Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 9
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| Launch site | Vandenberg Space Force Base | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 34°39′27″N 120°35′26″W / 34.6576°N 120.5906°W | ||||||||
| Time zone | UTC−08:00 (PST) | ||||||||
• Summer (DST) | UTC−07:00 (PDT) | ||||||||
| Short name | SLC-9 | ||||||||
| Operator | United States Space Force (owner) Blue Origin (tenant) | ||||||||
| Orbital inclination range | 51° – 145° | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Space Launch Complex 9 (SLC-9) is a planned launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States. Currently a greenfield, it is currently leased to Blue Origin for future use in the support of New Glenn launches.[1]
History
[edit]Space Launch Complex 9 first saw its origins in the early 2020s, when Blue Origin looked into leasing a launch site at Vandenberg in order to give New Glenn, which was still in development at the time, the ability to launch into polar orbit and Sun-synchronous orbit. They initially had their eyes focused on Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6)—historically intended to launch the Manned Orbiting Laboratory and the Space Shuttle for the United States Air Force—which was in the process of deactivation thanks to United Launch Alliance's 2022 retirement of the Delta IV and Delta IV Heavy from the Western Range.[2] However, any proposal was cancelled in April 2023, when the United States Space Force leased SLC-6 to SpaceX as a second West Coast launch site for Falcon 9 (joining SLC-4E) with the option to support Falcon Heavy launches.[3]
Sometime later in the year, Blue Origin and the Space Force made an agreement to construct an entirely new launch pad for New Glenn at Vandenberg, to be designated SLC-9 and located in the Lompoc Terrace area nearby Space Launch Complex 3.[4] This decision was part of a wider-scale expansion of launch pad operations at the base by Space Launch Delta 30, as most existing pads were either already leased or were too close to a leased pad.[5]
As of June 2024, the consistency determination process between the Space Force, California Coastal Commission, and Blue Origin is ongoing. As per updated policy by the Space and Missile Systems Center, Blue Origin will be required to use their own equipment during the construction of SLC-9.[5] As of February 2025, construction of the complex has not yet commenced.[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Staff Report" (PDF). California Coastal Commission. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
- ^ Berger, Eric [@SciGuySpace] (10 April 2023). "I'm hearing that Blue Origin is working to take over SLC-6 at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Won't happen until after the Delta IV Heavy is officially retired. Would give New Glenn a West coast launch pad" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 November 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ Bergin, Chris (2023-04-27). "SpaceX SLC-6 takeover to mark a new chapter for a famous pad". Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ "W10a" (PDF). California Coastal Commission. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ a b "NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 Industry Day". Space and Missile Systems Center. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ Space Launch Delta 30 (15 February 2025). "Draft Environmental Assessment for Culvert 10 Repairs at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California" (PDF). vandenberg.spaceforce.mil. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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