Vandenberg AFB Launch Complex 576
| Launch Complex 576 | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34 ° 44 ′ 22 ″ N , 120 ° 37 ′ 9 ″ W |
| operator | United States Air Force |
| Launch pads | 11 |
| Missiles | Atlas , Taurus |
| First start | September 9, 1959 (Atlas D 12D) |
| Last start | March 4, 2011 (Taurus 3110) |
| Total starts | 191 |
| status | active |
Launch of an Atlas D from Launch Complex 576 (April 22, 1960)
Vandenberg AFB Launch Complex 576 (LC-576) is a partially derelict launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California , USA .
It consists of a total of eleven launch systems (576-A to 576-G), which were used between 1959 and 1965 to test the USA's first ICBM , the Atlas . After the Atlas was retired from the US strategic arsenal in 1965, Atlas missiles continued to be launched as targets for missile defense development in the US or as satellite carriers until 1974 . Almost 30 years after the last Atlas launch from launch site 576-E, launches were carried out again from there, this time with the Taurus launcher .
Three versions of the Atlas ICBM were deployed in four different types of launch complexes. All of these various facilities were present on Complex 576. For the Atlas D this comprised three normal above-ground launch ramps (PGM-16D) and three above-ground bunkers (CGM-16D), in which the rocket was stored horizontally and erected vertically for launch. In addition to the test flights, the ramps were placed in a strategic alarm state from 1959, that is, the missiles were equipped with nuclear warheads and ready to fire. This made complex 576 the world's first operational ICBM. The Atlas E was stored horizontally in three buried bunkers and erected for take-off (CGM-16E). The Atlas F was stored vertically in silos and raised to the surface using a lift system for launching (HGM-16F). This system was largely identical to that of titanium I .
PGM - soft pad; ground launched; surface attack guided missile - launch pad; Ground launch; guided surface-to-surface missile
CGM - coffin stored; ground launched; surface attack guided missile - stored bunker; Ground launch, guided surface-to-surface missile
HGM - silo stored; surface launched; surface attack guided missile - stored in a silo; Ground launch; guided surface-to-surface missile
Start list
| date | Time ( UTC ) | platform | Missile type | payload | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 9, 1959 | 17:50 | 576-A2 | Atlas | Atlas D 12D | |
| January 26, 1960 | 23:43 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas D 6D | |
| April 22, 1960 | 19:39 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 25D | |
| May 6, 1960 | 16:47 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 23D | Failure |
| July 22, 1960 | 23:46 | 576-B1 | Atlas | Atlas D 74D | Failure |
| September 12, 1960 | 20:38 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 47D | Failure |
| September 29, 1960 | 20:31 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 33D | Failure |
| October 13, 1960 | 04:53 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 81D | Failure |
| December 16, 1960 | 20:35 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 99D | |
| May 24, 1961 | 21:50 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 95D | |
| June 7, 1961 | 21:37 | 576-F | Atlas | Atlas E 27E | Failure |
| 23rd August 1961 | 01:16 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 101D | |
| November 29, 1961 | 23:01 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 53D | |
| 7th December 1961 | 21:18 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 82D | |
| 17th January 1962 | 21:02 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 123D | |
| January 23, 1962 | 21:28 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 132D | |
| February 16, 1962 | 23:04 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 137D | |
| February 21, 1962 | 22:30 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 52D | Failure |
| March 1, 1962 | 00:14 | 576-F | Atlas | Atlas E 66E | |
| March 24, 1962 | 00:39 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 134D | The start was watched on site by then President John F. Kennedy . |
| April 12, 1962 | 01:57 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 129D | |
| April 27, 1962 | 23:24 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 140D | |
| May 12, 1962 | 00:31 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 127D | |
| June 26, 1962 | 10:57 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 21D NTMP K-1 | |
| July 12, 1962 | 16:57 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 141D NTMP K-2 | |
| July 13, 1962 | 21:11 | 576-F | Atlas | Atlas E 67E | Failure |
| July 19, 1962 | 11:05 | 576-B1 | Atlas | Atlas D 13D | |
| August 1, 1962 | 21:07 | 576-E | Atlas | Atlas F 15F | |
| August 9, 1962 | 23:05 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 87D | |
| August 9, 1962 | 22:51 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 8D | |
| August 10, 1962 | 21:11 | 576-G | Atlas | Atlas F 57F | Failure |
| 2nd October 1962 | 11:46 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 4D NTMP K-3 | Failure |
| October 26, 1962 | 10:59 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 159D NTMP K-5 | |
| November 14, 1962 | 22:36 | 576-G | Atlas | Atlas F 13F | Failure |
| December 12, 1962 | 11:38 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas D 161D NTMP K-6 | |
| 18th December 1962 | 17:26 | 576-F | Atlas | Atlas E 64E NTMP K-4 | Failure |
| 22nd December 1962 | 09:29 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 160D NTMP K-7 | |
| January 25, 1963 | 10:44 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 39D NTMP K-9 | Failure |
| January 31, 1963 | 08:51 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas D 176D NTMP K-12 | |
| February 13, 1963 | 11:55 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 182D NTMP K-8 | |
| February 28, 1963 | 09:02 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas D 188D NTMP K-10 | |
| March 10, 1963 | 02:42 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 102D | Failure |
| March 12, 1963 | 05:21 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 64D | |
| March 15, 1963 | 11:38 | 576-B1 | Atlas | Atlas D 46D TALL TREE 1 | Failure |
| March 16, 1963 | 08:32 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 193D NTMP K-14 | Failure |
| March 16, 1963 | 02:05 | 576-D | Atlas | Atlas F 63F OT TALL TREE 5 | |
| March 21, 1963 | 21:10 | 576-G | Atlas | Atlas F 83F | |
| March 24, 1963 | 00:29 | 576-E | Atlas | Atlas F 52F OT TALL TREE 4 | Failure |
| April 24, 1963 | 20:59 | 576-F | Atlas | Atlas E 65E | First successful Atlas-E start of 576-F |
| 4th June 1963 | 20:12 | 576-F | Atlas | Atlas E 62E | |
| June 12, 1963 | 09:03 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas D 198D NTMP | |
| 3rd July 1963 | 21:13 | 576-C | Atlas | Atlas E 69E | |
| July 26, 1963 | 19:19 | 576-F | Atlas | Atlas E 24E | Failure |
| July 30, 1963 | 18:36 | 576-C | Atlas | Atlas E 70E | |
| July 31, 1963 | 20:52 | 576-B1 | Atlas | Atlas D 143D ST COOL WATER I | |
| August 24, 1963 | 09:50 | 576-F | Atlas | Atlas E 72E NTMP / OT DASO | |
| August 28, 1963 | 23:10 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 142D ST COOL WATER II | |
| September 6, 1963 | 21:59 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 63D ST COOL WATER III | Failure |
| September 11, 1963 | 21:00 | 576-B1 | Atlas | Atlas D 84D ST COOL WATER IV | Failure |
| September 25, 1963 | 11:04 | 576-C | Atlas | Atlas E 71E bust | |
| 4th October 1963 | 05:17 | 576-G | Atlas | Atlas F 45F | Failure |
| October 7, 1963 | 21:31 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 163D ST COOL WATER V | Failure |
| 4th November 1963 | 09:34 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 232D ABRES REX-III | |
| November 13, 1963 | 22:35 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 158D ST COOL WATER VI | Failure |
| 18th December 1963 | 09:52 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 233D ABRES LORV-8 | |
| 18th December 1963 | 22:56 | 576-G | Atlas | Atlas F 109F | |
| February 12, 1964 | 19:59 | 576-F | Atlas | Atlas E 48E ST | Failure |
| April 3, 1964 | 20:26 | 576-G | Atlas | Atlas F 3F | Failure |
| June 18, 1964 | 14:56 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 243D ABRES LORV-1 | |
| July 29, 1964 | 09:22 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas D 248D NTMP KX-13 | |
| 7th August 1964 | 20:12 | 576-E | Atlas | Atlas F 110F | |
| August 27, 1964 | 09:54 | 576-F | Atlas | Atlas E 57E ST / KX-48 | |
| August 31, 1964 | 15:46 | 576-D | Atlas | Atlas F 36F | |
| September 15, 1964 | 15:27 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 245D ABRES LORV-3 | |
| September 22, 1964 | 13:10 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas D 247D NTMP KX-19 | |
| December 1, 1964 | 08:45 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 210D ABRES LORV-5 | |
| 4th December 1964 | 11:09 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas D 300D NTMP RMV-303 | |
| December 22, 1964 | 19:15 | 576-E | Atlas | Atlas F 111F ST | |
| January 8, 1965 | 18:59 | 576-G | Atlas | Atlas F 106F ST | |
| January 12, 1965 | 14:32 | 576-B1 | Atlas | Atlas D 166D NTMP RMV-302 | |
| January 21, 1965 | 21:34 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 172D OV1 | |
| February 27, 1965 | 11:11 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 211D ABRES LORV-4 | |
| March 2, 1965 | 09:52 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas D 301D NTMP RMV-301 | |
| March 12, 1965 | 23:21 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 154D ABRES MTV-2 | |
| March 26, 1965 | 09:01 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D297D ABRES LORV-7 | |
| April 6, 1965 | 13:34 | 576-B1 | Atlas | Atlas D 150D ABRES WAC-4 | |
| May 28, 1965 | 02:54 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 68D OV1-03 | Failure |
| June 3, 1965 | 10:38 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 177D NTMP RMV-304 | |
| June 8, 1965 | 15:17 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 299D ABRES LORV-6 | |
| June 10, 1965 | 12:26 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas D 302D NTMP RMV-303 | |
| July 1, 1965 | 09:54 | 576-B1 | Atlas | Atlas D 59D NTMP KX-32 | |
| 4th August 1965 | 12:43 | 576-B1 | Atlas | Atlas D 183D ABRES WAC-5 | |
| August 5, 1965 | 13:21 | 576-A2 | Atlas | Atlas F 147F ABRES LORV-2A | |
| August 26, 1965 | 11:20 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 61D NTMP KX-41 | |
| September 29, 1965 | 10:40 | 576-B1 | Atlas | Atlas D 125D NTMP KX-45 | |
| October 5, 1965 | 09:07 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 34D OV1-02 | |
| November 29, 1965 | 14:30 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 200D NTMP KX-33 | |
| December 20, 1965 | 13:39 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 85D NTMP KX-31 | |
| February 10, 1966 | 09:48 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 305D NTMP KX-38 | |
| February 11, 1966 | 13:04 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 86D NTMP KX-51 | |
| 19th February 1966 | 09:56 | 576-B1 | Atlas | Atlas D 73D NTMP KX-47 | |
| March 4th 1966 | 12:29 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 303D NTMP KX-35 | Failure |
| March 19, 1966 | 12:30 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 304D NTMP KX-43 | |
| March 30, 1966 | 09:20 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 72D OV1-04 | |
| May 3, 1966 | 10:30 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 208D NTMP KX-37 | Failure |
| May 13, 1966 | 11:43 | 576-B1 | Atlas | Atlas D 98D ABRES WAC-5A | |
| May 26, 1966 | 12:04 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 41D NTMP KX-47 | |
| June 10, 1966 | 11:15 | 576-B1 | Atlas | Atlas D 96D NTMP KX-42 | |
| June 26, 1966 | 15:34 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 147D NTMP KX-20 | |
| June 30, 1966 | 10:00 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas D 298D NTMP KX-39 | |
| July 14, 1966 | 02:10 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 58D OV1-07 | |
| August 8, 1966 | 17:47 | 576-A2 | Atlas | Atlas F 149F ABRES MBRV-1 | Failure |
| October 11, 1966 | 19:59 | 576-A2 | Atlas | Atlas F 115F ABRES SBGRV-1 | Failure |
| December 11, 1966 | 21:09 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 89D OV1-09 | |
| January 18, 1967 | 01:34 | 576-A2 | Atlas | Atlas F 148F ABRES TVX-13 (21) | |
| January 22, 1967 | 15:44 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 35D ABRES Mk 12R PDV | |
| February 13, 1967 | 22:05 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F 121F ABRES TX-22 | |
| March 16, 1967 | 17:56 | 576-A2 | Atlas | Atlas F 151F ABRES MBRV-2 | |
| April 7, 1967 | 11:19 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 38D ABRES AX-1 | |
| May 19, 1967 | 22:00 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 119F ABRES SBGRV-2 | |
| June 9, 1967 | 10:23 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 122F ABRES SPDS (RMP-B-1) | |
| July 6, 1967 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 65D ABRES PDV | ||
| July 22, 1967 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 114F RMP-B-2 | ||
| July 27, 1967 | 19:00 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 92D OV1-08S | Failure |
| July 29, 1967 | 08:48 | 576-A2 | Atlas | Atlas F 150F ABRES MBRV-3 | |
| October 11, 1967 | 11:30 | 576-B3 | Atlas | Atlas D 69D ABRES TVX-13 | |
| October 14, 1967 | 576-A2 | Atlas | Atlas F 118F ABRES MBRV-4 | ||
| October 27, 1967 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 81F RMP-B-3 | Failure | |
| November 7, 1967 | 13:17 | 576-B2 | Atlas | Atlas D 94D ABRES Mk 11 AX-2 | |
| November 10, 1967 | 12:20 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 113F ABRES BGRV-1 | |
| December 21, 1967 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 117F RMP-B-4 | ||
| January 31, 1968 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 94F RMP-B-5 | ||
| February 26, 1968 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 116F ABRES BGRV-2 | ||
| March 6, 1968 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas E / Trident 74E RMP-B-6 | ||
| April 6, 1968 | 09:59 | 576-A2 | Atlas | Atlas F 107F OV1-13 | |
| April 18, 1968 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas E 77E ABRES RVTO-1A-1 | ||
| April 27, 1968 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas E / Trident 78E RMP-B-7 | ||
| May 3, 1968 | 576-A2 | Atlas | Atlas F 95F ABRES Penaid TVX | Failure | |
| June 1, 1968 | 576-A2 | Atlas | Atlas F 89F ABRES PDV | ||
| June 22, 1968 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 86F RMP-B-8 | ||
| June 29, 1968 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 32F ABRES RVTO-1A-2 | ||
| July 11, 1968 | 7:30 p.m. | 576-A2 | Atlas | Atlas F 75F OV1-15S | |
| September 25, 1968 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 99F RMP-B-9 | ||
| September 27, 1968 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 84F RVTO-1A-3 | ||
| November 16, 1968 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 56F RMP-B-10 | Failure | |
| November 24, 1968 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 60F RVTO-1A-4 | ||
| 16th January 1969 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 70F RMP-B-11 | ||
| March 18, 1969 | 07:40 | 576-A2 | Atlas | Atlas F 104F / OV1-17S | |
| 20th August 1969 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 112F ABRES RVTO-1A-5 | ||
| 16th September 1969 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 100F RMP-B-12 | ||
| October 10, 1969 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 98F RMP-B-13 | Failure | |
| 3rd December 1969 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 44F ABRES RVTO-1A-6 | ||
| December 12, 1969 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 93F RMP-B-14 | ||
| February 8, 1970 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 96F RMP-B-15 | ||
| March 13, 1970 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 28F RMP-B-16 | ||
| May 30, 1970 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 91F RMP-B-17 | ||
| June 9, 1970 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 92F ABRES RVTO-1A-7 | ||
| December 22, 1970 | 08:38 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 105F ABRES RVTO-2A-1 | |
| April 5th 1971 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 85F ABRES LAR-1 | ||
| June 29, 1971 | 13:10 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F / Trident 103F ABRES RVTO-2A-3 | |
| 7th August 1971 | 00:11 | 576-A2 | Atlas | Atlas F 76F OV1-20P | |
| 1st September 1971 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 74F ABRES LAR-2 | ||
| 2nd October 1972 | 8:09 pm | 576-A1 | Atlas Burner | Atlas Burner 2A 102F RADCAT | |
| 29th August 1973 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F 78F BMRS RVTO-3A-2 | ||
| September 30, 1973 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 108F BMRS ACE-1 | ||
| March 6, 1974 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 73F BMRS SFT-1 | ||
| March 23, 1974 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F 97F BMRS ACE-2 | ||
| May 1st 1974 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 54F BMRS SFT-2 | ||
| June 28, 1974 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 82F BMRS SFT-3 | ||
| September 8, 1974 | 576-A1 | Atlas | Atlas F 80F BMRS ACE-3 | ||
| October 14, 1974 | 04:46 | 576-A3 | Atlas | Atlas F 31F BMRS RVTO-3A-1 | |
| March 13, 1994 | 22:32 | 576-E | Taurus 1110 T1 | TAOS | |
| February 10, 1998 | 13:20 | 576-E | Taurus 2210 T2 | GFO | |
| October 3, 1998 | 10:04 | 576-E | Taurus 1110 T3 | STEX | |
| December 21, 1999 | 07:13 | 576-E | Taurus 2110 T4 | KOMPSat 1 | |
| March 12, 2000 | 09:29 | 576-E | Taurus 1110 T5 | MTI | |
| September 21, 2001 | 18:49 | 576-E | Taurus 2110 T6 | OrbView 4 | Failure after severing the first stage |
| February 6, 2003 | 21:00 | 576-E | Orbital Boost Vehicle | OBV 1 BV-6 | |
| May 20, 2004 | 17:47 | 576-E | Taurus 3210 (XL) T7 | ROCSAT 2 | |
| February 24, 2009 | 09:55 | 576-E | Taurus 3110 (XL) | OCO | Failure: Payload fairing did not come off |
| March 4, 2011 | 10:09 | 576-E | Taurus 3110 (XL) | Glory | Failure: Payload fairing did not come off |
| October 31, 2017 | 21:37 | 576-E | Minotaur-C | 6x SkySat, 4x Flock-3m |
swell
- David Stumpf Titan II - A History of a Cold War Missile Program . University of Arkansas Press, 2000. ISBN 1-55728-601-9 .
Web links
- Vandenberg in the Encyclopedia Astronautica (English)
- 576th SMS, Vandenberg AFB in Atlas Missile Silo (English)
- Vandenberg AFB - 576th Strategic Missile Squadron - Atlas Missile ( Memento from December 17, 2004 in the Internet Archive ) (English)