Delta IVH: Future of 37B and SLC-6?

[abaddon]

Falcon already has a launchpad at Vandenberg.  While it was billed as being built for Heavy, that was quite some time ago and it would have to be upgraded, but that would be far cheaper than a new site just for Heavy.  There is no need for it.

[Jim]

Why not? It's up to Space Force you said. Thanks for elaborating.

But SpaceX isn't going to want it.

No need for Falcon.  And too expensive for Starship.  Anyways, Starship can go polar from KSC.

[Vahe231991]

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)? Since ULA has already planned to use just one facility at Vandenberg SFB, I would imagine that the USSF will begin demolishing the SLC-6 launch site a few months after the NROL-91 is launched.

[ZachS09]

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)? Since ULA has already planned to use just one facility at Vandenberg SFB, I would imagine that the USSF will begin demolishing the SLC-6 launch site a few months after the NROL-91 is launched.

I thought SLC-3E would be modified for West Coast Vulcan missions.

[lrk]

I doubt they will bother demolishing it.  Depending on who uses it in the future, some structures could possibly be reused.  The current launch umbilical tower, mobile service structure, mobile service shelter and pad base/flame trenches all date from when SLC-6 was built to launch the shuttle.  And the fact that the LUT can be fully enclosed means that structural decay due to environmental factors will be less of an issue. 

[Vahe231991]

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)? Since ULA has already planned to use just one facility at Vandenberg SFB, I would imagine that the USSF will begin demolishing the SLC-6 launch site a few months after the NROL-91 is launched.

I thought SLC-3E would be modified for West Coast Vulcan missions.

The US Space Force plans to modify launch pad SLC-3E for the Vulcan rocket, but no planned Vulcan missions have yet been assigned for operation from SLC-3E. But you're right, ULA said long ago that launch operations from Vandenberg Space Force base would be restricted to just the SLC-3E facility, meaning that SLC-6 will be decommissioned and dismantled once NROL-91 is launched.

[russianhalo117]

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)? Since ULA has already planned to use just one facility at Vandenberg SFB, I would imagine that the USSF will begin demolishing the SLC-6 launch site a few months after the NROL-91 is launched.

SLC-6 will remain operational until the last flight of DIVH to support a potential but unlikely flight reassignment. After the last flight ever of a DIVH both both launch complexes will execute their respective inactivation, decommissioning and mothballing plans which were developed jointly by ULA and USSF.

[Newton_V]

... but no planned Vulcan missions have yet been assigned for operation from SLC-3E.

hmmm

[Steven Pietrobon]

... but no planned Vulcan missions have yet been assigned for operation from SLC-3E.

hmmm

I guess you mean that some of the Kuiper missions will be flying from Vandenberg! :-)

[Zed_Noir]

Maybe Below Orbit Blue Origin might considering leasing pad SLC-6 for west coast launches of the New Glenn. More like squatting on the pad to denied it use to other launch providers.

[edkyle99]

The Space Shuttle and Titan IIIC were to have used Space Launch Complex 6 ....

SLC 6 was originally built for Titan IIIM, boosted by the 7-segment dual solid motor Stage 0, to orbit MOL/Dorian.  When Dorian was shelved in 1969, so was Titan IIIM and SLC 6.

With its recent big launch contract, I wonder if ULA might be looking anew at SLC 37 and/or SLC 6.

 - Ed Kyle

[deadman1204]

Maybe Below Orbit Blue Origin might considering leasing pad SLC-6 for west coast launches of the New Glenn. More like squatting on the pad to denied it use to other launch providers.

Sadly it does fit with the company

[Vahe231991]

... but no planned Vulcan missions have yet been assigned for operation from SLC-3E.

hmmm

I guess you mean that some of the Kuiper missions will be flying from Vandenberg! :-)

Last month Amazon secured a contract to provide for 38 Kuiper missions using the Vulcan rocket. All planned Kuiper missions aboard the Atlas V will be launched from Cape Canaveral, but it remains to be seen whether some of the contracted Kuiper missions for launch aboard the Vulcan will be carried out from VSFB.

[Jim]

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.

[Jim]

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)? Since ULA has already planned to use just one facility at Vandenberg SFB, I would imagine that the USSF will begin demolishing the SLC-6 launch site a few months after the NROL-91 is launched.

I thought SLC-3E would be modified for West Coast Vulcan missions.

The US Space Force plans to modify launch pad SLC-3E for the Vulcan rocket,

No, ULA is going to modify SLC-3E

[deadman1204]

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)?

[Jim]

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

[EL_DIABLO]

NRO @NatReconOfc
LAUNCH UPDATE: #NROL91 is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg SFB (@SLdelta30) on a @ulalaunch
Delta IV Heavy September 24. This is the last Delta IV Heavy launch from the #WestCoast, don’t miss out!

#AboveandBeyond #LastButNotLeast

Anybody know when ULA's lease for SLC-6 ends?

[DaveS]

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.

[Newton_V]

Gonna be sad this old rust-bucket won't be used again.