Vandenberg Space Force Station demolished three support towers at Space Launch Complex-6 (SLC-6) on Tuesday June 16 at 11 am PDT. The access tower, mobile service tower, and assembly building were brought down through a series of demolition charges to prepare the site for SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy missions. The demolition clears decades-old infrastructure from one of America's most historic launch sites, which was originally built in 1966 for the Air Force's Manned Orbiting Laboratory program and later modified for space shuttle operations that never materialized.
Vandenberg Demolishes Three SLC-6 Towers on June 16
The demolition at SLC-6—pronounced "slick-six"—in southern California was announced hours after completion. The detonations brought down the access tower first, followed by the mobile service tower and then the large American flag-adorned assembly building. A marine layer of low clouds and fog covered the scene during the demolition.
"Space Launch Complex-6 represents six decades of American innovation and our unwavering commitment to securing space superiority," Col. James T. Horne III, commander of Space Launch Delta 30 at Vandenberg, said in a statement. "By modernizing this historic footprint in partnership with our defense industrial base, we are building directly upon the foundation of our pioneers."
SpaceX to Use SLC-6 for Falcon Rocket Missions
The cleared site will be used by SpaceX in support of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy missions. Space Launch Complex-6 is arguably better known for what did not lift off from there than for what did.
SLC-6 Built for Canceled MOL Program in 1966
SLC-6 was first developed beginning in 1966 to support the Air Force's first effort to send astronauts into Earth orbit to conduct reconnaissance using a vehicle and hardware adapted from NASA's Project Gemini. The site's mobile service tower and concrete apron were built for the Titan IIIM modified missile, but the program was canceled in June 1969 before any launches from SLC-6 could be conducted.
Looking to recoup some of its investment from the MOL infrastructure, the Air Force next chose SLC-6 as its launch site for Department of Defense dedicated space shuttle missions. With the intention of permanently moving the orbiter Discovery to California, the Air Force designed SLC-6 differently from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, most notably by stacking the vehicle directly on the pad rather than in a more distant assembly building.
FAQ
What structures were demolished at SLC-6 on June 16?
Three structures were demolished at Space Launch Complex-6: the access tower, mobile service tower, and assembly building. The demolition occurred at 11 am PDT through a series of demolition charges.
Why was Space Launch Complex-6 originally built?
SLC-6 was first developed beginning in 1966 to support the Air Force's Manned Orbiting Laboratory program, which aimed to send astronauts into Earth orbit for reconnaissance missions using hardware adapted from NASA's Project Gemini. The program was canceled in June 1969 before any launches occurred.
