Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 3

Space Launch Complex 3
	The mobile launcher platform at SLC-3E rolls back prior to the launch of InSight in May 2018
Launch site	Vandenberg Space Force Base
Location	34°38′35″N 120°35′19″W / 34.6429885°N 120.5885124°W
Time zone	UTC−08:00 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−07:00 (PDT)
Short name	SLC-3
Operator	United States Space Force
Total launches	126
Launch pad(s)	2
Orbital inclination ; range	51° – 145°
Status
SLC-3W (PALC-1-1) launch history
Status	Demolished
Launches	81
First launch	October 11, 1960; Atlas-Agena / Samos 1
Last launch	March 24, 1995; Atlas-E/F / USA-109
Associated; rockets	Atlas-Agena; Thorad-Agena; Thor-Agena; Atlas;
SLC-3E (PALC-1-2) launch history
Status	Inactive, pending modifications for Vulcan
Launches	45
First launch	July 12, 1961; Atlas-Agena / Midas 3
Last launch	November 10, 2022; Atlas V / JPSS-2
Associated; rockets	Future: Vulcan Centaur; Retired: Atlas-Agena, Atlas, Atlas II, Atlas V;

Space Launch Complex 3 (SLC-3) is a launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base that consists of two separate launch pads. SLC-3E (East) was used by the Atlas V launch vehicle before it was decommissioned in August 2021 with the final launch taking place on November 10, 2022 at 09:49, while SLC-3W (West) has been demolished.^[1]

Launches from Vandenberg fly southward, allowing payloads to be placed in high-inclination orbits such as polar or Sun-synchronous orbit, which allow full global coverage on a regular basis and are often used for weather, Earth observation, and reconnaissance satellites. These orbits are difficult to reach from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, where launches must fly eastward due to major population centers to both the north and south of Kennedy Space Center. Avoiding these would require hugely inefficient maneuvering, greatly reducing payload capacity.^[2]

SLC-3E was the launch site of the Mars lander InSight in May 2018.^[3]

^ Ray, Justin (January 20, 2000). "Vandenberg launch pad demolition set for Sunday". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
^ "Launch Sites". NASA Human Spaceflight Office. Archived from the original on October 13, 1999.
^ Clark, Stephen (December 19, 2013). "Mars lander to launch from California on Atlas 5 in 2016". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved December 20, 2013.

[1] Ray, Justin (January 20, 2000). "Vandenberg launch pad demolition set for Sunday". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved September 27, 2022.

[2] "Launch Sites". NASA Human Spaceflight Office. Archived from the original on October 13, 1999.

[Atlas_V-3] Clark, Stephen (December 19, 2013). "Mars lander to launch from California on Atlas 5 in 2016". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved December 20, 2013.

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