Vandenberg AFB Probe Launch Complex C
| Launch site |
Point Arguello Vandenberg |
|---|---|
| Location | 34°36′34″N 120°37′42″W / 34.6095°N 120.6284°W |
| Short name | PLC-C |
| Operator | US Air Force |
| Total launches | Six |
| Launch pad(s) | One |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Inactive |
| First launch | 29 June 1971 |
| Last launch | 12 December 1975 |
| Associated rockets |
Aerobee-170 Tomahawk |
Probe Launch Complex C or PLC-C at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, United States, is a launch complex which was used for six sounding rocket launches between 1971 and 1975. It was originally built as Launch Complex C or LC-C at the Point Arguello Naval Air Station, however no launches were made from the site whilst it was part of Point Arguello. Following the merger of Point Arguello into Vandenberg AFB in 1964, it was briefly designated PALC-C, and subsequently Probe Launch Complex C.
Launch history
Six launches occurred from Probe Launch Complex C. The first four launches used Aerobee-170 rockets, whilst the last two used Tomahawks. Five of the launches reached space, with the exception of the third Aerobee, which failed early in its flight. The Aerobee launches conducted tests of infrared sensors for anti-ballistic missile systems, whilst the Tomahawks were used for aeronomy research.
| Date/Time (GMT) | Rocket | Mission | Outcome | Apogee | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 June 1971, 13:10 | Aerobee-170 | Chaser-1 | Successful | 161 kilometres (100 mi) | |
| 24 November 1971, 06:15 | Aerobee-170 | Chaser-2 | Successful | 145 kilometres (90 mi) | |
| 20 June 1972, 16:45 | Aerobee-170 | Chaser-3 | Failure | 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) | |
| 11 October 1972, 11:31 | Aerobee-170 | Chaser-4 | Successful | 151 kilometres (94 mi) | |
| 15 August 1975, 05:21 | Tomahawk | Escape I | Successful | 272 kilometres (169 mi) | |
| 12 December 1975, 05:09 | Tomahawk | Escape II | Successful | 164 kilometres (102 mi) |
References
- Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg PLC-C". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- Webb, Brian. "Vandenberg AFB Launch History". Southwest Space Archive. Retrieved 2009-05-19.