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Vandenberg Launch Complex 576A

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Rocket launch pads at Vandenberg Space Force Base

34°44′22″N 120°37′09″W / 34.73944°N 120.61917°W / 34.73944; -120.61917

Complex 576A
Location34°44′22″N 120°37′09″W / 34.73944°N 120.61917°W / 34.73944; -120.61917
Short name576A
OperatorUS Air Force
Total launchesa
Launch pad(s)
Launch history
StatusInactive
Launches21 / 13 / 20
First launch9 Sep 1959
Last launch17 Mar 1969
Associated
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. Pads in Area 576A include 576-A-1,2,3

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 4,480 nautical miles (8,300 km) away, near Wake Island.

The three launch sites are:

576A-1

Date Site Type Codename
26-Oct-62 576A-1 ATLAS D CLOSED CIRCUITS
22-Dec-62 576A-1 ATLAS D FLY HIGH
13-Feb-63 576A-1 ATLAS D FLAG RACE
16-Mar-63 576A-1 ATLAS D LEADING EDGE
1-Dec-64 576A-1 ATLAS D BROOK TROUT
27-Feb-65 576A-1 ATLAS D DRAG BAR
26-Mar-65 576A-1 ATLAS D FRESH FROG
8-Jun-65 576A-1 ATLAS D LEA RING
29-Nov-65 576A-1 ATLAS D WILD GOAT
10-Feb-66 576A-1 ATLAS D YEAST CAKE
4-Mar-66 576A-1 ATLAS D ETERNAL CAMP
19-Mar-66 576A-1 ATLAS D WHITE BEAR
3-May-66 576A-1 ATLAS D CRAB CLAW
30-Jun-66 576A-1 ATLAS D HEAVY ARTILLERY
19-May-67 576A-1 ATLAS F BUSY PIGSKIN
10-Nov-67 576A-1 ATLAS F --
26-Feb-68 576A-1 ATLAS F --
18-Apr-68 576A-1 ATLAS E --
29-Jun-68 576A-1 ATLAS F --
27-Sep-68 576A-1 ATLAS F --
24-Nov-68 576A-1 ATLAS F --

576A-2

Date Site Type Codename
9-Sep-59 576A-2 ATLAS D DESERT HEAT
5-Aug-65 576A-2 ATLAS F SEA TRAMP
8-Aug-66 576A-2 ATLAS F BUSY RAMROD
11-Oct-66 576A-2 ATLAS F LOW HILL
17-Jan-67 576A-2 ATLAS F BUSY STEPSON
16-Mar-67 576A-2 ATLAS F LITTLE CHURCH
29-Jul-67 576A-2 ATLAS F BREAD HOOK
14-Oct-67 576A-2 ATLAS F --
6-Apr-68 576A-2 ATLAS F --
3-May-68 576A-2 ATLAS F --
1-Jun-68 576A-2 ATLAS F --
11-Jul-68 576A-2 ATLAS F --
17-Mar-69 576A-2 ATLAS F --

576A-3

Date Site Type Codename
26-Jan-60 576A-3 ATLAS D DUAL EXHAUST
12-Dec-62 576A-3 ATLAS D DEER PARK
31-Jan-63 576A-3 ATLAS D FAINT CLICK
28-Feb-63 576A-3 ATLAS D PITCH PINE
12-Jun-63 576A-3 ATLAS D HARPOON GUN
4-Dec-64 576A-3 ATLAS D OPERA GLASS
2-Mar-65 576A-3 ATLAS D PORK BARREL
10-Jun-65 576A-3 ATLAS D STOCK BOY
13-Feb-67 576A-3 ATLAS F BUSY BOXER
9-Jun-67 576A-3 ATLAS F --
22-Jul-67 576A-3 ATLAS F --
27-Oct-67 576A-3 ATLAS F --
21-Dec-67 576A-3 ATLAS F --
31-Jan-68 576A-3 ATLAS F --
6-Mar-68 576A-3 ATLAS E --
27-Apr-68 576A-3 ATLAS E --
22-Jun-68 576A-3 ATLAS F --
25-Sep-68 576A-3 ATLAS F --
16-Nov-68 576A-3 ATLAS F --
16-Jan-69 576A-3 ATLAS F --



References

  1. "Vandenberg ABRES". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on September 10, 2003.
  2. "VANDENBERG AFB - HOME OF THE 576th STRATEGIC MISSILE SQUADRON". SiloWorld.
  3. "Vandenberg 576A2". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on October 15, 2008.
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