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Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4

Rocket launch complex at Vandenberg Space Force Base in the United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4map
This article is about the California landing zones. For LZ-1 and LZ-2, the Florida landing zone, see Landing Zones 1 and 2.

Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4) is a launch and landing site at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, U.S. It has two pads, both of which are used by SpaceX for Falcon 9, one for launch operations, and the other as Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) for SpaceX landings.

Quick Facts Launch site, Location ...
Space Launch Complex 4
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SLC-4 with Falcon 9 on launch pad at SLC-4E in January 2017
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Launch siteVandenberg Space Force Base
Location34.633°N 120.613°W / 34.633; -120.613
Time zoneUTC−08:00 (PST)
• Summer (DST)
UTC−07:00 (PDT)
Short nameSLC-4
Operator
Total launches273
Launch pad(s)2 (1 became a landing zone for Falcon 9)
Orbital inclination
range		55–145°[1]
SLC-4 (PALC-2-4 / SLC-4E) launch history
StatusActive
Launches179
First launch14 August 1964
Atlas-Agena D (KH-7 Gambit 4010)
Last launch11 February 2025
Falcon 9 Block 5 (Starlink G11-10)
Associated
rockets
LZ-4 (PALC-2-3 / SLC-4W) landing history
StatusActive
Landings23 (23 successful, 0 failure)
First landing7 October 2018 (SAOCOM 1A)
Last landing14 January 2025 (Transporter 12)
Associated
rockets		Falcon 9
SLC-4W (PALC-2-3) launch history
StatusRepurposed
Launches94
First launch12 July 1963
Atlas-Agena D (KH-7 Gambit 4001)
Last launch18 October 2003
Titan 23G (USA-172 / DMSP)
Associated
rockets		Atlas-Agena, Atlas SLV-3, Titan IIID, Titan 23G
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Launch sites at Vandenberg Space Force Base
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About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
8km
5miles
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SLC-8
9
SLC-6
8
SLC-5
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SLC-4
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SLC-3
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SLC-9
4
LC-576E
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SLC-10
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SLC-2
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SLC-1

  Active pads
  Inactive leased pads
  Inactive unleased pads

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SLC-1
2
SLC-2
3
SLC-10
4
LC-576E
5
SLC-9
6
SLC-3
7
SLC-4
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SLC-5
9
SLC-6
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SLC-8
11
SLC-7
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SLC-11
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SLC-12
14
SLC-14
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SLC-15

The complex was previously used by Atlas and Titan rockets between 1963 and 2005. It consisted of two launch pads: Space Launch Complex 4 West (SLC-4W, formerly PALC-2-3) and Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E, formerly PALC-2-4). 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 Titan launch vehicles.[2]

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.[3][4] 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 launch vehicle. That pad was later named by SpaceX as Landing Zone 4 and first used operationally for a Falcon 9 booster landing in 2018.

SLC-4E

Summarize
Perspective

Atlas-Agena

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.[5]

Titan IIID launch from SLC-4E

Titan IIID

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.[6] The first KH-11 Kennan satellite was launched from the complex on 19 December 1976.[7] All 22 Titan IIIDs were launched from SLC-4E, with the last occurring on 17 November 1982.

Titan 34D

The complex was then refurbished to accommodate the Martin Marietta Titan 34D. Seven Titan 34Ds were launched between 20 June 1983, and 6 November 1988.[8] SLC-4E hosted one of the most dramatic launch accidents in US history when a Titan 34D-9 carrying a KH-9 photoreconnaissance satellite exploded a few hundred feet above the pad on 18 April 1986. The enormous blast showered the launch complex with debris and toxic propellant (hydrazine and dinitrogen tetroxide), resulting in extensive damage. 16 months after the accident, the pad was back in commission when it hosted a successful launch of a KH-11 satellite.[9][10]

Final Titan IV launch from SLC-4E in 2005

Titan IV

The last Titan variant to use the complex was the Titan IV, starting on 8 March 1991, with the launch of Lacrosse 2. On 19 October 2005, the last flight of a Titan rocket occurred, when a Titan IVB was launched from SLC-4E, with an Improved Crystal satellite. Following this launch, the complex was deactivated, having been used for 68 launches.[11][12]

Inaugural Falcon 9 v1.1 with the CASSIOPE mission on the SLC-4 pad, during September 2013.
Inaugural mission of the Falcon 9 v1.1 from SLC-4E in September 2013

Falcon 9

SpaceX refurbished SLC–4E for Falcon 9 launches in a 24-month process that began in early 2011.[3] The draft environmental impact assessment with a finding of "no significant impact" was published in February 2011.[3] Demolition began on the pad's fixed and mobile service towers in summer 2011.[4]

By late 2012, SpaceX anticipated that the initial launch from the Vandenberg pad would be in 2013, with the larger variant Falcon 9 v1.1.[13] As the pad was nearing completion in February 2013, the first launch was scheduled for summer 2013,[14] but was delayed until September 2013.

Launch history

Statistics

10
20
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1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025

Atlas (1964–1967)

More information Date/time (GMT), Launch vehicle ...
Date/time (GMT) Launch vehicle Serial numbers Trajectory Result Payload Remarks
1964-10-08
 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7103 LEO (target) Failure KH-7 Gambit 4012 Agena engine malfunction. RSO destruct
1964-12-04
18:57		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7105 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4014
1965-04-03
21:25		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7401 LEO Success SNAPSHOT First and only nuclear reactor powered American satellite.
1965-04-28
20:17		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7107 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4017
1965-05-27
19:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7108 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4018
1965-06-25
19:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7109 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4019
1965-07-12
19:00		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7112 LEO (target) Failure KH-7 Gambit 4020 Premature sustainer shutdown due to electrical malfunction. Vehicle impacted the Pacific Ocean.
1965-08-03
19:12		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7111 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4021
1965-09-30
19:20		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7110 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4022
1965-11-08
19:26		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7113 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4023
1966-01-19
20:10		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7114 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4024
1966-02-15
20:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7115 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4025
1966-03-18
20:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7116 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4026
1966-04-19
19:12		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7117 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4027
1966-05-14
18:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7118 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4028
1966-06-03
19:25		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7119 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4029
1966-07-12
17:57		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7120 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4030
1966-08-16
18:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7121 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4031
1966-08-19
19:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7202 LEO Success Midas 11
1966-09-16
17:59		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7123 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4032
1966-10-12
19:15		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7122 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4033
1966-11-02
20:23		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7124 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4034
1966-12-05
21:09		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7125 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4035
1967-02-02
20:00		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7126 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4036
1967-05-22
18:30		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7127 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4037
1967-06-04
18:07		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7128 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4038
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Titan IIID / 34D (1971–1988)

More information Date/time (GMT), Launch vehicle ...
Date/time (GMT) Launch vehicle Serial numbers Trajectory Result Payload Remarks
1971-06-15
18:41		 Titan III(23)D 23D-1 LEO Success OPS-8709 (KH-9) Maiden flight of Titan IIID
1972-01-20
18:36		 Titan III(23)D 23D-2 LEO Success OPS-1737 (KH-9)
SSF-B-22
1972-07-07
17:46		 Titan III(23)D 23D-5 LEO Success OPS-7293 (KH-9)
SSF-B-23
1972-10-10
18:03		 Titan III(23)D 23D-3 LEO Success OPS-8314 (KH-9)
SSF-C-3
1973-03-09
21:00		 Titan III(23)D 23D-6 LEO Success OPS-8410 (KH-9)
1973-06-13
20:24		 Titan III(23)D 23D-7 LEO Success OPS-8261 (KH-9)
1973-11-10
20:09		 Titan III(23)D 23D-8 LEO Success OPS-6630 (KH-9)
SSF-B-24
SSF-C-4
1974-04-10
20:20		 Titan III(23)D 23D-9 LEO Success OPS-6245 (KH-9)
SSF-B-25
IRCB
1974-10-29
19:30		 Titan III(23)D 23D-4 LEO Success OPS-7122 (KH-9)
OPS-8452 (S3)
SSF-B-26
1975-06-08
18:30		 Titan III(23)D 23D-10 LEO Success OPS-6381 (KH-9)
SSF-C-5
1975-12-04
20:38		 Titan III(23)D 23D-13 LEO Success OPS-4428 (KH-9)
OPS-5547 (S3)
1976-07-08
18:30		 Titan III(23)D 23D-14 LEO Success OPS-4699 (KH-9)
OPS-3986 (S3)
SSF-D-1
1976-12-19
18:19		 Titan III(23)D 23D-15 LEO Success OPS-5705 (KH-11)
1977-06-27
18:30		 Titan III(23)D 23D-17 LEO Success OPS-4800 (KH-9)
1978-03-16
18:43		 Titan III(23)D 23D-20 LEO Success OPS-0460 (KH-9)
SSF-D-2
1978-06-14
18:28		 Titan III(23)D 23D-18 LEO Success OPS-4515 (KH-11)
1979-03-16
18:30		 Titan III(23)D 23D-21 LEO Success OPS-3854 (KH-9)
SSF-D-3
1980-02-07
21:10		 Titan III(23)D 23D-19 LEO Success OPS-2581 (KH-11)
1980-06-18
18:29		 Titan III(23)D 23D-16 LEO Success OPS-3123 (KH-9)
SSF-C-6
1981-09-03
18:29		 Titan III(23)D 23D-22 LEO Success OPS-3984 (KH-11)
1982-05-11
18:45		 Titan III(23)D 23D-24 LEO Success OPS-5642 (KH-9)
SSF-D-4
1982-11-17
21:22		 Titan III(23)D 23D-23 LEO Success OPS-9627 (KH-11) Final flight of Titan IIID
1983-06-20
18:45		 Titan 34D 4D-3 34D-5 LEO Success OPS-0721 (KH-9)
SSF-C-7
1984-06-25
18:43		 Titan 34D 4D-1 34D-4 LEO Success USA-2 (KH-9)
USA-3 (SSF-D)
1984-12-04
18:00		 Titan 34D 4D-4 34D-6 LEO Success USA-6 (KH-11)
1985-08-28
21:20		 Titan 34D 4D-6 34D-7 LEO (target) Failure KH-11 First stage propellant leak leading to turbopump failure and RSO destruct
1986-04-18
17:45		 Titan 34D 4D-2 34D-9 LEO (target) Failure KH-9 SRM burnthrough, exploded 8.5 seconds after launch
Last KH-9 Hexagon satellite
1987-10-26
21:32		 Titan 34D 4D-8 34D-15 LEO Success USA-27 (KH-11)
1988-11-06
18:03		 Titan 34D 4D-7 34D-14 LEO Success USA-33 (KH-11)
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Titan IV (1991–2005)

More information Date/time (GMT), Launch vehicle ...
Date/time (GMT) Launch vehicle Serial numbers Trajectory Result Payload Remarks
1991-03-08
12:03		 Titan IV(403)A 45F-1 4A-5 K-5 LEO Success USA-69 (Lacrosse) Maiden flight of Titan 403A
1991-1108
07:07		 Titan IV(403)A 45F-2 4A-8 K-8 LEO Success USA-72 (SLDCOM)
USA-74 (NOSS)
USA-76 (NOSS)
USA-77 (NOSS)
1992-11-28
21:34		 Titan IV(404)A 45J-1 4A-3 K-3 LEO Success USA-86 (KH-12) Maiden flight of Titan 404A
1993-08-02
19:59		 Titan IV(403)A 45F-9 4A-11 K-11 LEO (target) Failure SLDCOM
3 x NOSS		 SRM exploded due to damage caused during maintenance on ground
1995-12-05
21:18		 Titan IV(404)A 45J-3 4A-15 K-15 LEO Success USA-116 (KH-12)
1996-05-12
21:32		 Titan IV(403)A 45F-11 4A-22 K-22 LEO Success USA-119 (SLDCOM)
USA-120 (NOSS)
USA-121 (NOSS)
USA-122 (NOSS)
USA-123 (TiPS)
USA-124 (TiPS)
1996-12-20
18:04		 Titan IV(404)A 45J-5 4A-13 K-13 LEO Success USA-129 (KH-12) NRO L-2, final flight of Titan 404A
1997-10-24
02:32		 Titan IV(403)A 45F-3 4A-18 K-18 LEO Success USA-133 (Lacrosse) Final flight of Titan 403A
1999-05-22
09:36		 Titan IV(404)B 4B-12 K-12 LEO Success USA-144 (Misty) Maiden flight of Titan 404B
2000-08-17
23:45		 Titan IV(403)B 4B-28 K-25 LEO Success USA-152 (Onyx) NRO L-11, Maiden flight of Titan 403B
2001-10-05
21:21		 Titan IV(404)B 4B-34 K-34 LEO Success USA-161 (KH-12) NRO L-14, Maiden flight of Titan 404B
2005-10-19
18:05		 Titan IV(404)B 4B-26 K-35 LEO Success USA-186 (KH-12) NRO L-20, Final flight of Titan IV
Close

Falcon 9 (since 2013)

Main article: List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches § Past launches
More information Date/time (GMT), Version,booster ...
Date/time (GMT) Version,
booster[a]		 Trajectory Payload Result Remarks
2013-09-29
16:00		 F9 v1.1
B1003		 Polar orbit CASSIOPE[15][16] Success First Falcon 9 v1.1 flight and first commercial mission. After payload separation the upper stage failed at a re-ignition test.
2016-01-17
18:42[17]		 F9 v1.1
B1017		 SSO Jason-3[18] Success First launch of NASA and NOAA joint science mission under the NLS II launch contract, last flight of Falcon 9 v1.1
2017-01-14
17:54		 F9 FT
B1029.1		 Polar orbit Iridium-1 Success First batch of ten satellites for the Iridium NEXT constellation.
2017-06-25
20:25		 F9 FT
B1036.1		 Polar orbit Iridium-2 Success Second batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites
2017-08-24
18:50		 F9 FT
B1038.1		 SSO FORMOSAT-5[19] Success Formosat-5 was originally scheduled to launch on a Falcon 1e from Omelek Island in 2013.
2017-10-09
12:37		 F9 B4
B1041.1		 Polar orbit Iridium-3 Success Third batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites
2017-12-23
01:27		 F9 FT
B1036.2		 Polar orbit Iridium-4 Success First west-coast return-to-launch-site landing planned[20] but later cancelled.[21] The first-stage booster was expended after a controlled ocean splashdown.[22]
2018-02-22
14:17[23]		 F9 FT
B1038.2		 SSO Paz[24] + Starlink × 2 (Tintin A & B) Success First launch with new fairing, designed to be "caught" by a recovery vessel; the fairing missed the ship but was ultimately recovered anyway.
2018-03-30
14:13		 F9 B4
B1041.2		 Polar orbit Iridium-5 Success Fifth batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites. The first stage was expended after a simulated ocean landing.[25]
2018-05-22
19:47		 F9 B4
B1043.2		 Polar orbit Iridium-6 & Grace-FO Success Sixth batch of 5 Iridium NEXT satellites. The two GRACE-FO satellites were a rideshare on this flight. The first stage was expended and flew without landing legs, but with aluminum grid fins.
2018-07-25
11:39		 F9 B5
B1048.1		 Polar orbit Iridium-7 Success Seventh batch of ten Iridium NEXT satellites. First Falcon 9 Block 5 to launch from Vandenberg AFB.
2018-10-08
02:21		 F9 B5
B1048.2		 SSO SAOCOM 1A Success First Block 5 reuse on the west coast. First land landing on SpaceX's west coast landing pad, Landing Zone 4. First Block 5 RTLS landing.
2018-12-03
18:34		 F9 B5
B1046.3		 SSO Spaceflight SSO-A Success Rideshare mission during which 64 small satellites were successfully deployed. First time a booster (B1046) was used for a third flight.
2019-01-11
15:31		 F9 B5
B1049.2		 Polar orbit Iridium-8 Success Eighth and the last Iridium NEXT mission with ten satellites.
2019-06-12
14:17		 F9 B5
B1051.2		 SSO RADARSAT Constellation Success Set of three Earth observation satellites by the Canadian Space Agency.
2020-11-21
17:17		 F9 B5 B1063.1 LEO Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Success First of two Sentinel 6 satellites to measure sea-level change. Launched to a 1336 km at 66° inclination orbit.
2021-09-14
03:55		 F9 B5
B1049.10		 LEO Starlink × 51 (Group 2-1) Success First Starlink mission to launch from Vandenberg SLC-4, to a 70-degree orbital inclination.
2021-11-24
01:21		 F9 B5
B1063.3		 Heliocentric DART Success First mission to demonstrate asteroid reduction capability. Originally planned for 22 July 2021, but was pushed back to 24 November 2021.[26]
2021-12-18
12:41		 F9 B5
B1051.11		 LEO Starlink × 52 (Group 4-4) Success First West coast and third overall 53.2-degree inclination Starlink launch. First time a Falcon 9 first stage booster flew for an eleventh time.
2022-02-02
20:27		 F9 B5
B1071.1		 SSO NROL-87 Success Classified US military satellite
2022-02-25
17:12		 F9 B5
B1063.4		 LEO Starlink × 50 (Group 4–11) Success
2022-04-17
13:13		 F9 B5
B1071.2		 SSO NROL-85 Success Two classified US military satellites
2022-05-13
22:07		 F9 B5
B1063.5		 LEO Starlink × 53 (Group 4-13) Success
2022-06-18
14:19		 F9 B5
B1071.3		 SSO SARah 1 Success
2022-07-11
01:39		 F9 B5
B1063.6		 SSO Starlink × 46 (Group 3-1) Success First dedicated mission deploying Starlink satellites to Sun-synchronous orbit.
2022-07-22
17:39		 F9 B5
B1071.4		 SSO Starlink × 46 (Group 3-2) Success
2022-08-12
21:40		 F9 B5
B1061.10		 SSO Starlink × 46 (Group 3-3) Success
2022-08-31
05:40		 F9 B5
B1063.7		 SSO Starlink × 46 (Group 3-4) Success
2022-10-05 23:10 F9 B5
B1071.5		 LEO Starlink × 52 (Group 4-29) Success
2022-10-28 01:14 F9 B5
B1063.8		 LEO Starlink × 53 (Group 4-31) Success
2022-12-16 11:46 F9 B5
B1071.6		 Polar orbit SWOT Success Joint mission of NASA and CNES
2022-12-30 07:38 F9 B5
B1061.11		 LEO EROS-C3 Success
2023-01-19 15:43 F9 B5
B1075.1		 LEO Starlink × 51 (Group 2-4) Success
2023-01-31 16:15 F9 B5
B1071.7		 LEO Starlink × 49 (Group 2-6) & ION SCV-009 Success The launch carried also the ION SCV-009 cubesat deployer with a mass simulator and some experiments onboard.
2023-02-17 19:12 F9 B5
B1063.9		 LEO Starlink × 51 (Group 2-5) Success
2023-03-03 18:38 F9 B5
B1061.12		 LEO Starlink × 51 (Group 2-7) Success
2023-03-17 19:26 F9 B5
B1071.8		 LEO Starlink × 52 (Group 2-8) Success
2023-04-02 14:29 F9 B5
B1075.2		 Polar Orbit SDA Tranche 0A Success
2023-04-15 06:48 F9 B5
B1063.10		 SSO Transporter 7 Success
2023-04-27 13:40 F9 B5
B1061.13		 SSO Starlink × 46 (Group 3-5) Success
2023-05-10 20:09 F9 B5
B1075.3		 LEO Starlink × 51 (Group 2-9) Success
2023-05-20 13:16 F9 B5
B1063.11		 Polar Orbit Iridium-9 & OneWeb #19 Success
2023-05-31 06:02 F9 B5
B1061.14		 LEO Starlink × 52 (Group 2-10) Success
2023-06-12 21:35 F9 B5
B1071.9		 SSO Transporter 8 Success
2023-06-22 07:19 F9 B5
B1075.4		 LEO Starlink × 47 (Group 5-7) Success
2023-07-07 19:29 F9 B5
B1063.12		 LEO Starlink × 48 (Group 5-13) Success
2023-07-20 04:09 F9 B5
B1071.10		 LEO Starlink × 15 (Group 6-15) Success First launch of larger Starlink v2 mini satellites from Vandenberg.
2023-08-08 03:57 F9 B5
B1075.5		 LEO Starlink × 15 (Group 6-20) Success
2023-08-22 09:37 F9 B5
B1061.15		 LEO Starlink × 21 (Group 7-1) Success
2023-09-02 14:25 F9 B5
B1063.13		 Polar orbit SDA Tranche 0B Success
2023-09-12 06:57 F9 B5
B1071.11		 LEO Starlink × 21 (Group 7-2) Success
2023-09-25 08:48 F9 B5
B1075.6		 LEO Starlink × 21 (Group 7-3) Success
2023-10-09 07:23 F9 B5
B1063.14		 LEO Starlink × 21 (Group 7-4) Success
2023-10-21 08:23 F9 B5
B1061.16		 LEO Starlink × 21 (Group 7-5) Success
2023-10-29 09:00 F9 B5
B1075.7		 LEO Starlink × 22 (Group 7-6) Success
2023-11-11 18:49 F9 B5
B1071.12		 SSO Transporter 9 Success
2023-11-20 10:30 F9 B5
B1063.15		 LEO Starlink × 22 (Group 7-7) Success
2023-12-01 18:19 F9 B5
B1061.17		 SSO 425 Project Flight 1 Success
2023-12-08 08:03 F9 B5
B1071.13		 LEO Starlink × 22 (Group 7-8) Success Fastest turnaround of this launch pad.
2023-12-24 13:11 F9 B5
B1075.8		 SSO SARah 2 & 3[27] Success
2024-01-03 03:44 F9 B5
B1082.1		 LEO Starlink × 21 (Group 7-9) Success
2024-01-14 08:59 F9 B5
B1061.18		 LEO Starlink × 22 (Group 7-10) Success
2024-01-24 00:35 F9 B5
B1063.16		 LEO Starlink × 22 (Group 7-11) Success
2024-01-29 05:57 F9 B5
B1075.9		 LEO Starlink × 22 (Group 7-12) Success This landing marked the fastest turnaround of a droneship at just over 5 days. The launch also marked the fastest turnaround time from SLC-4E at 5 days, 5 hours, 22 minutes, and 20 seconds, previously being at 6.5 days.
2024-02-10 00:34 F9 B5
B1071.14		 LEO Starlink × 22 (Group 7-13) Success
2024-02-15 21:34 F9 B5
B1082.2		 LEO Starlink × 22 (Group 7-14) Success
2024-02-23 04:11 F9 B5
B1061.19		 LEO Starlink × 22 (Group 7-15) Success
2024-03-04 22:05 F9 B5
B1081.5		 SSO Transporter 10 Success
2024-03-11 04:09 F9 B5
B1063.17		 LEO Starlink × 23 (Group 7-17) Success
2024-03-19 02:28 F9 B5
B1075.10		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 7-16) & Starshield × 2[28] Success Carried two Starshield as rideshare.[29]
2024-04-02 02:30 F9 B5
B1071.15		 LEO Starlink × 22 (Group 7-18) Success
2024-04-07 02:25 F9 B5
B1081.6		 LEO Starlink × 21 (Group 8-1) Success
2024-04-11 14:25 F9 B5
B1082.3		 SSO USSF-62 (WSF-M 1) Success
2024-05-02 18:36 F9 B5
B1061.20		 SSO WorldView Legion 1 & 2 (2 Sats) Success
2024-05-10 04:30 F9 B5
B1082.4		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 8-2) Success
2024-05-14 18:39 F9 B5
B1063.18		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 8-7) Success
2024-05-22 08:00 F9 B5
B1071.16		 LEO NROL-146 Success
2024-05-28 22:20 F9 B5
B1081.7		 SSO EarthCARE Success
2024-06-08 12:58 F9 B5
B1061.21		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 8-8) Success
2024-06-19 03:40 F9 B5
B1082.5		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 9-1) Success
2024-06-24 03:47 F9 B5
B1075.11		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 9-2) Success
2024-06-29 03:14 F9 B5
B1081.8		 LEO NROL-186 Success
2024-07-12 02:35 F9 B5
B1063.19		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 9-3) Failure
2024-07-28 09:22 F9 B5
B1071.17		 LEO Starlink × 21 (Group 9-4) Success
2024-08-04 07:24 F9 B5
B1082.6		 LEO Starlink × 23 (Group 11-1) Success
2024-08-12 02:02 F9 B5
B1061.22		 Molniya ASBM 1 & ASBM 2 Success Two identical satellites to be operated by NOSA, in order to provide communication coverage to the far north areas of Norway, which is presently not served by geosynchronous satellites.
2024-08-16 18:56 F9 B5
B1075.12		 SSO Transporter 11 Success
2024-08-31 08:48 F9 B5
B1081.9		 LEO Starlink × 21 (Group 9-5) Success
2024-09-06 03:20 F9 B5
B1063.20		 LEO NROL-113 Success
2024-09-13 01:45 F9 B5
B1071.18		 LEO Starlink × 21 (Group 9-6) Success
2024-09-20 13:50 F9 B5
B1075.13		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 9-17) Success
2024-09-25 04:01 F9 B5
B1081.10		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 9-8) Success
2024-10-15 08:21 F9 B5
B1071.19		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 9-7) Success
2024-10-20 05:13 F9 B5
B1082.7		 Polar LEO OneWeb #20 Success
2024-10-24 17:13 F9 B5
B1063.21		 LEO NROL-167 Success
2024-10-30 12:07 F9 B5
B1075.14		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 9-9) Success
2024-11-09 06:14 F9 B5
B1081.11		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 9-10) Success
2024-11-14 05:23 F9 B5
B1082.8		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 9-11) Success
2024-11-18 05:53 F9 B5
B1071.20		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 9-12) Success
2024-11-24 05:25 F9 B5
B1075.15		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 9-13) Success
2024-11-30 08:10 F9 B5
B1088.1		 LEO NROL-126 Success
2024-12-05 03:05 F9 B5
B1081.12		 LEO Starlink × 20 (Group 9-14) Success
2024-12-13 21:55 F9 B5
B1082.9		 LEO Starlink × 22 (Group 11-2) Success
2024-12-17 13:19 F9 B5
B1063.22		 LEO NROL-149 Success
2024-12-21 11:34 F9 B5
B1071.21		 LEO Bandwagon-2 Success
2024-12-29 01:58 F9 B5
B1075.16		 LEO Starlink × 22 (Group 11-3) Success
2025-01-10 03:53 F9 B5
B1071.22		 LEO NROL-153 Success
2025-01-14 19:09 F9 B5
B1088.2		 SSO Transporter 12 Success
2025-01-21 15:45 F9 B5
B1082.10		 LEO Starlink × 27 (Group 11-8) Success
2025-01-24 14:07 F9 B5
B1063.23		 LEO Starlink × 23 (Group 11-6) Success
2025-02-01 23:02 F9 B5
B1075.17		 LEO Starlink × 22 (Group 11-4) Success
2025-02-11 02:09 F9 B5
B1071.23		 LEO Starlink × 23 (Group 11-10) Success
Close

Upcoming launches

Main article: List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches § Future launches
More information Planned date (UTC), Launch vehicle ...
Planned date (UTC) Launch vehicle Trajectory Payload Remarks
28 February 2025[30] F9 B5
B1088.3		 SSO SPHEREx & PUNCH
1 March 2025 F9 B5 SSO Transporter 13
November 2025 F9 B5 SSO Sentinel-6B
Net 2025 F9 B5 SSO NAOS (LUXEOSys)
Close

SLC-4W

Summarize
Perspective

SLC-4W started operations in 1963 as Space Launch Complex 4W, and continued as an operational launch site through 2003. In 2015, SpaceX started conversion of the launch site into Landing Zone LZ-4. Landing operations commenced in 2018 at LZ-4.

SLC-4W launch history

Statistics

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
'63
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000

By rocket type

Atlas-Agena

The first launch to use what is now SLC-4 occurred on 12 July 1963, when an Atlas LV-3 Agena-D launched the first KH-7 Gambit reconnaissance satellite, from PALC-2-3. Twelve Atlas-Agenas launches were conducted from PALC-2-3, with the last occurring on 12 March 1965.

Titan IIIB

Following this, it was rebuilt as SLC-4W, a Titan launch complex. The first Titan launch from SLC-4W was a Titan IIIB, on 29 July 1966. All 68 Titan IIIB launches occurred from SLC-4W, with the last on 12 February 1987.

Thumb
A Titan 23G on SLC-4W
Titan 23G

After the retirement of the Titan IIIB, it became a Titan 23G launch site, and twelve Titan II launches, using the 23G orbital configuration, were conducted between 5 September 1988 and 18 October 2003. Following the retirement of the Titan 23G, SLC-4W was deactivated. 93 rockets were launched from SLC-4W.

SLC-4W was the site of the launch of Clementine, the only spacecraft to be launched from Vandenberg to the Moon, which was launched by a Titan 23G on 25 January 1994.

Launch timeline 1963–2003

More information Date/time (GMT), Launch vehicle ...
Date/time (GMT) Launch vehicle Serial numbers Trajectory Result Payload Remarks
1963-07-12
20:46		 Atlas LV-3 Agena-D 201D LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4001
1963-09-06
19:30		 Atlas LV-3 Agena-D 212D LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4002
1963-10-25
18:59		 Atlas LV-3 Agena-D 224D LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4003
1963-12-18
21:45		 Atlas LV-3 Agena-D 227D LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4004
1964-02-25
18:59		 Atlas LV-3 Agena-D 285D LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4005
1964-03-11
20:14		 Atlas LV-3 Agena-D 296D LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4006
1964-04-23
16:19		 Atlas LV-3 Agena-D 351D LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4007
1964-05-19
19:21		 Atlas LV-3 Agena-D 350D LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4008
1964-07-06
18:51		 Atlas LV-3 Agena-D 352D LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4009
1964-08-14
22:00		 Atlas LV-3 Agena-D 7101 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4010
1964-09-23
20:06		 Atlas LV-3 Agena-D 7102 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4011
1964-10-23
18:30		 Atlas LV-3 Agena-D 353D LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4013
1965-01-23
20:09		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7106 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4015
1965-03-12
19:25		 Atlas SLV-3 Agena-D 7104 LEO Success KH-7 Gambit 4016
29 July 1966
18:43		 Titan IIIB 3B-1 4751 LEO Success OPS-3014 (KH-8) Maiden flight of Titan IIIB
28 September 1966
19:12		 Titan IIIB 3B-2 LEO Success OPS-4096 (KH-8)
14 December 1966
18:14		 Titan IIIB 3B-3 LEO Success OPS-8968 (KH-8)
24 February 1967
19:55		 Titan IIIB 3B-4 LEO Success OPS-4204 (KH-8)
26 April 1967
18:00		 Titan IIIB 3B-5 LEO (target) Failure OPS-4243 (KH-8) Second stage lost thrust due to probable fuel line obstruction. Vehicle impacted the Pacific Ocean 600 miles downrange.
20 June
196716:19		 Titan IIIB 3B-8 LEO Success OPS-4282 (KH-8)
16 August 1967
17:02		 Titan IIIB 3B-9 LEO Success OPS-4886 (KH-8)
19 September 1967
18:28		 Titan IIIB 3B-10 LEO Success OPS-4941 (KH-8)
25 October 1967
19:15		 Titan IIIB 3B-11 LEO Success OPS-4995 (KH-8)
5 December 1967
18:45		 Titan IIIB 3B-12 LEO Success OPS-5000 (KH-8)
18 January 1968
19:04		 Titan IIIB 3B-13 LEO Success OPS-5028 (KH-8)
13 March 1968
19:55		 Titan IIIB 3B-14 LEO Success OPS-5057 (KH-8)
7 April 1968
17:00		 Titan IIIB 3B-15 LEO Success OPS-5105 (KH-8)
5 June 1968
17:31		 Titan IIIB 3B-16 LEO Success OPS-5138 (KH-8)
6 August 1968
16:33		 Titan IIIB 3B-17 LEO Success OPS-5187 (KH-8)
10 September 1968
18:30		 Titan IIIB 3B-18 LEO Success OPS-5247 (KH-8)
6 November 1968
19:10		 Titan IIIB 3B-19 LEO Success OPS-5296 (KH-8)
4 December 1968
19:23		 Titan IIIB 3B-20 LEO Success OPS-6518 (KH-8)
22 January 1969
19:10		 Titan IIIB 3B-6 LEO Success OPS-7585 (KH-8)
4 March 1969
19:30		 Titan IIIB 3B-7 LEO Success OPS-4248 (KH-8)
15 April 1969
17:30		 Titan IIIB 3B-21 LEO Success OPS-5310 (KH-8)
3 June 1969
16:49		 Titan IIIB 3B-22 LEO Success OPS-1077 (KH-8)
23 August 1969
16:00		 Titan III(23)B 23B-1 3B-23 LEO Success OPS-7807 (KH-8A) Maiden flight of Titan 23B
14 October 1969
18:10		 Titan III(23)B 23B-2 3B-24 LEO Success OPS-8455 (KH-8A)
14 January 1970
18:43		 Titan III(23)B 23B-3 3B-24 LEO Success OPS-6531 (KH-8A)
15 April 1970
15:52		 Titan III(23)B 23B-4 3B-26 LEO Success OPS-2863 (KH-8A)
25 June 1970
14:50		 Titan III(23)B 23B-5 3B-27 LEO Success OPS-6820 (KH-8A)
18 August 1970
14:45		 Titan III(23)B 23B-6 3B-28 LEO Success OPS-7874 (KH-8A)
23 October 1970
17:40		 Titan III(23)B 23B-7 3B-29 LEO Success OPS-7568 (KH-8A)
21 January 1971
18:28		 Titan III(23)B 23B-8 3B-30 LEO Success OPS-7776 (KH-8A)
21 March 1971
03:45		 Titan III(33)B 33B-1 3B-36 Molniya Success OPS-4788 (Jumpseat) Maiden flight of Titan 33B
22 April 1971
15:30		 Titan III(23)B 23B-9 3B-31 LEO Success OPS-7899 (KH-8A) Final flight of Titan 23B
12 August 1971
15:30		 Titan III(24)B 24B-1 3B-32 LEO Success OPS-8607 (KH-8A) Maiden flight of Titan 24B
23 October 1971
17:16		 Titan III(24)B 24B-2 3B-33 LEO Success OPS-7616 (KH-8A)
16 February 1972
09:59		 Titan III(33)B 33B-2 3B-37 Molniya (target) Failure OPS-1844 (Jumpseat) Failed to reach orbit
17 March 1972
17:00		 Titan III(24)B 24B-3 3B-34 LEO Success OPS-1678 (KH-8A)
20 May 1972
15:30		 Titan III(24)B 24B-4 3B-35 LEO (target) Failure OPS-6574 (KH-8A) Agena pressurization failure
1 September 1972
17:44		 Titan III(24)B 24B-5 3B-39 LEO Success OPS-8888 (KH-8A)
21 December 1972
17:45		 Titan III(24)B 24B-6 3B-40 LEO Success OPS-3978 (KH-8A)
16 May 1973
16:40		 Titan III(24)B 24B-7 3B-41 LEO Success OPS-2093 (KH-8A)
26 June 1973
17:00		 Titan III(24)B 24B-9 3B-43 LEO (target) Failure OPS-4018 (KH-8A) First stage fuel tank rupture T+11 seconds.
21 August 1973
16:07		 Titan III(33)B 33B-3 3B-38 Molniya Success OPS-7724 (Jumpseat) Final flight of Titan 33B
27 September 1973
17:15		 Titan III(24)B 24B-8 3B-42 LEO Success OPS-6275 (KH-8A)
13 February 1974
18:00		 Titan III(24)B 24B-10 3B-44 LEO Success OPS-6889 (KH-8A)
6 June 1974
16:30		 Titan III(24)B 24B-11 3B-45 LEO Success OPS-1776 (KH-8A)
14 August 1974
15:35		 Titan III(24)B 24B-12 3B-46 LEO Success OPS-3004 (KH-8A)
10 March 1975
04:41		 Titan III(34)B 34B-1 3B-50 Molniya Success OPS-2439 (Jumpseat) Maiden flight of Titan 34B
18 April 1975
16:48		 Titan III(24)B 24B-14 3B-48 LEO Success OPS-4883 (KH-8A)
9 October 1975
19:15		 Titan III(24)B 24B-13 3B-47 LEO Success OPS-5499 (KH-8A)
22 March 1976
18:14		 Titan III(24)B 24B-18 3B-52 LEO Success OPS-7600 (KH-8A)
2 June 1976
20:56		 Titan III(34)B 34B-5 3B-55 Molniya Success OPS-7837 (SDS)
6 August 1976
22:21		 Titan III(34)B 34B-6 3B-56 Molniya Success OPS-7940 (SDS)
15 September 1976
18:50		 Titan III(24)B 24B-17 3B-51 LEO Success OPS-8533 (KH-8A)
13 March 1977
18:41		 Titan III(24)B 24B-19 3B-54 LEO Success OPS-4915 (KH-8A)
23 September 1977
18:34		 Titan III(24)B 24B-23 3B-58 LEO Success OPS-7471 (KH-8A)
25 February 1978
05:00		 Titan III(34)B 34B-2 3B-49 Molniya Success OPS-6031 (Jumpseat)
5 August 1978
05:00		 Titan III(34)B 34B-7 3B-57 Molniya Success OPS-7310 (SDS)
28 May 1979
18:14		 Titan III(24)B 24B-25 3B-61 LEO Success OPS-7164 (KH-8A)
13 December 1980
16:04		 Titan III(34)B 34B-3 3B-53 Molniya Success OPS-5805 (SDS)
28 February 1981
19:15		 Titan III(24)B 24B-24 3B-59 LEO Success OPS-1166 (KH-8A)
24 April 1981
21:32		 Titan III(34)B 34B-8 3B-60 Molniya Partial failure OPS-7225 (Jumpseat) Spacecraft failed to separate
21 January 1982
19:36		 Titan III(24)B 24B-26 3B-62 LEO Success OPS-2849 (KH-8A HB)
15 April 1983
18:45		 Titan III(24)B 24B-27 3B-63 LEO Success OPS-2925 (KH-8A)
31 July 1983
15:41		 Titan III(34)B 34B-9 3B-65 Molniya Success OPS-7304 (Jumpseat)
17 April 1984
18:45		 Titan III(24)B 24B-28 3B-67 LEO Success OPS-8424 (KH-8A) Final flight of Titan 24B
28 August 1984
18:03		 Titan III(34)B 34B-4 3B-64 Molniya Success USA-4 (SDS)
8 February 1985
06:10		 Titan III(34)B 34B-10 3B-69 Molniya Success USA-9 (SDS)
12 February 1987
06:40		 Titan III(34)B 34B-51 3B-66 Molniya Success USA-21 (SDS) Final flight of Titan IIIB; Final use of Agena upper stage in any vehicle
5 September 1988
09:25		 Titan II(23)G 23G-1 B-56 B-98 LEO Success USA-32 (Bernie) Maiden flight of Titan 23G
6 September 1989
01:49		 Titan II(23)G 23G-2 B-99 B-75 LEO Success USA-45 (Bernie)
25 April 1992
08:53		 Titan II(23)G 23G-3 B-102 LEO Success USA-81 (Bernie)
5 October 1993
17:56		 Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP 23G-5 B-65 LEO (target) Failure Landsat 6 Star-37 failed to ignite
25 January 1994
16:34		 Titan II(23)G 23G-11 B-67 B-89 LEO[31] Success Clementine
DSPSE-ISA
4 April 1997
16:47		 Titan II(23)G/Star-37S 23G-6 B-106 LEO Success USA-131 (DMSP)
13 May 1998
15:52		 Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP 23G-12 B-72 B-80 LEO Success NOAA-15
20 June 1999
02:15		 Titan II(23)G 23G-7 B-75 LEO Success QuickSCAT
12 December 1999
17:38		 Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP 23G-8 B-44 B-94 LEO Success USA-147 (DMSP)
21 September 2000
10:22		 Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP 23G-13 B-39 B-96 LEO Success NOAA-16
24 June 2002
18:23		 Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP 23G-14 B-92 B-71 LEO Success NOAA-17
6 January 2003
14:19		 Titan II(23)G 23G-4 B-72 LEO Success Coriolis
18 October 2003
16:17		 Titan II(23)G/Star-37XFP 23G-9 B-107 LEO Success USA-172 (DMSP) Final flight of Titan II
Close

LZ-4

Summarize
Perspective

Development history

SpaceX signed a five-year lease of Launch Complex 4W in February 2015, in order to use the area to land reusable launch vehicles at the pad. The location is being used for vertical landing of Return-To-Launch-Site (RTLS) first-stage boosters of the Falcon 9 rockets that are launched from the adjacent SLC-4E launch pad.[32][33] This novel use of SLC-4W had initially surfaced in July 2014 when NASASpaceFlight.com published that SpaceX was considering leasing SLC-4W for use as a RTLS vertical-landing facility for reusable first-stage boosters.[34]

Principal structures on the pad were demolished in September 2014 as construction of the landing pad began and was completed sometime around 2017.[35]

Landing statistics

Landing outcomes (Falcon 9)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
  •   Falcon 9 Success
  •   Falcon 9 Failure

Detailed landing history

Thumb
The landing of SAOCOM 1A, the first landing at LZ-4

After performing return-to-launch-site (RTLS) landings at its two Cape Canaveral Space Force Station landing pads, Landing Zones 1 and 2,[33][36] the company initially planned to attempt the first West Coast booster landing at Vandenberg AFB with the fourth Iridium NEXT satellite launch in December 2017, but ultimately opted for an expendable mission.[20][37]

In July 2018, SpaceX filed an FCC permit to communicate with a Falcon 9 first stage post-landing at SLC-4W, hinting at a potential RTLS landing, for the SAOCOM 1A mission.[38] This launch was later rescheduled to October 8, 2018.[32] Publicly announced through FCC permits and sonic boom warnings, SpaceX renamed SLC-4W as Landing Zone 4 ahead of the first landing attempt. The landing of a Falcon 9 first stage booster successfully occurred at Landing Zone 4 in October 2018, following the launch of the Argentinian SAOCOM 1A satellite.[32]

More information Date/time (UTC), Version,booster ...
Date/time (UTC) Version,
booster[a]		 Launch site Trajectory Payload Result
8 October 2018 F9 B5
B1048.2		 SLC-4E SSO SAOCOM 1A Success
12 June 2019 F9 B5
B1051.2		 SLC-4E SSO RADARSAT Constellation Success
21 November 2020 F9 B5
B1063.1		 SLC-4E SSO Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Success
2 February 2022 F9 B5
B1071.1		 SLC-4E SSO NROL-87 Success
17 April 2022 F9 B5
B1071.2		 SLC-4E LEO NROL-85 Success
18 June 2022 F9 B5
B1071.3		 SLC-4E SSO SARah 1 Success
16 December 2022 F9 B5
B1071.6		 SLC-4E Polar SWOT Success
30 December 2022 F9 B5
B1063.11		 SLC-4E LEO EROS-C3 Success
2 April 2023 F9 B5
B1075.2		 SLC-4E Polar SDA Tranche 0A Success
15 April 2023 F9 B5
B1063.10		 SLC-4E SSO Transporter 7 Success
12 June 2023 F9 B5
B1071.9		 SLC-4E SSO Transporter 8 Success
2 September 2023 F9 B5
B1063.13		 SLC-4E Polar SDA Tranche 0B Success
11 November 2023 F9 B5
B1071.12		 SLC-4E SSO Transporter 9 Success
1 December 2023 F9 B5
B1061.17		 SLC-4E SSO 425 Project Flight 1 Success
24 December 2023 F9 B5
B1075.8		 SLC-4E SSO SARah 2 & 3 Success
4 March 2024 F9 B5
B1081.5		 SLC-4E SSO Transporter 10 Success
11 April 2024 F9 B5
B1082.3		 SLC-4E SSO USSF-62 (WSF-M 1) Success
2 May 2024 F9 B5
B1061.20		 SLC-4E SSO WorldView Legion 1 & 2 Success
28 May 2024 F9 B5
B1081.7		 SLC-4E SSO EarthCARE Success
16 August 2024 F9 B5
B1075.12		 SLC-4E SSO Transporter 11 Success
20 October 2024 F9 B5
B1082.7		 SLC-4E Polar OneWeb #20 Success
21 December 2024 F9 B5
B1071.21		 SLC-4E LEO Bandwagon-2 Success
14 January 2025 F9 B5
B1088.2		 SLC-4E SSO Transporter 12 Success
28 February 2025 F9 B5
B1088.3		 SLC-4E SSO SPHEREx & PUNCH Planned
Close

Notes

  1. Falcon 9 first-stage boosters have a four-digit serial number. A decimal point followed by a number indicates the flight count. For example, B1021.1 and B1021.2 represent the first and second flights of booster B1021. Boosters without a decimal point were expended on their first flight.

    References

    External links

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