Vandenberg Launch Complex 576A Explained

34.7394°N -120.6192°W

Complex 576A
Location:34.7394°N -120.6192°W
Short:576A
Operator:US Air Force
Tlaunches:a
Pads:
Paddetails:
Status:Inactive
Launches:21 / 13 / 20
First:9 Sep 1959
Last:17 Mar 1969
Rockets:Atlas-D/E/F

Launch Complex 576A, also known as Area 576, is a group of rocket launch pads at Vandenberg Air Force Base. The pads at the complex were used from 1959 until 1971 to launch SM-65 Atlas missiles. The site was also known as Complex ABRES.[1] Pads in Area 576A include 576-A-1,2,3[2]

The first operational launch of an Atlas missile by the Strategic Air Command was conducted from 576-A-2 by the 576th Strategic Missile Squadron on September 9, 1959. It impacted 4480nmi away, near Wake Island.[3]

The three launch sites are:

576A-1

DateSiteTypeCodename
26-Oct-62576A-1ATLAS DCLOSED CIRCUITS
22-Dec-62576A-1ATLAS DFLY HIGH
13-Feb-63576A-1ATLAS DFLAG RACE
16-Mar-63576A-1ATLAS DLEADING EDGE
1-Dec-64576A-1ATLAS DBROOK TROUT
27-Feb-65576A-1ATLAS DDRAG BAR
26-Mar-65576A-1ATLAS DFRESH FROG
8-Jun-65576A-1ATLAS DLEA RING
29-Nov-65576A-1ATLAS DWILD GOAT
10-Feb-66576A-1ATLAS DYEAST CAKE
4-Mar-66576A-1ATLAS DETERNAL CAMP
19-Mar-66576A-1ATLAS DWHITE BEAR
3-May-66576A-1ATLAS DCRAB CLAW
30-Jun-66576A-1ATLAS DHEAVY ARTILLERY
19-May-67576A-1ATLAS FBUSY PIGSKIN
10-Nov-67576A-1ATLAS F--
26-Feb-68576A-1ATLAS F--
18-Apr-68576A-1ATLAS E--
29-Jun-68576A-1ATLAS F--
27-Sep-68576A-1ATLAS F--
24-Nov-68576A-1ATLAS F--

576A-2

DateSiteTypeCodename
9-Sep-59576A-2ATLAS DDESERT HEAT
5-Aug-65576A-2ATLAS FSEA TRAMP
8-Aug-66576A-2ATLAS FBUSY RAMROD
11-Oct-66576A-2ATLAS FLOW HILL
17-Jan-67576A-2ATLAS FBUSY STEPSON
16-Mar-67576A-2ATLAS FLITTLE CHURCH
29-Jul-67576A-2ATLAS FBREAD HOOK
14-Oct-67576A-2ATLAS F--
6-Apr-68576A-2ATLAS F--
3-May-68576A-2ATLAS F--
1-Jun-68576A-2ATLAS F--
11-Jul-68576A-2ATLAS F--
17-Mar-69576A-2ATLAS F--

576A-3

DateSiteTypeCodename
26-Jan-60576A-3ATLAS DDUAL EXHAUST
12-Dec-62576A-3ATLAS DDEER PARK
31-Jan-63576A-3ATLAS DFAINT CLICK
28-Feb-63576A-3ATLAS DPITCH PINE
12-Jun-63576A-3ATLAS DHARPOON GUN
4-Dec-64576A-3ATLAS DOPERA GLASS
2-Mar-65576A-3ATLAS DPORK BARREL
10-Jun-65576A-3ATLAS DSTOCK BOY
13-Feb-67576A-3ATLAS FBUSY BOXER
9-Jun-67576A-3ATLAS F--
22-Jul-67576A-3ATLAS F--
27-Oct-67576A-3ATLAS F--
21-Dec-67576A-3ATLAS F--
31-Jan-68576A-3ATLAS F--
6-Mar-68576A-3ATLAS E--
27-Apr-68576A-3ATLAS E--
22-Jun-68576A-3ATLAS F--
25-Sep-68576A-3ATLAS F--
16-Nov-68576A-3ATLAS F--
16-Jan-69576A-3ATLAS F--

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vandenberg ABRES . https://web.archive.org/web/20030910040931/http://astronautix.com/sites/vanabres.htm . dead . September 10, 2003 . Encyclopedia Astronautica.
  2. Web site: VANDENBERG AFB - HOME OF THE 576th STRATEGIC MISSILE SQUADRON . SiloWorld.
  3. Web site: Vandenberg 576A2 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081015235111/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/van576a2.htm . dead . October 15, 2008 . Encyclopedia Astronautica.

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