Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 10

Space Launch Complex 10

A Thor DSV-2U carrying a DMSP weather satellite launches from SLC-10W in 1980. This was the last orbital launch from the complex.
Launch site	Vandenberg Space Force Base
Location	34°45′55″N120°37′20″W / 34.76528°N 120.62222°W / 34.76528; -120.62222
Time zone	UTC−08:00 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−07:00 (PDT)
Short name	SLC-10
Operator	United States Space Force
Total launches	38
Launch pad	2
Orbital inclination range	51° – 145°
SLC-10W launch history Status Inactive Launches 32 First launch 14 August 1959 PGM-17 Thor Last launch 15 July 1980 Thor DSV-2U / DMSP-5D1 F-5 Associated rockets PGM-17 Thor Thor MG-18 Thor-Burner Thor DSV-2U SLC-10E launch history Status Inactive Launches 6 First launch 16 June 1959 PGM-17 Thor Last launch 19 March 1962 PGM-17 Thor Associated rockets PGM-17 Thor
Space Launch Complex 10
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
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Location	Vandenberg Space Force Base, Lompoc, California
Coordinates	34°45′55″N120°37′20″W / 34.76528°N 120.62222°W / 34.76528; -120.62222
NRHP reference No.	86003511 [1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	June 23, 1986
Designated NHL	June 23, 1986 [1]

Launch sites at Vandenberg Space Force Base

7km
4.3miles

20

19

18

18

17

17

16

15

15 SLC-8
Northrop
Grumman

14

13

12

12 LZ-4 SpaceX

11

11 SLC-4E SpaceX

10

10

9

8

7

7 SLC-576E
Northrop
Grumman

6

6

5

5

4

4 SLC-2W Firefly

3

3

2

2

1

   

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  Active pads

  Active pads not used for launches

  Inactive leased pads

  Inactive unleased pads

1

SLC-1E

2

SLC-1W

3

SLC-2E

4

SLC-2W

5

SLC-10E

6

SLC-10W

7

LC-576E

8

SLC-9

9

SLC-3E

10

SLC-3W

11

SLC-4E

12

SLC-4W (LZ-4)

13

SLC-5

14

SLC-6

15

SLC-8

16

SLC-7

17

SLC-11

18

SLC-12

19

SLC-14

20

SLC-15

Space Launch Complex 10 (SLC-10), or Missile Launch Complex 10, ^[1] is located on Vandenberg Space Force Base in Lompoc, California. It was built in 1958 to test ballistic missiles and developed into a space launching facility in 1963. ^[2] Prior to 1966, Space Launch Complex 10W (SLC-10W) was known as Vandenberg AFB Pad 75-2-6. ^[3] It remains a rare pristine look at the electronics and facilities created in that era that helped the United States grow its space capabilities.

The last launch from this complex was a Thor booster in 1980. ^[1] It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986. ^[1]

It is undergoing an eight-year restoration, and public visits are possible, if arranged in advance. ^[4]

History

The launch complex was built in 1958 by the Douglas Aircraft Corporation, and was first designated Complex 75-2. At that time it consisted of three launch pads, which were used to train military operators of PGM-17 Thor ballistic missiles, and to conduct missile launch tests. The first launches were conducted by the British Royal Air Force in June and August 1959. ^[1] The facilities at SLC-10 were dismantled and transported to Johnston Island in support of Operation Dominic, a nuclear weapons testing project conducted there in 1962.

The launch complex was rebuilt in 1963 to support the development of Burner rockets, with two launch pads, designated SLC-10E and SLC-10W. Tests were conducted at SLC-10W from 1965 to 1980, using the Thor satellite launch vehicles, the first stages of which followed the design of the Thor missile.

Surviving elements

Two launch pads and a prefabricated launch blockhouse are the principal surviving elements of the complex. The blockhouse interior still includes all of the electrical equipment used in later launches. SLC-10W also includes pipes and storage facilities for storing and managing the liquid fuel used in the rockets. ^[5]

Launch history

SLC-10W

1

2

3

4

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

•   Thor
•   Thor-Burner
•   Thor DSV-2U

SLC-10E

1

2

3

1959

1960

1961

1962

References

1. Staff. "NPS Focus: 86003511". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2. DOD NHL details for California
3. Ed Kyle (July 3, 2009). "Thor Burner - Sixth in a Series Reviewing Thor Family History".
4. NPS History of Aviation
5. "Space Launch Complex 10". National Park Service. Retrieved February 13, 2018.

Further reading

• Page II, Joseph T. (2014). Images of America: Vandenberg Air Force Base. Arcadia Publishing. OCLC   905345173.
• Page II, Joseph T. (2016). Space Launch Complex Ten: Vandenberg's Cold War Historic Landmark. History Press. OCLC   952155149.
• United States Air Force. (1998) Space Launch Complex 10: A National Historic Landmark. Brochure.

External links

• Aviation: From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
• DOD NHL details for California
• Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) documentation, filed under North End of Aero Road, Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, CA:
  • HAER No. CA-296, " Vandenburg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 10 ", 115 data pages
  • HAER No. CA-296-A, " Vandenburg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 10, Blockhouse ", 27 photos, 5 photo caption pages
  • HAER No. CA-296-B, " Vandenburg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 10, Metal Building ", 2 photos, 2 photo caption pages
  • HAER No. CA-296-C, " Vandenburg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 10, Office and Administration Building ", 7 photos, 3 photo caption pages
  • HAER No. CA-296-D, " Vandenburg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 10, Technical Support Building ", 9 photos, 3 photo caption pages
  • HAER No. CA-296-E, " Vandenburg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 10, Hydrogen Peroxide Facility ", 1 photo, 2 photo caption pages
  • HAER No. CA-296-F, " Vandenburg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 10, East Launch Pad ", 26 photos, 4 photo caption pages
  • HAER No. CA-296-G, " Vandenburg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 10, Maintenance Support Building ", 5 photos, 2 photo caption pages
  • HAER No. CA-296-H, " Vandenburg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 10, West Launch Pad ", 61 photos, 7 photo caption pages
  • HAER No. CA-296-I, " Vandenburg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 10, Construction Storage Building ", 3 photos, 2 photo caption pages
  • HAER No. CA-296-J, " Vandenburg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 10, Power Substation ", 1 photo, 2 photo caption pages
  • HAER No. CA-296-K, " Vandenburg Air Force Base, Space Launch Complex 10, LE-8 ", 9 photos, 3 photo caption pages