Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 6
Space Launch Complex -6 ( SLC -6, pronounced " Slick Six" ) is a launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, USA.
Construction
SLC -6 is part of Vandenberg's South Base. On March 1, 1966, a part of the site of the Sudden Ranch was expropriated and purchased by the U.S. Air Force for nearly ten million dollars. Then began on March 12, 1966, the construction of the SLC -6 on the site. From this starting complex titanium - III missile should be launched with the manned space station Manned Orbiting Laboratory ( MOL). Once vital parts have already been completed, the project of the U.S. Air Force was discontinued because of high costs and schedule delays on June 10, 1969 without a flight.
Preparations for the Space Shuttle
In 1972 it was decided to build next to the launch site in Florida here a western take-off and landing site for the Space Shuttle, from which it is possible to take the shuttle into a polar orbit. Extensive modifications to the launch site were necessary. The mobile service tower ( Mobile Service Tower, MST) was rebuilt and two new fire pits for Solid Rocket Boosters of the Space Shuttle. Tanks for liquid hydrogen and oxygen, a soundproofing system, a water treatment system, a rescue system for the crew and a Shuttle Assembly Building, according to the VAB in Florida, was necessary.
On October 15, 1985, the launch site was opened and officially put into operation, although further testing and construction measures were needed. A year after the opening, on 15 October 1986, the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS -62 -A) with Robert Crippen should be started as a commander in a polar orbit. Due to the Challenger disaster, the shuttle program was interrupted for over two years. On September 20, 1988, SLC - 6 is first shut down.
The end of 1989 the end of the space shuttle program in Vandenberg was officially announced by the U.S. Air Force. The cost of the total expenditure is estimated at approximately 4 billion dollars.
A further conversion
On July 6, 1990, Lockheed was awarded the contract by the U.S. Air Force to rebuild the Launch Complex SLC -6 for the rocket Titan 34D and Titan IV. 1994 SLC -6 rebuilt again. Above one of the fire pits that were originally built for the boosters of the Space Shuttle, designed you a platform to launch small rockets (Small Spacecraft Technology Initiative SSTI ).
On August 15, 1995, the first rocket ( LMLV -1, later Athena ) started on the launch complex SLC -6. Due to uncontrolled oscillations of the rocket but it was destroyed along with the payload, a small communications satellite GemStar. After modifications of the missile took place on August 23, 1997 a successful launch and the satellite Lewis was promoted into orbit. Lewis should remain three years in orbit. However, due to technical problems he fell after a short time out of orbit and Lewis was destroyed upon entry into Earth's atmosphere.
After another unsuccessful start a Athena -2 on 27 April 1999, the satellite IKONOS was launched into a polar orbit on 25 September 1999.
On 28 June 2006, a Delta IV Medium was started (4.2 ) with a spy satellite from here for the first time.
The Delta IV Heavy Heavy can launch from SLC -6. The first upgraded On 20 January 2011 the spy satellites NROL 49 into space.
Gallery
SLC -6 in 2006
Test with the Enterprise
Athena 1 rocket at SLC -6
Start a Delta IV Medium (4,2) from SLC -6
First launch of a Delta IV Heavy
Other perspective: Launch of Delta IV Heavy