Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4

This article is about the California landing zones. For LZ-1 and LZ-2, the Florida landing zone, see Landing Zones 1 and 2.

Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4) is a launch and landing site at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, U.S. It has two pads, both of which are used by SpaceX for Falcon 9, one for launch operations, and other as Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) for SpaceX landings.

Space Launch Complex 4

SLC-4 with Falcon 9 on launch pad at SLC-4E in January 2017
Launch site	Vandenberg Space Force Base
Location	34°37′59″N 120°36′47″W / 34.633°N 120.613°W / 34.633; -120.613
Short name	SLC-4
Operator	U.S. Space Force SpaceX (SLC-4E from 2011)
Total launches	214
Launch pad(s)	2 (1 became a landing zone for Falcon 9)
Orbital inclination range	43° – 145°
SLC-4W (PALC-2-3) launch history Status Repurposed Launches 94 First launch 12 July 1963 Atlas-Agena D / OPS-1467 Last launch 18 October 2003 Titan 23G Associated rockets Atlas-Agena LV-3 Atlas SLV-3 Titan IIIB Titan 23G LZ-4 (PALC-2-3) landing history Status Active Landings 12 (12 successful, 0 failure) First landing 7 October 2018 SAOCOM 1A Last landing 2 September 2023 SDA Tranche 0B Associated rockets Falcon 9 Block 5 SLC-4E (PALC-2-4) launch history Status Active Launches 120 First launch 14 August 1964 Atlas-Agena D / OPS 3802 Last launch 9 October 2023 Falcon 9 Block 5 / Starlink G7-4 Associated rockets Atlas-Agena LV-3 Atlas SLV-3 Titan IIID Titan 34D Titan IV Falcon 9 Block 5 (current)

The complex was previously used by Atlas and Titan rockets between 1963 and 2005. It consisted of two launch pads, SLC-4W and SLC-4E, which were formerly designated PALC-2-3 and PALC-2-4 respectively. Both pads were built for use by Atlas-Agena rockets, but were later rebuilt to handle Titan rockets. The designation SLC-4 was applied at the time of the conversion to launch Titan launch vehicles.^[1]

Both pads at Space Launch Complex 4 are currently leased by SpaceX. SLC-4E is leased as a launch site for the Falcon 9 rocket, which first flew from Vandenberg on 29 September 2013, following a 24-month refurbishment program which had started in early 2011.^[2][3] SpaceX began a five-year lease of Launch Complex 4 West in February 2015 in order to use that area as a landing pad to bring back VTVL return-to-launch-site (RTLS) first-stage boosters of the reusable Falcon 9 launch vehicle. That pad was later named by SpaceX as Landing Zone 4 and first used operationally for a Falcon 9 booster landing in 2018.

SLC-4E

Atlas-Agena

The first launch from PALC2-4 occurred on 14 August 1964, when a KH-7 satellite was launched by an Atlas-Agena D. After 27 Atlas-Agena launches, the last of which was on 4 June 1967, the complex was deactivated.^[4]

 

Titan IIID launch from SLC-4E

Titan IIID

During 1971 the complex was reactivated and refurbished for use by the Martin Marietta Titan III launch vehicles. The Titan IIID made its maiden flight from SLC-4E on 15 June 1971, launching the first KH-9 Hexagon satellite.^[5] The first KH-11 Kennan satellite was launched from the complex on 19 December 1976.^[6] All 22 Titan IIIDs were launched from SLC-4E, with the last occurring on 17 November 1982.

Titan 34D

The complex was then refurbished to accommodate the Martin Marietta Titan 34D. Seven Titan 34Ds were launched between 20 June 1983, and 6 November 1988.^{[citation needed]} SLC-4E hosted one of the most dramatic launch accidents in US history when a Titan 34D-9 carrying a KH-9 photoreconnaissance satellite exploded a few hundred feet above the pad on 18 April 1986. The enormous blast showered the launch complex with debris and toxic propellant (hydrazine and dinitrogen tetroxide), resulting in extensive damage. 16 months after the accident, the pad was back in commission when it hosted a successful launch of a KH-11 satellite.^[7][8]

 

Final Titan IV launch from SLC-4E in 2005

Titan IV

The last Titan variant to use the complex was the Titan IV, starting on 8 March 1991, with the launch of Lacrosse 2. On 19 October 2005, the last flight of a Titan rocket occurred, when a Titan IVB was launched from SLC-4E, with an Improved Crystal satellite. Following this launch, the complex was deactivated, having been used for 68 launches.^{[citation needed]}

 

Inaugural mission of the Falcon 9 v1.1 from SLC-4E in September 2013

Falcon 9

SpaceX refurbished SLC–4E for Falcon 9 launches in a 24-month process that began in early 2011.^[2] The draft environmental impact assessment with a finding of "no significant impact" was published in February 2011.^[2] Demolition began on the pad's fixed and mobile service towers in summer 2011.^[3]

By late 2012, SpaceX anticipated that the initial launch from the Vandenberg pad would be in 2013, with the larger variant Falcon 9 v1.1.^[9] As the pad was nearing completion in February 2013, the first launch was scheduled for summer 2013,^[10] but was delayed until September 2013.

Launch history

Statistics

6

12

18

24

30

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2015

2020

•   Atlas-Agena
•   Titan IIID
•   Titan 34D
•   Titan IV
•   Falcon 9

Atlas (1964–1967)

Date/Time (GMT)	Launch Vehicle	Serial Numbers			Trajectory	Result	Payload	Remarks
1964-10-08	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7103			LEO (target)	Failure	KH-7 Gambit 4012	Agena engine malfunction. RSO destruct
1964-12-04 18:57	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7105			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4014
1965-04-03 21:25	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7401			LEO	Success	SNAPSHOT	First and only nuclear reactor powered American satellite.
1965-04-28 20:17	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7107			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4017
1965-05-27 19:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7108			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4018
1965-06-25 19:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7109			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4019
1965-07-12 19:00	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7112			LEO (target)	Failure	KH-7 Gambit 4020	Premature sustainer shutdown due to electrical malfunction. Vehicle impacted the Pacific Ocean.
1965-08-03 19:12	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7111			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4021
1965-09-30 19:20	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7110			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4022
1965-11-08 19:26	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7113			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4023
1966-01-19 20:10	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7114			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4024
1966-02-15 20:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7115			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4025
1966-03-18 20:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7116			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4026
1966-04-19 19:12	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7117			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4027
1966-05-14 18:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7118			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4028
1966-06-03 19:25	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7119			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4029
1966-07-12 17:57	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7120			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4030
1966-08-16 18:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7121			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4031
1966-08-19 19:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7202			LEO	Success	Midas 11
1966-09-16 17:59	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7123			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4032
1966-10-12 19:15	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7122			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4033
1966-11-02 20:23	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7124			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4034
1966-12-05 21:09	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7125			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4035
1967-02-02 20:00	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7126			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4036
1967-05-22 18:30	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7127			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4037
1967-06-04 18:07	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7128			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4038

Titan IIID / 34D (1971–1988)

Date/Time (GMT)	Launch Vehicle	Serial Numbers			Trajectory	Result	Payload	Remarks
1971-06-15 18:41	Titan III(23)D	23D-1			LEO	Success	OPS-8709 (KH-9)	Maiden flight of Titan IIID
1972-01-20 18:36	Titan III(23)D	23D-2			LEO	Success	OPS-1737 (KH-9) SSF-B-22
1972-07-07 17:46	Titan III(23)D	23D-5			LEO	Success	OPS-7293 (KH-9) SSF-B-23
1972-10-10 18:03	Titan III(23)D	23D-3			LEO	Success	OPS-8314 (KH-9) SSF-C-3
1973-03-09 21:00	Titan III(23)D	23D-6			LEO	Success	OPS-8410 (KH-9)
1973-06-13 20:24	Titan III(23)D	23D-7			LEO	Success	OPS-8261 (KH-9)
1973-11-10 20:09	Titan III(23)D	23D-8			LEO	Success	OPS-6630 (KH-9) SSF-B-24 SSF-C-4
1974-04-10 20:20	Titan III(23)D	23D-9			LEO	Success	OPS-6245 (KH-9) SSF-B-25 IRCB
1974-10-29 19:30	Titan III(23)D	23D-4			LEO	Success	OPS-7122 (KH-9) OPS-8452 (S3) SSF-B-26
1975-06-08 18:30	Titan III(23)D	23D-10			LEO	Success	OPS-6381 (KH-9) SSF-C-5
1975-12-04 20:38	Titan III(23)D	23D-13			LEO	Success	OPS-4428 (KH-9) OPS-5547 (S3)
1976-07-08 18:30	Titan III(23)D	23D-14			LEO	Success	OPS-4699 (KH-9) OPS-3986 (S3) SSF-D-1
1976-12-19 18:19	Titan III(23)D	23D-15			LEO	Success	OPS-5705 (KH-11)
1977-06-27 18:30	Titan III(23)D	23D-17			LEO	Success	OPS-4800 (KH-9)
1978-03-16 18:43	Titan III(23)D	23D-20			LEO	Success	OPS-0460 (KH-9) SSF-D-2
1978-06-14 18:28	Titan III(23)D	23D-18			LEO	Success	OPS-4515 (KH-11)
1979-03-16 18:30	Titan III(23)D	23D-21			LEO	Success	OPS-3854 (KH-9) SSF-D-3
1980-02-07 21:10	Titan III(23)D	23D-19			LEO	Success	OPS-2581 (KH-11)
1980-06-18 18:29	Titan III(23)D	23D-16			LEO	Success	OPS-3123 (KH-9) SSF-C-6
1981-09-03 18:29	Titan III(23)D	23D-22			LEO	Success	OPS-3984 (KH-11)
1982-05-11 18:45	Titan III(23)D	23D-24			LEO	Success	OPS-5642 (KH-9) SSF-D-4
1982-11-17 21:22	Titan III(23)D	23D-23			LEO	Success	OPS-9627 (KH-11)	Final flight of Titan IIID
1983-06-20 18:45	Titan 34D	4D-3	34D-5		LEO	Success	OPS-0721 (KH-9) SSF-C-7
1984-06-25 18:43	Titan 34D	4D-1	34D-4		LEO	Success	USA-2 (KH-9) USA-3 (SSF-D)
1984-12-04 18:00	Titan 34D	4D-4	34D-6		LEO	Success	USA-6 (KH-11)
1985-08-28 21:20	Titan 34D	4D-6	34D-7		LEO (target)	Failure	KH-11	First stage propellant leak leading to turbopump failure and RSO destruct
1986-04-18 17:45	Titan 34D	4D-2	34D-9		LEO (target)	Failure	KH-9	SRM burnthrough, exploded 8.5 seconds after launch Last KH-9 Hexagon satellite
1987-10-26 21:32	Titan 34D	4D-8	34D-15		LEO	Success	USA-27 (KH-11)
1988-11-06 18:03	Titan 34D	4D-7	34D-14		LEO	Success	USA-33 (KH-11)

Titan IV (1991–2005)

Date/Time (GMT)	Launch Vehicle	Serial Numbers			Trajectory	Result	Payload	Remarks
1991-03-08 12:03	Titan IV(403)A	45F-1	4A-5	K-5	LEO	Success	USA-69 (Lacrosse)	Maiden flight of Titan 403A
1991-1108 07:07	Titan IV(403)A	45F-2	4A-8	K-8	LEO	Success	USA-72 (SLDCOM) USA-74 (NOSS) USA-76 (NOSS) USA-77 (NOSS)
1992-11-28 21:34	Titan IV(404)A	45J-1	4A-3	K-3	LEO	Success	USA-86 (KH-12)	Maiden flight of Titan 404A
1993-08-02 19:59	Titan IV(403)A	45F-9	4A-11	K-11	LEO (target)	Failure	SLDCOM 3 x NOSS	SRM exploded due to damage caused during maintenance on ground
1995-12-05 21:18	Titan IV(404)A	45J-3	4A-15	K-15	LEO	Success	USA-116 (KH-12)
1996-05-12 21:32	Titan IV(403)A	45F-11	4A-22	K-22	LEO	Success	USA-119 (SLDCOM) USA-120 (NOSS) USA-121 (NOSS) USA-122 (NOSS) USA-123 (TiPS) USA-124 (TiPS)
1996-12-20 18:04	Titan IV(404)A	45J-5	4A-13	K-13	LEO	Success	USA-129 (KH-12)	NRO L-2, final flight of Titan 404A
1997-10-24 02:32	Titan IV(403)A	45F-3	4A-18	K-18	LEO	Success	USA-133 (Lacrosse)	Final flight of Titan 403A
1999-05-22 09:36	Titan IV(404)B		4B-12	K-12	LEO	Success	USA-144 (Misty)	Maiden flight of Titan 404B
2000-08-17 23:45	Titan IV(403)B		4B-28	K-25	LEO	Success	USA-152 (Onyx)	NRO L-11, Maiden flight of Titan 403B
2001-10-05 21:21	Titan IV(404)B		4B-34	K-34	LEO	Success	USA-161 (KH-12)	NRO L-14, Maiden flight of Titan 404B
2005-10-19 18:05	Titan IV(404)B		4B-26	K-35	LEO	Success	USA-186 (KH-12)	NRO L-20, Final flight of Titan IV

Falcon 9 (since 2013)

Main article: List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches § Past launches

Date/Time (GMT)	Launch Vehicle	Trajectory	Payload	Result	Remarks
2013-09-29 16:00	F9 v1.1 B1003	Polar orbit	CASSIOPE^[11]^[12]	Success	First Falcon 9 v1.1 flight and first commercial mission. After payload separation the upper stage failed at a re-ignition test.
2016-01-17 18:42^[13]	F9 v1.1 B1017	SSO	Jason-3^[14]	Success	First launch of NASA and NOAA joint science mission under the NLS II launch contract, last flight of Falcon 9 v1.1
2017-01-14 17:54	F9 FT B1029.1	Polar orbit	Iridium-1	Success	First batch of ten satellites for the Iridium NEXT constellation.
2017-06-25 20:25	F9 FT B1036.1	Polar orbit	Iridium-2	Success	Second batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites
2017-08-24 18:50	F9 FT B1038.1	SSO	FORMOSAT-5^[15]	Success	Formosat-5 was originally scheduled to launch on a Falcon 1e from Omelek Island in 2013.
2017-10-09 12:37	F9 B4 B1041.1	Polar orbit	Iridium-3	Success	Third batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites
2017-12-23 01:27	F9 FT ♺ B1036.2	Polar orbit	Iridium-4	Success	First west-coast return-to-launch-site landing planned^[16] but later cancelled.^[17] The first-stage booster was expended after a controlled ocean splashdown.^[18]
2018-02-22 14:17^[19]	F9 FT ♺ B1038.2	SSO	Paz^[20] & Tintin A, B (Starlink)	Success	First launch with new fairing, designed to be "caught" by a recovery vessel; the fairing missed the ship but was ultimately recovered anyway.
2018-03-30 14:13	F9 B4 ♺ B1041.2	Polar orbit	Iridium-5	Success	Fifth batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites. The first stage was expended after a simulated ocean landing.^[21]
2018-05-22 19:47	F9 B4 ♺ B1043.2	Polar orbit	Iridium-6 & Grace-FO	Success	Sixth batch of 5 Iridium NEXT satellites. The two GRACE-FO satellites were a rideshare on this flight. The first stage was expended and flew w/o legs, but with aluminum grid fins.
2018-07-25 11:39	F9 B5 B1048.1	Polar orbit	Iridium-7	Success	Seventh batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites. First Falcon 9 Block 5 to launch from Vandenberg AFB.
2018-10-08 02:21	F9 B5 ♺ B1048.2	SSO	SAOCOM 1A	Success	First Block 5 reuse on the west coast. First land landing on SpaceX's west coast landing pad, Landing Zone 4. First Block 5 RTLS landing.
2018-12-03 18:34	F9 B5 ♺ B1046.3	SSO	Spaceflight SSO-A	Success	Rideshare mission during which 64 small satellites were successfully deployed. First time a booster (B1046) was used for a third flight.
2019-01-11 15:31	F9 B5 ♺ B1049.2	Polar orbit	Iridium-8	Success	Eighth and the last Iridium NEXT mission with ten satellites.
2019-06-12 14:17	F9 B5 ♺ B1051.2	SSO	RADARSAT Constellation	Success	Set of three Earth observation satellites by the Canadian Space Agency.
2020-11-21 17:17	F9 B5 B1063.1	LEO	Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich	Success	First of two Sentinel 6 satellites to measure sea-level change. Launched to a 1336 km at 66° inclination orbit.
2021-09-14 03:55	F9 B5 ♺ B1049.10	LEO	Starlink × 51 (Group 2-1)	Success	First Starlink mission to launch from Vandenberg SLC-4, to a 70-degree orbital inclination.
2021-11-24 01:21	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.3	Heliocentric	DART	Success	First mission to demonstrate asteroid reduction capability. Originally planned for 22 July 2021, but was pushed back to 24 November 2021.^[22]
2021-12-18 12:41	F9 B5 ♺ B1051.11	LEO	Starlink × 52 (Group 4-4)	Success	First West coast and third overall 53.2-degree inclination Starlink launch. First time a Falcon 9 first stage booster flew for an eleventh time.
2022-02-02 20:27	F9 B5 B1071.1	SSO	NROL-87	Success	Classified US military satellite
2022-02-25 17:12	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.4	LEO	Starlink × 50 (Group 4–11)	Success
2022-04-17 13:13	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.2	SSO	NROL-85	Success	Two classified US military satellites
2022-05-13 22:07	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.5	LEO	Starlink × 53 (Group 4-13)	Success
2022-06-18 14:19	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.3	SSO	SARah 1	Success
2022-07-11 01:39	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.6	SSO	Starlink x 46 (Group 3-1)	Success	First dedicated mission deploying Starlink satellites to Sun-synchronous orbit.
2022-07-22 17:39	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.4	SSO	Starlink x 46 (Group 3-2)	Success
2022-08-12 21:40	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.10	SSO	Starlink x 46 (Group 3-3)	Success
2022-08-31 05:40	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.7	SSO	Starlink x 46 (Group 3-4)	Success
2022-10-05 23:10	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.5	LEO	Starlink x 52 (Group 4-29)	Success
2022-10-28 01:14	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.8	LEO	Starlink x 53 (Group 4-31)	Success
2022-12-16 11:46	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.6	Polar orbit	SWOT	Success	Joint mission of NASA and CNES
2022-12-30 07:38	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.11	LEO	EROS-C3	Success
2023-01-19 15:43	F9 B5 B1075.1	LEO	Starlink x 51 (Group 2-4)	Success
2023-01-31 16:15	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.7	LEO	Starlink x 49 (Group 2-6) & ION SCV-009	Success	The launch carried also the ION SCV-009 cubesat deployer with a mass simulator and some experiments onboard.
2023-02-17 19:12	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.9	LEO	Starlink x 51 (Group 2-5)	Success
2023-03-03 18:38	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.12	LEO	Starlink x 51 (Group 2-7)	Success
2023-03-17 19:26	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.8	LEO	Starlink x 52 (Group 2-8)	Success
2023-04-02 14:29	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.2	Polar Orbit	SDA Tranche 0A	Success
2023-04-15 06:48	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.10	SSO	Transporter 7	Success
2023-04-27 13:40	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.13	SSO	Starlink x 46 (Group 3-5)	Success
2023-05-10 20:09	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.3	LEO	Starlink x 51 (Group 2-9)	Success
2023-05-20 13:16	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.11	Polar Orbit	Iridium-9 & OneWeb #19	Success
2023-05-31 06:02	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.14	LEO	Starlink x 52 (Group 2-10)	Success
2023-06-12 21:35	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.9	SSO	Transporter 8	Success
2023-06-22 07:19	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.4	LEO	Starlink x 47 (Group 5-7)	Success
2023-07-07 19:29	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.12	LEO	Starlink x 48 (Group 5-13)	Success
2023-07-20 04:09	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.10	LEO	Starlink x 15 (Group 6-15)	Success
2023-08-08 03:57	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.5	LEO	Starlink x 15 (Group 6-20)	Success
2023-08-22 09:37	F9 B5 ♺ B1061.15	LEO	Starlink x 21 (Group 7-1)	Success
2023-09-02 14:25	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.13	Polar orbit	SDA Tranche 0B	Success
2023-09-12 06:57	F9 B5 ♺ B1071.11	LEO	Starlink x 21 (Group 7-2)	Success
2023-09-25 08:48	F9 B5 ♺ B1075.6	LEO	Starlink x 21 (Group 7-3)	Success
2023-10-09 07:23	F9 B5 ♺ B1063.14	LEO	Starlink x 21 (Group 7-4)	Success

Upcoming launches

Main article: List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches § Future launches

Planned date (UTC)	Launch vehicle	Trajectory	Payload	Remarks
19 October 2023	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO	Starlink x 21 (Group 7-5)
October 2023	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO	Starlink x ? (Group 7-6)
November 2023	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO	Starlink x ? (Group 7-7)
November 2023	Falcon 9 Block 5	LEO	Starlink x ? (Group 7-8)
November 2023	Falcon 9 Block 5	SSO	Transporter 9
December 2023^[23]	Falcon 9 Block 5	SSO	SARah 2 & 3^[24]^[23]
December 2023	Falcon 9 Block 5	SSO	WorldView Legion 1 & 2 (2 Sats)
Q1 2024^[25]	Falcon 9 Block 5	HEO	ASBM 1 and ASBM 2	Two identical satellites to be operated by NOSA^[26] in order to provide communication coverage to the far north areas of Norway, which is presently not served by geosynchronous satellites.^[27]
Q1 2024	Falcon 9 Block 5	SSO	Transporter 10
Q1 2024^[28]	Falcon 9 Block 5	Polar orbit	USSF-62
June 2024	Falcon 9 Block 5	SSO	EarthCARE
June 2024	Falcon 9 Block 5	SSO	Transporter 11
April 2025^[29]	Falcon 9 Block 5	Geocentric orbit	SPHEREx & PUNCH
November 2025	Falcon 9 Block 5	SSO	Sentinel-6B

SLC-4W

SLC-4W started operations in 1963 as Space Launch Complex 4W, and continued as an operational launch site through 2003. In 2015, SpaceX started conversion of the launch site into Landing Zone LZ-4. Landing operations commenced in 2018 at LZ-4.

SLC-4W Launch history

Statistics

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

'63

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

•   Atlas-Agena
•   Titan IIIB
•   Titan 23G

By rocket type

Atlas-Agena

The first launch to use what is now SLC-4 occurred on 12 July 1963, when an Atlas LV-3 Agena-D launched the first KH-7 Gambit reconnaissance satellite, from PALC-2-3. Twelve Atlas-Agenas launches were conducted from PALC-2-3, with the last occurring on 12 March 1965.

Titan IIIB

Following this, it was rebuilt as SLC-4W, a Titan launch complex. The first Titan launch from SLC-4W was a Titan IIIB, on 29 July 1966. All 68 Titan IIIB launches occurred from SLC-4W, with the last on 12 February 1987.

 

A Titan 23G on SLC-4W

Titan 23G

After the retirement of the Titan IIIB, it became a Titan 23G launch site, and twelve Titan II launches, using the 23G orbital configuration, were conducted between 5 September 1988 and 18 October 2003. Following the retirement of the Titan 23G, SLC-4W was deactivated. 93 rockets were launched from SLC-4W.

SLC-4W was the site of the launch of Clementine, the only spacecraft to be launched from Vandenberg to the Moon, which was launched by a Titan 23G on 25 January 1994.

Launch timeline 1963–2003

Date/Time (GMT)	Launch Vehicle	Serial Numbers			Trajectory	Result	Payload	Remarks
1963-07-12 20:46	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	201D			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4001
1963-09-06 19:30	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	212D			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4002
1963-10-25 18:59	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	224D			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4003
1963-12-18 21:45	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	227D			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4004
1964-02-25 18:59	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	285D			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4005
1964-03-11 20:14	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	296D			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4006
1964-04-23 16:19	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	351D			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4007
1964-05-19 19:21	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	350D			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4008
1964-07-06 18:51	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	352D			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4009
1964-08-14 22:00	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	7101			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4010
1964-09-23 20:06	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	7102			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4011
1964-10-23 18:30	Atlas LV-3 Agena-D	353D			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4013
1965-01-23 20:09	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7106			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4015
1965-03-12 19:25	Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D	7104			LEO	Success	KH-7 Gambit 4016
29 July 1966 18:43	Titan IIIB	3B-1	4751		LEO	Success	OPS-3014 (KH-8)	Maiden flight of Titan IIIB
28 September 1966 19:12	Titan IIIB	3B-2			LEO	Success	OPS-4096 (KH-8)
14 December 1966 18:14	Titan IIIB	3B-3			LEO	Success	OPS-8968 (KH-8)
24 February 1967 19:55	Titan IIIB	3B-4			LEO	Success	OPS-4204 (KH-8)
26 April 1967 18:00	Titan IIIB	3B-5			LEO (target)	Failure	OPS-4243 (KH-8)	Second stage lost thrust due to probable fuel line obstruction. Vehicle impacted the Pacific Ocean 600 miles downrange.
20 June 196716:19	Titan IIIB	3B-8			LEO	Success	OPS-4282 (KH-8)
16 August 1967 17:02	Titan IIIB	3B-9			LEO	Success	OPS-4886 (KH-8)
19 September 1967 18:28	Titan IIIB	3B-10			LEO	Success	OPS-4941 (KH-8)
25 October 1967 19:15	Titan IIIB	3B-11			LEO	Success	OPS-4995 (KH-8)
5 December 1967 18:45	Titan IIIB	3B-12			LEO	Success	OPS-5000 (KH-8)
18 January 1968 19:04	Titan IIIB	3B-13			LEO	Success	OPS-5028 (KH-8)
13 March 1968 19:55	Titan IIIB	3B-14			LEO	Success	OPS-5057 (KH-8)
7 April 1968 17:00	Titan IIIB	3B-15			LEO	Success	OPS-5105 (KH-8)
5 June 1968 17:31	Titan IIIB	3B-16			LEO	Success	OPS-5138 (KH-8)
6 August 1968 16:33	Titan IIIB	3B-17			LEO	Success	OPS-5187 (KH-8)
10 September 1968 18:30	Titan IIIB	3B-18			LEO	Success	OPS-5247 (KH-8)
6 November 1968 19:10	Titan IIIB	3B-19			LEO	Success	OPS-5296 (KH-8)
4 December 1968 19:23	Titan IIIB	3B-20			LEO	Success	OPS-6518 (KH-8)
22 January 1969 19:10	Titan IIIB	3B-6			LEO	Success	OPS-7585 (KH-8)
4 March 1969 19:30	Titan IIIB	3B-7			LEO	Success	OPS-4248 (KH-8)
15 April 1969 17:30	Titan IIIB	3B-21			LEO	Success	OPS-5310 (KH-8)
3 June 1969 16:49	Titan IIIB	3B-22			LEO	Success	OPS-1077 (KH-8)
23 August 1969 16:00	Titan III(23)B	23B-1	3B-23		LEO	Success	OPS-7807 (KH-8A)	Maiden flight of Titan 23B
14 October 1969 18:10	Titan III(23)B	23B-2	3B-24		LEO	Success	OPS-8455 (KH-8A)
14 January 1970 18:43	Titan III(23)B	23B-3	3B-24		LEO	Success	OPS-6531 (KH-8A)
15 April 1970 15:52	Titan III(23)B	23B-4	3B-26		LEO	Success	OPS-2863 (KH-8A)
25 June 1970 14:50	Titan III(23)B	23B-5	3B-27		LEO	Success	OPS-6820 (KH-8A)
18 August 1970 14:45	Titan III(23)B	23B-6	3B-28		LEO	Success	OPS-7874 (KH-8A)
23 October 1970 17:40	Titan III(23)B	23B-7	3B-29		LEO	Success	OPS-7568 (KH-8A)
21 January 1971 18:28	Titan III(23)B	23B-8	3B-30		LEO	Success	OPS-7776 (KH-8A)
21 March 1971 03:45	Titan III(33)B	33B-1	3B-36		Molniya	Success	OPS-4788 (Jumpseat)	Maiden flight of Titan 33B
22 April 1971 15:30	Titan III(23)B	23B-9	3B-31		LEO	Success	OPS-7899 (KH-8A)	Final flight of Titan 23B
12 August 1971 15:30	Titan III(24)B	24B-1	3B-32		LEO	Success	OPS-8607 (KH-8A)	Maiden flight of Titan 24B
23 October 1971 17:16	Titan III(24)B	24B-2	3B-33		LEO	Success	OPS-7616 (KH-8A)
16 February 1972 09:59	Titan III(33)B	33B-2	3B-37		Molniya (target)	Failure	OPS-1844 (Jumpseat)	Failed to reach orbit
17 March 1972 17:00	Titan III(24)B	24B-3	3B-34		LEO	Success	OPS-1678 (KH-8A)
20 May 1972 15:30	Titan III(24)B	24B-4	3B-35		LEO (target)	Failure	OPS-6574 (KH-8A)	Agena pressurization failure
1 September 1972 17:44	Titan III(24)B	24B-5	3B-39		LEO	Success	OPS-8888 (KH-8A)
21 December 1972 17:45	Titan III(24)B	24B-6	3B-40		LEO	Success	OPS-3978 (KH-8A)
16 May 1973 16:40	Titan III(24)B	24B-7	3B-41		LEO	Success	OPS-2093 (KH-8A)
26 June 1973 17:00	Titan III(24)B	24B-9	3B-43		LEO (target)	Failure	OPS-4018 (KH-8A)	First stage fuel tank rupture T+11 seconds.
21 August 1973 16:07	Titan III(33)B	33B-3	3B-38		Molniya	Success	OPS-7724 (Jumpseat)	Final flight of Titan 33B
27 September 1973 17:15	Titan III(24)B	24B-8	3B-42		LEO	Success	OPS-6275 (KH-8A)
13 February 1974 18:00	Titan III(24)B	24B-10	3B-44		LEO	Success	OPS-6889 (KH-8A)
6 June 1974 16:30	Titan III(24)B	24B-11	3B-45		LEO	Success	OPS-1776 (KH-8A)
14 August 1974 15:35	Titan III(24)B	24B-12	3B-46		LEO	Success	OPS-3004 (KH-8A)
10 March 1975 04:41	Titan III(34)B	34B-1	3B-50		Molniya	Success	OPS-2439 (Jumpseat)	Maiden flight of Titan 34B
18 April 1975 16:48	Titan III(24)B	24B-14	3B-48		LEO	Success	OPS-4883 (KH-8A)
9 October 1975 19:15	Titan III(24)B	24B-13	3B-47		LEO	Success	OPS-5499 (KH-8A)
22 March 1976 18:14	Titan III(24)B	24B-18	3B-52		LEO	Success	OPS-7600 (KH-8A)
2 June 1976 20:56	Titan III(34)B	34B-5	3B-55		Molniya	Success	OPS-7837 (SDS)
6 August 1976 22:21	Titan III(34)B	34B-6	3B-56		Molniya	Success	OPS-7940 (SDS)
15 September 1976 18:50	Titan III(24)B	24B-17	3B-51		LEO	Success	OPS-8533 (KH-8A)
13 March 1977 18:41	Titan III(24)B	24B-19	3B-54		LEO	Success	OPS-4915 (KH-8A)
23 September 1977 18:34	Titan III(24)B	24B-23	3B-58		LEO	Success	OPS-7471 (KH-8A)
25 February 1978 05:00	Titan III(34)B	34B-2	3B-49		Molniya	Success	OPS-6031 (Jumpseat)
5 August 1978 05:00	Titan III(34)B	34B-7	3B-57		Molniya	Success	OPS-7310 (SDS)
28 May 1979 18:14	Titan III(24)B	24B-25	3B-61		LEO	Success	OPS-7164 (KH-8A)
13 December 1980 16:04	Titan III(34)B	34B-3	3B-53		Molniya	Success	OPS-5805 (SDS)
28 February 1981 19:15	Titan III(24)B	24B-24	3B-59		LEO	Success	OPS-1166 (KH-8A)
24 April 1981 21:32	Titan III(34)B	34B-8	3B-60		Molniya	Partial failure	OPS-7225 (Jumpseat)	Spacecraft failed to separate
21 January 1982 19:36	Titan III(24)B	24B-26	3B-62		LEO	Success	OPS-2849 (KH-8A HB)
15 April 1983 18:45	Titan III(24)B	24B-27	3B-63		LEO	Success	OPS-2925 (KH-8A)
31 July 1983 15:41	Titan III(34)B	34B-9	3B-65		Molniya	Success	OPS-7304 (Jumpseat)
17 April 1984 18:45	Titan III(24)B	24B-28	3B-67		LEO	Success	OPS-8424 (KH-8A)	Final flight of Titan 24B
28 August 1984 18:03	Titan III(34)B	34B-4	3B-64		Molniya	Success	USA-4 (SDS)
8 February 1985 06:10	Titan III(34)B	34B-10	3B-69		Molniya	Success	USA-9 (SDS)
12 February 1987 06:40	Titan III(34)B	34B-51	3B-66		Molniya	Success	USA-21 (SDS)	Final flight of Titan IIIB; Final use of Agena upper stage in any vehicle
5 September 1988 09:25	Titan II(23)G	23G-1	B-56	B-98	LEO	Success	USA-32 (Bernie)	Maiden flight of Titan 23G
6 September 1989 01:49	Titan II(23)G	23G-2	B-99	B-75	LEO	Success	USA-45 (Bernie)
25 April 1992 08:53	Titan II(23)G	23G-3	B-102		LEO	Success	USA-81 (Bernie)
5 October 1993 17:56	Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP	23G-5	B-65		LEO (target)	Failure	Landsat 6	Star-37 failed to ignite
25 January 1994 16:34	Titan II(23)G	23G-11	B-67	B-89	LEO^[30]	Success	Clementine DSPSE-ISA
4 April 1997 16:47	Titan II(23)G/Star-37S	23G-6	B-106		LEO	Success	USA-131 (DMSP)
13 May 1998 15:52	Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP	23G-12	B-72	B-80	LEO	Success	NOAA-15
20 June 1999 02:15	Titan II(23)G	23G-7	B-75		LEO	Success	QuickSCAT
12 December 1999 17:38	Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP	23G-8	B-44	B-94	LEO	Success	USA-147 (DMSP)
21 September 2000 10:22	Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP	23G-13	B-39	B-96	LEO	Success	NOAA-16
24 June 2002 18:23	Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP	23G-14	B-92	B-71	LEO	Success	NOAA-17
6 January 2003 14:19	Titan II(23)G	23G-4	B-72		LEO	Success	Coriolis
18 October 2003 16:17	Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP	23G-9	B-107		LEO	Success	USA-172 (DMSP)	Final flight of Titan II

LZ-4

Development History

SpaceX signed a five-year lease of Launch Complex 4W in February 2015, in order to use the area to land reusable launch vehicles at the pad. The location is being used for vertical landing of Return-To-Launch-Site (RTLS) first-stage boosters of the Falcon 9 rockets that are launched from the adjacent SLC-4E launch pad.^[31][32] This novel use of SLC-4W had initially surfaced in July 2014 when NASASpaceFlight.com published that SpaceX was considering leasing SLC-4W for use as a RTLS vertical-landing facility for reusable first-stage boosters.^[33]

Principal structures on the pad were demolished in September 2014 as construction of the landing pad began and was completed sometime around 2017.^[34]

Landing Statistics

Landing Outcomes (Falcon 9)

1

2

3

4

5

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

•   Falcon 9 Success
•   Falcon 9 Failure

Booster landings

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

'10

'11

'12

'13

'14

'15

'16

'17

'18

'19

'20

'21

'22

'23

•   Ground-pad failure
•   Drone-ship failure
•   Ocean test failure^[i]
•   Parachute test failure^[ii]
•   Ground-pad success
•   Drone-ship success
•   Ocean test success^[iii]
•   No attempt

1. Controlled descent; ocean touchdown control failed; no recovery
2. Passive reentry failed before parachute deployment
3. Controlled descent; soft vertical ocean touchdown; no recovery

Detailed landing history

For landings at sea, see Autonomous spaceport drone ship

SpaceX has perfected RTLS landings on two landing pads that it has built at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.^[32][35] It was initially thought that the booster used to launch a fourth batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites in December 2017 would be the first to land at Vandenberg AFB ^[16] but this mission was ultimately performed in expendable mode.^[36] In July 2018, SpaceX applied for a permit to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for post-landing communications with a first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket at SLC-4W, pointing to a possible landing sometime in September 2018, possibly for the SAOCOM 1A mission^[37] although this was later rescheduled for 8 October 2018 (UTC). A few weeks prior to this first landing attempt it was known to the public, again via FCC permits and also public warnings about sonic booms in the area, that SpaceX had renamed this pad as Landing Zone 4.^[31] Finally, this pad was first used for a rocket booster landing of a first stage of a Falcon 9 launch vehicle in October 2018, recovering the booster that had just launched the Argentinian SAOCOM 1A satellite.^[31]

Date/Time (UTC)	Rocket body	Launch Site	Trajectory	Payload	Result	Remarks	Image
8 October 2018	Falcon 9 B5 first stage booster B1048.2	SLC-4E	SSO	SAOCOM 1A	Success	First landing at LZ-4
12 June 2019	Falcon 9 B5 first stage booster B1051.2	SLC-4E	SSO	RADARSAT Constellation	Success
21 November 2020	Falcon 9 B5 first stage booster B1063.1	SLC-4E	SSO	Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich	Success
2 February 2022	Falcon 9 B5 first stage booster B1071.1	SLC-4E	SSO	NROL-87	Success
17 April 2022	Falcon 9 B5 first stage booster B1071.2	SLC-4E	LEO	NROL-85	Success
18 June 2022	Falcon 9 B5 first stage booster B1071.3	SLC-4E	SSO	SARah 1	Success
16 December 2022	Falcon 9 B5 first stage booster B1071.6	SLC-4E	Polar Orbit (PO)	SWOT	Success
30 December 2022	Falcon 9 B5 first stage booster B1061.11	SLC-4E	LEO	EROS-C3	Success
2 April 2023	Falcon 9 B5 first stage booster B1075.2	SLC-4E	Polar Orbit (PO)	SDA Tranche 0A	Success
15 April 2023	Falcon 9 B5 first stage booster B1063.10	SLC-4E	SSO	Transporter 7	Success
12 June 2023	Falcon 9 B5 first stage booster B1071.9	SLC-4E	SSO	Transporter 8	Success
2 September 2023	Falcon 9 B5 first stage booster B1063.13	SLC-4E	Polar Orbit (PO)	SDA Tranche 0B	Success
December 2023	Falcon 9 B5 first stage booster B10??.?	SLC-4E	SSO	SARah 2 & 3	Planned
December 2023	Falcon 9 B5 first stage booster B10??.?	SLC-4E	SSO	WorldView Legion 1 & 2 (2 Sats)	Planned

References

•  Spaceflight portal

1. "NROL-85 Launch". National Reconnaissance Office. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
2. Scully, Janene (5 February 2011). "Report: Falcon plan OK for environment". Santa Maria Times. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
3. . SpaceX. 15 August 2011. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
4. Ben Evans. "SpaceX Launch Success Trials New Rocket, New Engine, New-Look Falcon 9". americaspace.com. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
5. Wade, Mark. . Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 5 August 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
6. "Titan 3D". Gunther's Space Page. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
7. "The Space Review: Death of a monster". thespacereview.com. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
8. Broad, William J. (19 April 1986). "The New York Times: TITAN ROCKET EXPLODES OVER CALIFORNIA AIR BASE". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
9. "SpaceX Gears Up for Launches at Vandenberg Air Force Base". Space News. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
10. "First look/SpaceX Launch Complex/Vandenberg AFB". dailybreeze.com. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
11. Lindsey, Clark (4 January 2013). . NewSpace Watch. Archived from the original on 26 May 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
12. "Dragon Mission Report | Q&A with SpaceX founder and chief designer Elon Musk". Spaceflight Now. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
13. "Launch Schedule | Spaceflight Now". spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
14. "SpaceX: Jason-3 Mission" (PDF). spacex.com. SpaceX. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
15. "Formosat5 program description". NSPO. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
16. Gebhardt, Chris (16 October 2017). "SpaceX adds mystery "Zuma" mission, Iridium-4 aims for Vandenberg landing". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
17. @ChrisG_NSF (2017). "Chris G - NSF Tweet". Twitter.
18. "Used SpaceX Rocket Launches 10 Communications Satellites Once Again". Space.com. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
19. Graham, William (22 February 2018). "SpaceX launches Falcon 9 with PAZ, Starlink demo and new fairing – NASASpaceFlight.com". NASASpaceFlight.com.
20. "SpaceX lanzará el satélite Paz de Hisdesat a finales de año" [SpaceX will launch the Paz satellite of Hisdesat at the end of the year]. Infoespacial.com (in Spanish). 7 March 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
21. Tariq Malik (30 March 2018). "Liftoff! Used SpaceX Rocket Launches 10 Iridium Satellites into Orbit". space.com. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
22. "Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART)". Retrieved 17 July 2021.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
23. Krebs, Gunter. "SARah 2/3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
24. Post, Hannah (8 August 2013). "SpaceX is awarded launch of german radar reconnaissance satellite system" (Press release). SpaceX. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
25. Sandra, Erwin. "Space Force delivers first of two U.S. payloads to launch on Space Norway's arctic broadband mission". spacenews.com. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
26. "SpaceX awarded double-satellite Falcon 9 launch contract, sixth win of 2019". Teslarati. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
27. Henry, Caleb (3 July 2019). "Northrop Grumman to build two triple-payload satellites for Space Norway, SpaceX to launch". SpaceNews. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
28. Sandra, Erwin. "Space Force identifies national security launches funded in 2022 and 2023". spacenews.com. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
29. "SPHEREx". jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
30. McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalogue". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
31. "SpaceX Falcon 9 launches with SAOCOM 1A and nails first West Coast landing". NASASpaceFlight.com. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
32. Clark, Stephen (17 February 2015). "SpaceX leases property for landing pads at Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
33. Bergin, Chris (28 July 2014). "SpaceX Roadmap building on its rocket business revolution". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 28 July 2014. At this point, we are highly confident of being able to land successfully on a floating launch pad or back at the launch site and refly the rocket with no required refurbishment
34. SpaceX Demolishes SLC-4W Titan Pad. YouTube. 18 September 2014. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
35. Gebhardt, Chris (6 February 2018). "SpaceX successfully debuts Falcon Heavy in demonstration launch from KSC". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
36. Gebhardt, Chris (22 December 2017). "SpaceX close out 2017 campaign with Iridium-4 launch". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
37. Gebhardt, Chris (6 July 2018). "SpaceX, ULA near-term manifests take shape, SpaceX aims for 1st RTLS at Vandenberg". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 9 July 2018.

External links

• Wade, Mark. . Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
• Wade, Mark. . Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2008.