Adding to the Atlas rocket’s legacy of launches from the west coast that started in 1959, United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V made its debut flight from Space Launch Complex-3 East at Vandenberg A.F.B. at 3:02 a.m. PDT, March 13th. The rocket carried a National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) payload (read… secretsat, unknsat, spysat…) The launch ushers in a new era of space launch capability for the Air Force and ULA as part of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. For Atlas V, today’s success builds on 12 previous Atlas V launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, that started in 2002.
Modifications to SLC-3E to support an Atlas V vehicle began more than four years ago when a 22-month development program was initiated. Construction began January 5th in 2004 and was completed on March 31st in 2005. Major elements of the modification included raising the height of the mobile service tower by 30 feet; building a new 250-ton fixed launch platform; installing a new 60-ton bridge crane; replacing the ground command, control, and communication system; and finishing work on new and refurbished launch control and mission support centers—Vandenberg A.F.B., California
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