The refurbished SLC-3E launch pad at Lockheed Martin's new Atlas V facility at Vandenberg AFB in California has passed a major operational test. On 2 June, an Atlas V launch vehicle was loaded with super-cooled liquid propellant and a simulated countdown was initiated.
This is the first time that Lockheed Martin (outside Pavilion 21) has tested the pad with the flight hardware and ground systems.
SLC-3E is a stationary launch pad using a traditional mobile service tower, in contrast to the facilities at Cape Canaveral where the rocket is stacked off-site and then rolled to the launch pad before launch.
Pad refurbishment started in January 2004 and first launch is scheduled for 2006. Lockheed Martin now has two fully operational launch pads to support the US government's assured access to space policy.
This is the first time that Lockheed Martin (outside Pavilion 21) has tested the pad with the flight hardware and ground systems.
SLC-3E is a stationary launch pad using a traditional mobile service tower, in contrast to the facilities at Cape Canaveral where the rocket is stacked off-site and then rolled to the launch pad before launch.
Pad refurbishment started in January 2004 and first launch is scheduled for 2006. Lockheed Martin now has two fully operational launch pads to support the US government's assured access to space policy.
Source: Flight Daily News