Author Topic: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?  (Read 49076 times)

Offline xyv

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Re: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?
« Reply #40 on: 09/07/2022 01:50 am »
Gonna be sad this old rust-bucket won't be used again.  :'(

You and me both.  Managing the development of this monstrosity (in it's second life, Shuttle form) was the first half of my brief forray into the launch business.  Obviously I still  have a soft spot for rockets even if my professional passion is infrared imaging.
« Last Edit: 09/07/2022 01:52 am by xyv »

Offline Vahe231991

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Re: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?
« Reply #41 on: 09/07/2022 03:53 pm »
Given that Delta IV Heavy slated to launch NROL-91 will be the last Delta IV Heavy launch from the SLC-6 pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base, and there are no more launches scheduled to launch from that base, is the US Space Force planning a ceremony in the future to mark the decommissioning of SLC-6 and a special farewell tribute to the men and women involved in launches of the Delta IV Heavy at Vandenberg Space Force Base (then known as Vandenberg Air Force Base when the Delta IV Heavy was first launched in 2004)?

no.
Has there ever been a "closing ceremony" for a rockets last launch (ignoring shuttle)?

No
Wasn't there a ceremony of sorts when the last "classic Atlas" launched from SLC-36? I seem to remember something to that effect when SLC-36 hosted its launch launch.
What is the "classic Atlas" you refer to? The Atlas II or Atlas III?

Online ZachS09

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Re: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?
« Reply #42 on: 09/07/2022 03:59 pm »
Given that Delta IV Heavy slated to launch NROL-91 will be the last Delta IV Heavy launch from the SLC-6 pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base, and there are no more launches scheduled to launch from that base, is the US Space Force planning a ceremony in the future to mark the decommissioning of SLC-6 and a special farewell tribute to the men and women involved in launches of the Delta IV Heavy at Vandenberg Space Force Base (then known as Vandenberg Air Force Base when the Delta IV Heavy was first launched in 2004)?

no.
Has there ever been a "closing ceremony" for a rockets last launch (ignoring shuttle)?

No
Wasn't there a ceremony of sorts when the last "classic Atlas" launched from SLC-36? I seem to remember something to that effect when SLC-36 hosted its launch launch.
What is the "classic Atlas" you refer to? The Atlas II or Atlas III?

I think it’s both Atlas II and Atlas III. When I was a Spaceflight Now member in my tween years, I saw two videos depicting the blockhouse conductor doing a toast for all the hard work and dedication put into each launch vehicle program. One was done after the final Atlas II launch in August 2004, and the other after the final Atlas III launch in February 2005.
« Last Edit: 09/07/2022 04:00 pm by ZachS09 »
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Offline hartspace

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Re: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?
« Reply #43 on: 09/07/2022 07:54 pm »
Gonna be sad this old rust-bucket won't be used again.  :'(
I will shed a tear when it exits service, having spent a lot of my career there during its 3 iterations.  Worked on the Shuttle part for both Martin and Lockheed, launched a couple of satellites from there on Athena, and launched a couple of payloads on Delta IV.  A lot of history (good and not so good) at that launch pad.

Offline Vahe231991

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Re: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?
« Reply #44 on: 09/24/2022 04:09 pm »
From SpaceNews:
Quote
[Gary Wentz] said ULA did not see a need to keep two launch pads on the West Coast. “From a business perspective, it was appropriate for us to use SLC-3 because there was a lot of commonality between Atlas and Vulcan systems.”

Wentz reaffirms previous statements that SLC-6 is set for dismantlement and that ULA needs only one launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Offline Jim

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Re: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?
« Reply #45 on: 09/24/2022 06:24 pm »
From SpaceNews:
Quote
[Gary Wentz] said ULA did not see a need to keep two launch pads on the West Coast. “From a business perspective, it was appropriate for us to use SLC-3 because there was a lot of commonality between Atlas and Vulcan systems.”

Wentz reaffirms previous statements that SLC-6 is set for dismantlement and that ULA needs only one launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

No, ULA is only vacating SLC-6.  The 30th SLD is looking for other users.  They will determine if it is to be dismantled.
« Last Edit: 09/24/2022 06:24 pm by Jim »

Offline Vahe231991

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Re: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?
« Reply #46 on: 09/24/2022 08:46 pm »
From SpaceNews:
Quote
[Gary Wentz] said ULA did not see a need to keep two launch pads on the West Coast. “From a business perspective, it was appropriate for us to use SLC-3 because there was a lot of commonality between Atlas and Vulcan systems.”

Wentz reaffirms previous statements that SLC-6 is set for dismantlement and that ULA needs only one launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

No, ULA is only vacating SLC-6.  The 30th SLD is looking for other users.  They will determine if it is to be dismantled.
Well, thank you for the feedback. I saw something on this thread that said that ULA mentioned plans to downsize to only 2 launch pads (one in Florida, one in Vandenberg SFB), but at least the future of the SLC-6 facility will remain up in the air even after the last Delta IV Heavy is carried out from VSFB and ULA relinquishes ownership of SLC-6. In particular, the SLC-6 was intended for space shuttle launches when construction of it began, but safety concerns meant that the Space Shuttle never used the SLC-6 launch pad as a secondary launch site and the facility was eventually used to support launches of the Athena rocket.

Offline Jim

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Re: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?
« Reply #47 on: 09/24/2022 09:02 pm »
. In particular, the SLC-6 was intended for space shuttle launches when construction of it began, but safety concerns meant that the Space Shuttle never used the SLC-6 launch pad as a secondary launch site and the facility was eventually used to support launches of the Athena rocket.

No need to repeat common knowledge.

Also, it wasn't a "secondary" launch site. It was the primary launch site for polar orbits

Online butters

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Re: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?
« Reply #48 on: 09/24/2022 09:15 pm »
From SpaceNews:
Quote
[Gary Wentz] said ULA did not see a need to keep two launch pads on the West Coast. “From a business perspective, it was appropriate for us to use SLC-3 because there was a lot of commonality between Atlas and Vulcan systems.”

Wentz reaffirms previous statements that SLC-6 is set for dismantlement and that ULA needs only one launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

No, ULA is only vacating SLC-6.  The 30th SLD is looking for other users.  They will determine if it is to be dismantled.
Do you know if there are any decommissioning requirements as to the state in which ULA is expected to leave the property? Is Space Force responsible for property maintenance for as long as there is no tenant? Or is it basically left to nature and any future tenant is expected to perform necessary site remediations?

Offline SpeakertoAnimals

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Re: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?
« Reply #49 on: 09/24/2022 09:53 pm »
Does anyone know who owns the Ground Service Equipment at SLC 6? There is some interesting stuff there.

Online catdlr

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Re: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?
« Reply #50 on: 09/25/2022 04:04 am »
Does anyone know who owns the Ground Service Equipment at SLC 6? There is some interesting stuff there.

Interesting. Perhaps the California Science Center could re-purpose the Service Tower and re-purpose and re-configure some of the umbilicals for the proposed Endeavor Launch set-up.  Heaven knows where the original umbilical arms and launch mount went or got dismantled.  Anyway, just a thought.
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Offline Vahe231991

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Re: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?
« Reply #51 on: 04/16/2023 03:50 am »
I thought this post on Twitter from Eric Berger regarding unofficial reports that Blue Origin wants to take over SLC-6 might be of relevance to this thread:
https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1645502085297840143
« Last Edit: 04/16/2023 03:51 am by Vahe231991 »

Offline GewoonLukas_

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Re: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?
« Reply #52 on: 04/25/2023 10:58 am »
SpaceX will take over SLC-6:

Quote
SPACE LAUNCH DELTA 30 TO LEASE SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX 6 TO SPACE X

April 24th, 2023

Col. Rob Long, Space Launch Delta 30 commander, signed a statement of support on April 21, 2023, granting SpaceX permission to lease Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6) for Falcon rocket launches.

SLC-6 previously supported the Delta IV vehicle family and has remained vacant since the final Delta IV Heavy launch on Sept. 24, 2022.

The decision is the result of SLD 30's launch pad allocation strategy, which is a process to evaluate the suitability of various launch sites for different types of rockets and payloads. The process is critical to ensuring that launches are safe, and that the selected launch site can accommodate the unique requirements of each mission. This was the first round of launch pad allocations, and additional rounds of allocations will occur in the future after further operational analysis.

"This is an exciting time for Vandenberg Space Force Base, our nation's premier West Coast launch site for military, civil and commercial space operations," said Col. Rob Long, SLD 30 commander. "This agreement will add to the rich history of SLC-6 and builds on the already strong partnership with SpaceX."
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Offline Zed_Noir

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Re: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?
« Reply #53 on: 04/25/2023 05:42 pm »
Wonder if SpaceX will also take over SLC-37B to increase their East Coast Falcon launch cadence after the Delta IV Heavy retires? As well as another launch pad for the Falcon Heavy with vertical payload integration.

Offline Vahe231991

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Re: Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?
« Reply #54 on: 04/25/2023 06:34 pm »
SpaceX will take over SLC-6:

Quote
SPACE LAUNCH DELTA 30 TO LEASE SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX 6 TO SPACE X

April 24th, 2023

Col. Rob Long, Space Launch Delta 30 commander, signed a statement of support on April 21, 2023, granting SpaceX permission to lease Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6) for Falcon rocket launches.

SLC-6 previously supported the Delta IV vehicle family and has remained vacant since the final Delta IV Heavy launch on Sept. 24, 2022.

The decision is the result of SLD 30's launch pad allocation strategy, which is a process to evaluate the suitability of various launch sites for different types of rockets and payloads. The process is critical to ensuring that launches are safe, and that the selected launch site can accommodate the unique requirements of each mission. This was the first round of launch pad allocations, and additional rounds of allocations will occur in the future after further operational analysis.

"This is an exciting time for Vandenberg Space Force Base, our nation's premier West Coast launch site for military, civil and commercial space operations," said Col. Rob Long, SLD 30 commander. "This agreement will add to the rich history of SLC-6 and builds on the already strong partnership with SpaceX."
At last, official word on the fate of SLC-6 after the last launch of the Delta IV Heavy in from that facility in late 2022.

 

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