Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4

Space Launch Complex 4

Final Titan IV launch from SLC-4E in 2005
Launch site	Vandenberg AFB
Location	34.632706°N 120.613393°W
Short name	SLC-4
Operator	US Air Force SpaceX (4E from 2011)
Total launches	163
Launch pad(s)	2
Min / max orbital inclination	51° – 145°
SLC-4W (PALC-2-3) launch history Status Being converted to a landing pad for Falcon 9 Launches 93 First launch 12 July 1963 Atlas-Agena D / OPS-1467 Last launch 18 October 2003 Titan 23G / USA-172 Associated rockets Atlas LV-3 Agena-D Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D Titan IIIB Titan 23G SLC-4E (PALC-2-4) launch history Status Active Launches 71 First launch 14 August 1964 Atlas-Agena D / OPS 3802 Last launch 14 January 2017 Falcon 9 FT / Iridium NEXT Associated rockets Atlas LV-3 Agena-D Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D Titan IIID Titan 34D Titan IV Falcon 9 Falcon Heavy (future)

Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4) is a launch and landing site at Vandenberg Air Force Base with two pads, both of which are used by SpaceX for Falcon 9 launch operations.

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 PALC2-3 and PALC2-4 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 Titans.

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. 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 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles.

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.

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. The first KH-11 Kennan satellite was launched from the complex on 19 December 1976. All 22 Titan IIIDs were launched from SLC-4E, with the last occurring on 17 November 1982.