Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2


Space Launch Complex 2 is an active rocket launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base, in California, USA. It consists of two launch pads: Space Launch Complex 2 East, used by the PGM-17 Thor missile and several of its derivatives from 1958 to 1972; and Space Launch Complex 2 West, which has been in use since 1959 to launch the Thor-Delta family and Delta II, and is currently used by the Firefly Alpha.
Space Launch Complex 2 was originally part of Launch Complex 75 and was known by designation LC 75-1 or just 75-1. The first launch out of the newly designated Space Launch Complex 2 was that of a Delta E with ESSA-3 on 2 October 1966 from SLC-2E.
SLC-2E and SLC-2W are located approximately apart.

SLC-2W

Thor and Thor-Agena (1959–1968)

Space Launch Complex 2 West was built in the late 1950s to launch the PGM-17 Thor for use in suborbital tests, being jointly operated by the United States Air Force and the Royal Air Force in accordance to the IRBM's stationing in Britain as part of Project Emily. It saw its first launch on September 17, 1959, with launches being held over the next four months and all but one being successful. Following the last flight on January 21, 1960, the pad underwent the conversion into an orbital launch complex, as the Thor got decommissioned from missile use and was replaced by ICBMs such as the LGM-25C Titan II.
As per its new use, LC 75-1-2 was subsequently designed to launch the Thor-Agena and the Thor-Ablestar to complement the nearby SLC-1E and 1W in its capabilities of putting satellites into polar orbit. Over the next seven years, it was put into use 21 times for nineteen Agena and two Ablestar launches, with the overwhelming majority of payloads being reconnaissance satellites such as the KH-4 for military customers like the National Reconnaissance Office.

Early Delta (1969–1989)

With the Department of Defense seeing its payloads grow in size throughout the late 1960s, both the Thor-Agena and Thor-Ablestar were retired and the pad received another modification under the SLC-2W name, this time to act as the west coast site of the Thor-Delta and its derivatives to complement LC-17 at Cape Canaveral. Throughout this period of the pad's history, 26 Delta launches were performed at the site, carrying various payloads for the DoD, NASA, NOAA, and a handful of international agencies such as ESA. During the late 70s, a mobile service tower was constructed at SLC-2W to help support the various Delta evolutions by creating an enclosed environment.
As the 1980s arrived and went along, the site gradually saw slowing use in the wake of the Delta family's expected replacement with the Space Shuttle, which was slated to have its own west coast launch site at SLC-6. Despite all California Shuttle plans getting axed following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986, SLC-2W only saw one last liftoff in this configuration on November 18, 1989, with a Delta 5000 being used to launch the Cosmic Background Explorer for NASA.

Delta II (1995–2018)

After getting mothballed for a half decade, McDonnell Douglas revived SLC-2W in 1994 for use as the polar orbit site of their successor to the Thor-Delta rockets, the Delta II. The first launch in this new era was on November 4, 1995, carrying Radarsat-1 for the Canadian Space Agency and a Deep Space Network test satellite for NASA. Over the next 23 years, the pad saw 45 Delta II launches and delivered various payloads to polar orbit for numerous governmental agencies and commercial customers. Among the more notable payloads of this era are Aqua, Aura, Gravity Probe B, and the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer.
Additionally, SLC-2W followed the Delta II in changing hands regarding operation; it went from McDonnell Douglas to Boeing following their merger in 1997, and was subsequently passed to United Launch Alliance following the 2006 formation of the Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture. The site eventually wound down in use again throughout the 2010s following the Delta II's retirement from Cape Canaveral in 2011, and saw its last flight of a Thor-derived vehicle with the launch of ICESat-2 on September 12, 2018.

Firefly Aerospace (2019–present)

Following the Delta II's retirement, SLC-2W was leased out to Firefly Aerospace and repurposed to launch the Firefly Alpha. During the demolition process, a fire broke out inside the Delta II mobile service tower on October 15, 2020, though no injuries were reported. The maiden flight of Alpha took place on September 3, 2021, and resulted in a flight failure following an engine failure causing a range safety activation at transonic speeds. Firefly would not attempt a second flight until October 1, 2022, which was successful in reaching orbit. That same year, Firefly and Northrop Grumman announced their collaborative Medium Launch Vehicle was in development, and that it will also be using SLC-2W as a polar launch site.

SLC-2E

Space Launch Complex 2 East, originally built as Launch Complex 75–1–1, was similar to its western counterpart through its use by the USAF and RAF for Thor missile tests. During this initial period, the pad hosted its first launch on December 18, 1958, and saw three additional flights throughout the next year. Following the retirement of the Thor, LC 75-1-1 got modified in 1960 to launch the Thor-Agena and Thor-Ablestar to increase launch cadence for the military at the base, and each rocket saw 23 and 6 launches from there respectively. Among the most notable launches of that era includes Alouette 1, the first Canadian satellite. In 1966, the pad got renamed to SLC-2E.
As the Thor-Agena and Thor-Ablestar got phased out from use in the late 1960s, SLC-2E likewise saw a gradual conversion for use by the Thor-Delta and Thorad-Agena. During this era, the pad witnessed a total of 19 launches of various government satellites, with fourteen being from the Delta line and five being from the Thorad family. The last launch from SLC-2E came on March 12, 1972, seeing a Delta N propel TD-1A into orbit for ESRO. Much like SLC-1E and 1W, SLC-2E got mothballed to concentrate launches in the area at SLC-2W.
In the years following its deactivation, most structures at SLC-2E have been demolished.

Launch statistics

SLC-2W

Thor and derivatives

All launches operated by the United States Air Force.
No.DateTime Launch vehicleConfigurationPayloadResultRemarks
117 September 195921:09PGM-17 ThorThor DM-18ASuborbital testFirst launch from LC-75-1-2. Test conducted with the Royal Air Force.
212 November 195919:24PGM-17 ThorThor DM-18ASuborbital testTest conducted with the Royal Air Force.
315 December 195902:14PGM-17 ThorThor DM-18ASuborbital testTest conducted with the Royal Air Force. Flight control failure led to missile breakup 60 seconds after launch.
421 January 196020:10PGM-17 ThorThor DM-18ASuborbital testTest conducted with the Royal Air Force. Final missile test at LC-75.
529 August 196201:00Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-DFTV 1153 First orbital launch and first Thor-Agena flight from LC-75-1-2.
629 September 196223:34Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-DFTV 1154
726 October 196216:14Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-DSTARADRadiation monitoring satellite, designed to monitor the artificial Van Allen belt created by the nuclear test Starfish Prime.
84 December 196221:30Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-DFTV 1155
927 June 196300:37Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-0999 Carried Hitchhiker 1 as a secondary payload.
1031 July 196300:00Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-1370
1123 September 196323:00Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-1353
129 November 196320:27Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2 / Agena-DOPS-2268 Heat shield failure led to high temperatures at thrust sections, leading to eventual control loss 119 seconds after launch.
1321 December 196321:45Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-2268 Carried Hitchhiker 3 as a secondary payload.
1419 January 196410:59Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-3367Two weather satellites, designated OPS-3367A and B.
1513 June 196415:47Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-3236
1621 August 196415:45Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-2739
176 October 196417:04Thor-AblestarThor DSV-2A / AblestarOPS 5796 Part of the Transit Satellite System. First Thor-Ablestar flight from LC-75-1-2.
1813 December 196400:08Thor-AblestarThor DSV-2A / AblestarOPS 6582 Part of the Transit Satellite System. Second and final Thor-Ablestar flight from LC-75-1-2.
199 March 196518:29Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DRideshare payloadConsisted of eight separate satellites, including SOLRAD and POPPY probes.
2017 July 196505:55Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-8411
219 February 196619:45Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-1439
2229 December 196612:00Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-1584 First launch under the name SLC-2W.
2314 January 196721:28Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-1664
2422 February 196722:02Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-4750
2530 March 196718:54Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-4779
2631 May 196709:30Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-DRideshare payloadConsisted of nine separate satellites, including POPPY and Calsphere probes.
2725 July 196703:48Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-1879
2817 January 196810:12Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-1965 Final flight of the Thor-Agena.

Early Delta

All launches operated by NASA.
No.DateTime Launch vehicleConfigurationPayloadResultRemarks
2921 June 196908:53Delta E1Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4DExplorer 41Part of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying the interplanetary magnetic field. First civilian launch from SLC-2W, and first Thor-Delta flight from the pad.
3023 January 197011:52Delta N6Thor LTT / Delta-ETIROS-MPart of the ITOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA.
3111 December 197011:35Delta N6Thor LTT / Delta-ENOAA-1Part of the ITOS series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as ITOS-A.
3223 July 197218:06Delta 0100Thor-Delta 904Landsat 1First launch of the Landsat program, aimed at providing research-oriented photographs of Earth. Notable for discovering Landsat Island off the coast of Labrador.
3315 October 197217:17Delta 0100Thor-Delta 300NOAA-2Part of the ITOS series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as ITOS-D.
3411 December 197207:56Delta 0100Thor-Delta 900Nimbus 5Part of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites.
3516 July 197317:10Delta 0100Thor-Delta 300ITOS-EPart of the ITOS series of weather satellites for NOAA. Hydraulic pump malfunction on the second stage led to loss of altitude control system and failure to achieve orbit.
366 November 197314:02Delta 0100Thor-Delta 300NOAA-3Part of the ITOS series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as ITOS-F.
3716 December 197306:18Delta 1000Thor-Delta 1900Explorer 51Part of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying the therrmosphere.
3815 November 197417:11Delta 2000Thor-Delta 2310NOAA-4 and IntasatPart of the ITOS series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as ITOS-G. Included Intasat, Spain's first satellite, as a secondary payload.
3922 January 197517:56Delta 2000Thor-Delta 2310Landsat 2Part of the Landsat program, aimed at providing research-oriented photographs of Earth.
4010 April 197523:50Delta 1000Thor-Delta 1410GEOS-C
4112 June 197508:12Delta 2000Thor-Delta 2910Nimbus 6Part of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites.
429 August 197501:47Delta 2000Thor-Delta 2913COS-BSpace telescope aimed at detecting gamma ray sources. First launch from SLC-2W for the ESRO.
436 October 197509:01Delta 2000Thor-Delta 2910Explorer 54Part of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying the structure of Earth's atmosphere.
444 May 197608:00Delta 2000Thor-Delta 2913LAGEOS-1
4529 July 197617:07Delta 2000Thor-Delta 2310NOAA-5Part of the ITOS series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as ITOS-H.
465 March 197817:54Delta 2000Thor-Delta 2910Landsat 3Part of the Landsat program, aimed at providing research-oriented photographs of Earth.
4724 October 197808:14Delta 2000Thor-Delta 2910Nimbus 7Part of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites.
483 August 198109:56Delta 3000Thor-Delta 3913Dynamics Explorer 1 and 2Two spacecraft. Part of the Explorers Program, designated Explorer 62 and 63, aimed at studying Earth's upper atmosphere. Early shutdown of main engine placed DE-2 into lower than intended orbit.
496 October 198111:27Delta 2000Thor-Delta 2310Solar Mesosphere ExplorerPart of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying the processes of ozone in the mesosphere.
5016 July 198217:49Delta 3000Thor-Delta 3920Landsat 4Part of the Landsat program, aimed at providing research-oriented photographs of Earth.
5123 January 198302:17Delta 3000Thor-Delta 3910IRASSpace telescope aimed at observing infrared light. Partnership between NASA, the NIVR, and SERC. Provided first ever infrared sky survey.
5226 May 198315:18Delta 3000Thor-Delta 3914EXOSATSpace telescope aimed at detecting x-ray sources. First launch from SLC-2W for ESA.
531 March 198417:59Delta 3000Thor-Delta 3920Landsat 5Part of the Landsat program, aimed at providing research-oriented photographs of Earth.
5418 November 198914:34Delta 5000Thor-Delta 5290Cosmic Background ExplorerPart of the Explorers Program, a space telescope aimed at performing an astronomical survey of the cosmic microwave background. Intended to launch from the Space Shuttle, but plans were changed following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Only Delta 5000 flight, and last Delta I launch from SLC-2W.

Delta II

All launches until July 1997 operated by McDonnell Douglas. All launches from August 1997 to April 2006 operated by Boeing. All launches since December 2006 operated by United Launch Alliance.
No.DateTime Launch vehicleConfigurationPayloadResultRemarks
554 November 199514:22Delta IIThor-Delta 7920–10RADARSAT-1Earth observation satellite for the CSA. First launch of the Delta II from Vandenberg, and first flight from SLC-2W operated by a private company.
5624 February 199611:24Delta IIThor-Delta 7925–10PolarPart of the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics Science Initiative, aimed at studying aurorae and Earth's magnetic fields at the poles.
5724 April 199612:27Delta IIThor-Delta 7920–10Midcourse Space ExperimentInfrared space telescope aimed at testing missile reconnaissance technology. First military launch from SLC-2W since 1968.
585 May 199714:55Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CIridium MS-1First launch of the Iridium satellite constellation.
599 July 199713:04Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CIridium MS-2
6021 August 199700:38Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CIridium MS-3First Delta II launch following the Boeing-McDonnell Douglas merger.
6127 September 199701:23Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CIridium MS-4
629 November 199701:34Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CIridium MS-5
6320 December 199713:16Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CIridium MS-6
6418 February 199813:58Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CIridium MS-7
6530 March 199806:02Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CIridium MS-8
6617 May 199821:16Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CIridium MS-9
678 September 199821:13Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CIridium MS-10
686 November 199813:37Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CIridium MS-11
6923 February 199910:29Delta IIThor-Delta 7920–10ARGOS, Ørsted, and SUNSATFirst satellites for Denmark and South Africa with Ørsted and SUNSAT respectively.
7015 April 199918:32Delta IIThor-Delta 7920–10Landsat 7Part of the Landsat program, aimed at providing research-oriented photographs of Earth.
7125 March 200020:34Delta IIThor-Delta 7326–9.5IMAGEPart of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying the effects of solar wind on Earth's magnetosphere.
7221 November 200018:24Delta IIThor-Delta 7320–10EO-1
7318 October 200118:51Delta IIThor-Delta 7320–10QuickBird
747 December 200115:07Delta IIThor-Delta 7920–10Jason-1 and TIMEDPart of the Jason satellite series, aimed at studying ocean altimetry. Collaboration between NASA and CNES.
7511 February 200217:43Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CIridium IS-1
764 May 200209:54Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10LAquaPart of the Large Strategic Science Missions, aimed at studying the water cycle.
7713 January 200300:45Delta IIThor-Delta 7320–10ICESat and CHIPSatPart of the Large Strategic Science Missions, aimed at studying ice sheets and sea ice.
7820 April 200416:57Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CGravity Probe BAimed at studying general relativity and confirming two predictions it made: frame-dragging and the geodetic effect.
7915 July 200410:02Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10LAuraPart of the Large Strategic Science Missions, aimed at studying the ozone layer.
8020 May 200510:22Delta IIThor-Delta 7320-10CNOAA-18Part of the Advanced TIROS-N series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as NOAA-N.
8128 April 200610:02Delta IIThor-Delta 7420-10CCloudSat and CALIPSO
8214 December 200621:00Delta IIThor-Delta 7920–10NROL-21Launch for the National Reconnaissance Office, also known as USA-193. First acknowledged flight for the NRO from SLC-2W, and first classified launch from the pad since 1968. First rocket launch operated by United Launch Alliance. Satellite unexpectedly ceased operation early, leading to its destruction by an ASAT during Operation Burnt Frost.
838 June 200702:34Delta IIThor-Delta 7420–10COSMO-SkyMed 1
8418 September 200718:35Delta IIThor-Delta 7920–10DigitalGlobe WorldView-1
859 December 200702:31Delta IIThor-Delta 7420–10COSMO-2
8620 June 200807:46Delta IIThor-Delta 7320-10CJason-2Part of the Jason satellite series, aimed at studying ocean altimetry. Collaboration between NASA and CNES.
876 September 200818:50Delta IIThor-Delta 7420–10GeoEye-1
8825 October 200802:28Delta IIThor-Delta 7420-10CCOSMO-3
896 February 200910:22Delta IIThor-Delta 7320-10CNOAA-19Part of the Advanced TIROS-N series of weather satellites for NOAA. Launched as NOAA-N'. Final TIROS launch.
905 May 200920:24Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CSTSS-ATRRAlso known as USA-205. Classified demonstration flight for testing early warning system architecture.
918 October 200918:51Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CWorldView-2
9214 December 200914:09Delta IIThor-Delta 7320-10CWide-field Infrared Survey ExplorerPart of the Explorers Program, a space telescope aimed at performing an astronomical survey in infrared. Helped discover numerous comets, asteroids, and brown dwarfs.
936 November 201002:20Delta IIThor-Delta 7420-10CCOSMO-4
9410 June 201114:20Delta IIThor-Delta 7320-10CSAC-D
9528 October 201109:48Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CSuomi NPPFirst launch of the Joint Polar Satellite System, aimed at providing environmental data used in numerical weather prediction.
962 July 201409:56Delta IIThor-Delta 7320-10COrbiting Carbon Observatory 2Satellite aimed at measuring carbon dioxide composition in Earth's atmosphere. Was built to follow up on the failed launch of the first Orbiting Carbon Observatory in 2009. First Delta II launch following vehicle's retirement from Cape Canaveral.
9731 January 201514:22Delta IIThor-Delta 7320-10CSMAP
9818 November 201709:47Delta IIThor-Delta 7920-10CNOAA-20Part of the Joint Polar Satellite System, aimed at providing environmental data used in numerical weather prediction.
9915 September 201813:02Delta IIThor-Delta 7420-10CICESat-2Successor to ICESat, aimed at studying ice sheets and sea ice. Final flight of the Delta II, and final flight of a Thor-derived launch vehicle.

Alpha

All launches operated by Firefly Aerospace.
No.DateTime Launch vehicleMission namePayloadResultRemarks
1003 September 202101:59Firefly AlphaDREAMRideshare payloadMaiden flight of Firefly Alpha and first orbital launch conducted by Firefly Aerospace. Engine failure 15 seconds into flight led to loss of control at transonic speed, activating range safety protocols 2 minutes 30 seconds after launch.
1011 October 202207:01Firefly Alpha"To the Black"TechEdSat-15 and other payloadsRideshare mission containing various educational payloads. First successful orbit insertion by Firefly and Alpha. Payloads deployed in lower than intended orbit, leading to reentry a week after launch.
10215 September 202302:28Firefly AlphaTactically Responsive Space-3VICTUS NOXPart of United States Space Force program to rapidly integrate and launch payloads after ordering. First fully successful Alpha launch.
10322 December 202317:32Firefly Alpha"Fly the Lightning"TantrumDemo satellite for Lockheed Martin. Issue with second stage relight placed payload in lower than intended orbit, noticeably reducing time before decay.
1044 July 202404:04Firefly Alpha"Noise of Summer"VCLS Demo-2FB
10529 April 202513:37Firefly Alpha"Message in a Booster"LM-400 DemoDemo satellite for Lockheed Martin. Mishap during stage separation led to loss of second stage engine bell, greatly reducing thrust and failure to make orbit.

SLC-2E

All Thor and derivative launches operated by the United States Air Force. All Delta and Thorad launches operated by NASA.
No.DateTime Launch vehicleConfigurationPayloadResultRemarks
116 December 195823:44PGM-17 ThorThor DM-18ASuborbital testFirst launch from LC-75-1-1 and first Thor launch from Vandenberg. Test conducted with the Royal Air Force.
23 August 195921:41PGM-17 ThorThor DM-18ASuborbital testTest conducted with the Royal Air Force.
321 October 195922:57PGM-17 ThorThor DM-18ASuborbital testTest conducted with the Royal Air Force.
42 December 195905:29PGM-17 ThorThor DM-18ASuborbital testTest conducted with the Royal Air Force. Final missile test from LC-75-1-1.
516 June 196123:02Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-BDiscoverer 25 First orbital launch from LC-75-1, and first Thor-Agena flight from LC-75-1-1.
64 August 196100:01Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-BDiscoverer 28 Failure in Agena hydraulic pressure led to loss of control and failure to achieve orbit.
717 September 196121:00Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-BDiscoverer 31
85 November 196120:00Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-BDiscoverer 34 Failure with guidance program left payload in useless orbit.
930 May 196201:00Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-BFTV 1128
1028 June 196201:09Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-DFTV 1151
112 August 196200:17Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-DFTV 1152
1229 September 196206:05Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-BAlouette 1Satellite aimed at studying Earth's ionosphere. First satellite for Canada. First civilian launch from LC-75-1.
1313 December 196204:07Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-DRideshare payloadConsisted of five separate satellites, including Calsphere and Injun probes.
147 January 196321:09Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-DOPS-0048
1526 April 196320:13Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-DOPS-1008 Error in altitude adjustment sensor resulted in failure to achieve orbit.
1615 June 196314:29Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-DRideshare payloadConsisted of five separate satellites, including SOLRAD and Surcal probes.
1719 July 196300:00Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-DOPS-1266
1828 September 196320:22Thor-AblestarThor DSV-2A / AblestarTransit 5E-1 and 5BN-1Part of the Transit Satellite System. First of three launches of a Transit satellite carrying an RTG. First Thor-Ablestar flight from Vandenberg and from LC-75-1-1.
195 December 196321:51Thor-AblestarThor DSV-2A / AblestarTransit 5E-3 and 5BN-2Part of the Transit Satellite System. Second of three launches of a Transit satellite carrying an RTG.
2025 January 196413:59Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2 / Agena-BEcho 2Part of Project Echo, being a balloon satellite used for passive communication.
2121 April 196418:50Thor-AblestarThor DSV-2A / AblestarTransit 5E-4 and 5BN-3Part of the Transit Satellite System. Last of three launches of a Transit satellite carrying an RTG. Failure of launch led to decision for future Transit sats solely relying on solar panels.
2219 June 196423:18Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-3754
2328 August 196407:56Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2 / Agena-BNimbus 1First launch of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites. Shorter second stage burn placed payload in more eccentric than expected orbit.
2418 November 196420:35Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-3360
2521 December 196419:08Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOPS-3762 Only launch of a Quill satellite. First spacecraft to use radar imaging.
2611 March 196513:39Thor-AblestarThor DSV-2A / AblestarOPS 7087 Part of the Transit Satellite System.
2724 June 196522:35Thor-AblestarThor DSV-2A / AblestarOPS 8480 Part of the Transit Satellite System.
2813 August 196522:11Thor-AblestarThor DSV-2A / AblestarOPS 8464 Part of the Transit Satellite System. Contained other secondary payloads, such as Calsphere and Surcal probes. Final flight of the Thor-Ablestar.
2914 October 196513:11Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOGO-2Part of the Orbiting Geophysical Observatory program, aimed at studying Earth's magnetosphere.
3029 November 196504:48Thor-AgenaThor DM-21 / Agena-BAlouette 2 and Explorer 31Two satellites, both aimed at studying the ionosphere. Alouette 2 operated by the CSA, and Explorer 31 was part of the Explorers Program,
3115 May 196607:55Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-BNimbus 2Part of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites.
3224 June 196600:12Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DPAGEOS-1
332 October 196610:34Delta EThor DSV-2C / Delta-E / Altair-2ESSA-3Part of the TOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA. First Thor-Delta flight from Vandenberg, and first launch as SLC-2E.
3426 January 196717:31Delta EThor DSV-2C / Delta-E / Altair-2ESSA-4Part of the TOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA.
3520 April 196711:17Delta EThor DSV-2C / Delta-E / Altair-2ESSA-5Part of the TOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA.
3624 May 196714:06Delta E1Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4DExplorer 34Part of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying the interplanetary magnetic field.
3728 July 196714:21Thor-AgenaTAT SLV-2A / Agena-DOGO-4Part of the Orbiting Geophysical Observatory program, aimed at studying Earth's magnetosphere.
3810 November 196718:00Delta E1Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4DESSA-6Part of the TOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA.
3911 January 196816:19Delta E1Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4DExplorer 36Part of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying geodesy from orbit.
4018 May 196808:23Thorad-AgenaSLV-2G / Agena-DNimbus BPart of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites. First Thorad-Agena launch from SLC-2E. Incorrectly installed gyro for yaw led to loss of control 101 seconds into flight, activating range safety.
414 July 196817:31Delta JThor DSV-2C / Delta-E / Star 37DExplorer 38Part of the Explorers Program, aimed at studying radio astronomy from orbit.
4216 August 196811:31Delta NThor LTT / Delta-EESSA-7Part of the TOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA. Maiden flight of the Long Tank Thor design for Delta.
4315 December 196817:17Delta NThor LTT / Delta-EESSA-8Part of the TOS series of weather satellites for the ESSA.
4430 January 196906:43Delta E1Thor DSV-2C / Delta-E / FW-4DISIS 1
4514 April 196907:54Thorad-AgenaThorad SLV-2G / Agena-DNimbus 3Part of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites.
465 June 196914:42Thorad-AgenaThorad SLV-2H / Agena-DOGO-6Part of the Orbiting Geophysical Observatory program, aimed at studying Earth's magnetosphere.
474 February 197002:59Thorad-AgenaThorad SLV-2G / Agena-DSERT 2
488 April 197008:17Thorad-AgenaThorad SLV-2G / Agena-DNimbus 4Part of the Nimbus program of meteorlogical satellites. Final Thorad-Agena flight from SLC-2.
491 April 197102:53Delta E1Thor DSV-2C / Delta E / FW-4DISIS 2
5021 October 197111:32Delta N6Thor LTT / Delta-EITOS-BPart of the ITOS series of weather satellites for NOAA. Oxidizer leak in second stage led to altitude control system running out of propellant trying to compensate, resulting in failure to achieve orbit.
5131 January 197217:20Delta LThor LTT / Delta-E / FW-1DHEOS 2
5212 March 197200:00Delta NThor LTT / Delta-ETD-1AFinal Delta launch from SLC-2E. Most recent launch conducted from SLC-2E.