 75-3-4). Both sites were built in 1958 for the never activated 75th Strategic Missile Squadron for launches of the Thor-Agena to support the CORONA series of reconnaissance satellites for the CIA. Under the masquerade of the Discoverer program, SLC-1 served as the launch site of numerous firsts for spaceflight, such as the first satellite in polar orbit with Discoverer 2, the first recovery of an object from orbit with Discoverer 13, and the first recovery of film from orbit with Discoverer 14. SLC-1 continued to launch various spy satellites such as the KH-4 for the Department of Defense throughout the 1960s, following the transfer of vehicle operations from the CIA to the National Reconnaissance Office. During the mid-60s, as part of the phasing out of the Thor-Agena, both pads were modified to launch the succeeding Thorad-Agena throughout the end of the decade. Ultimately, thanks to the KH-4 getting replaced by the larger KH-9 and KH-11 as well as the pads' proximity to the more actively used Space Launch Complex 2, SLC-1 eventually saw the end of active service by the 1970s, and have since been disused.

Launch statistics

[edit]

SLC-1W

[edit]
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1960
1965
1970

SLC-1E

[edit]
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968

References

[edit]
  • Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg SLC-1E". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on September 9, 2010. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  • Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg SLC-1W". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on September 9, 2010. Retrieved 2008-09-28.

34°45′26″N 120°37′40″W / 34.757171°N 120.627796°W / 34.757171; -120.627796