Vandenberg Air Force Base

Vandenberg Air Force Base

Air Force Space Command.png
Air Force Space Command
Vandenburg AFB - California - 15 Sep 1994.jpg
Aerial image - 15 September 1994
VBG - FAA airport diagram.gif
FAA airport diagram
IATA: VBG – ICAO: KVBG – FAA LID: VBG
Summary
Airport type Military: Air Force Base
Owner United States Air Force
Operator Air Force Space Command
Location Santa Barbara County, near Lompoc, California, USA
Built 1941
In use 1957–present
Occupants 30th Space Wing
Elevation AMSL 369 ft / 112 m
Website www.vandenberg.af.mil
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
12/30 15,000 4,572 Concrete
Source: Official website[1] and FAA[2]
Vandenberg Air Force Base is located in California
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Location of Vandenberg Air Force Base
Map of possible launch azimuths from Vandenberg AFB for both ICBM missile tests and orbital space launches over the Pacific Ocean
30th Space Wing emblem

Vandenberg Air Force Base (IATA: VBG, ICAO: KVBG, FAA LID: VBG) is a United States military installation with a spaceport, in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. It is also a census-designated place (CDP) with a population of 6,151 as of the 2000 census. The base is named in honor of former Air Force Chief of Staff General Hoyt S. Vandenberg.

Vandenberg is home to the 14th Air Force, 30th Space Wing, 381st Training Group, the Western Launch and Test Range (WLTR), and elements of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, and is responsible for satellite launches for military and commercial organizations, as well as testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles, including the Minuteman III ICBMs. Vandenberg is assuming new roles with the creation of the Joint Functional Component Command for Space (JFCC SPACE).

Contents

History

The base, nicknamed "VandyLand" by Air Force personnel, was originally established in 1941 as the U.S. Army's Camp Cooke. Camp Cooke was named in honor of Major General Philip St. George Cooke, a cavalry officer whose military career spanned almost half a century, beginning with his graduation from West Point in 1827 to his retirement in 1873. As a colonel during the Mexican-American War, he led the Mormon Battalion from Santa Fe to California. The facility served as a training center for armored and infantry troops through World War II and again in the Korean War.

The base was transferred to the U.S. Air Force in 1957 and began its transformation into a space and ballistic missile test facility. One year later, Cooke Air Force base was renamed in honor of General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, the second chief of staff of the Air Force, who was an early advocate of space and missile operations.[3]

Between March 1, 1966 and December 20, 1968, the Air Force also purchased approximately 15,000 acres (61 km2) from the Sudden Ranch property, located south of the installation's original boundaries through the law of eminent domain. This acquisition enlarged the base to its current 98,000 acres (397 km2) of which only 15% is developed. Its relatively remote location and proximity to the coast offers an excellent location to safely conduct test firings of strategic missile weapon systems (Atlas, Titan I, Titan II, Minuteman I/II/III and Peacekeepers) as well as launch satellites into polar orbit without overflying populated areas after liftoff.

On December 16, 1958, Vandenberg AFB launched its first Thor ballistic missile. Vandenberg boosted the world's first polar-orbiting satellite, Discoverer 1, aboard a Thor Agena booster combination on February 28, 1959. (The Discoverer 1 mission was used as a cover for the clandestine CIA Corona program.) Both launches occurred from Space Launch Complex 10, which has since been preserved and maintained as an example of a 1950s era launch complex technology. SLC-10 is also classified as a National Historic Landmark.

Vandenberg is still the only military installation in the United States that launches unmanned government and commercial satellites into polar orbit. It is also the only site from which ICBMs are launched toward the Kwajalein Atoll to verify weapon system performance.

The base is operated by Air Force Space Command's (AFSPC) 30th Space Wing.

Space Shuttle

In 1972, Vandenberg was selected as the West Coast Space Shuttle launch and landing site, but it has never been used as such.

Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6, pronounced as "Slick Six"), originally built for the abandoned Manned Orbital Laboratory project, was extensively modified for shuttle operations. Over $4 billion was spent on the new space shuttle modifications. The original Mobile Service Tower (MST) was lowered in height and two new flame ducts were added for the shuttle's Solid Rocket Boosters. Additional modifications or improvements included liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen storage tanks, a payload preparation room, payload changeout room, a new launch tower with escape system for the shuttle crewmembers, sound suppression system and water reclamation area and a Shuttle Assembly Building were added to the original complex.

Additionally, the existing 8,500 foot (2,590 m) runway and overruns on the North Base flightline were lengthened to 15,000 feet (4580 m) to accommodate end-of-mission landings, along with construction of the Precision Approach and Path Indicator (PAPI) lights/large triangle arrows at both ends of the runway. Turn-around servicing and refurbishing of the Orbiter would be accomplished in the adjacent Orbiter Maintenance and Checkout Facility (OMCF). The Mate-Demate Facility, to load and unload the Orbiter from the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), was changed from the large structure found at Dryden Flight Research Center and Kennedy Space Center, to a transportable "erector set-like" Orbiter Lifting Frame (OLF). This facility design change was due to the possibility of needing to support a landing at a location where there was no facility to upload onto the SCA. The OLF could be dissassembled, loaded onto two C-5 aircraft, shipped to the overseas Orbiter landing site, and reassembled to upload the Orbiter onto the 747. To transport the Orbiter from the OMCF (on North Vandenberg AFB) to SLC-6, the 22 mile route was upgraded to accommodate a 76-wheeled vehicle built specifically to carry the Orbiter on its large flat deck utilizing the three external tank interface points (built by Commetto, Italy), versus towing the Orbiter on its landing gear that long distance. The transporter was sent to KSC after the Vandenberg AFB launch site was abandoned, and it is used to transport the Orbiter from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building.

Modification of SLC-6 to support polar missions had been problematic and expensive.[4] SLC-6 was still being prepared for its first Shuttle launch, mission STS-62-A targeted for October 15, 1986, when the Challenger disaster grounded the Shuttle fleet and set in motion a chain of events that finally led to the decision to cancel all West Coast Shuttle launches.

Had the space shuttle program been successful at SLC-6, the West Coast operation would have contrasted with that at the Kennedy Space Center by creating the orbiter stack directly on the launch pad, rather than assembling it and then moving it. Three movable buildings on rails, the Launch Tower, Mobile Service Building and Payload Changeout Room were used to assemble the Shuttle orbiter, external tank and SRBs. These buildings were designed to protect the shuttle "stack" from high winds in the area and were used during a series of "fit tests" utilizing the space shuttle Enterprise in 1985.

Delta IV

Since the demise of the shuttle program at Vandenberg, SLC-6 has once again been reconfigured, this time to support polar-orbit satellite launches by the new Delta IV family of launch vehicles, utilizing a Common Core Booster for class sizes all the way up to and including the Delta IV (Heavy) launcher. As it is currently configured, the 132-acre (0.53 km2) launch site features structures similar to Boeing's Delta IV SLC-37 launch site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, with a Fixed Umbilical Tower, Mobile Service Tower, Fixed Pad Erector, Launch Control Center and Operations Building, and a Horizontal Integration Facility. SLC-6 also features a Mobile Assembly Shelter that protects the rocket from adverse weather.

The first of the Delta IV launch vehicles to fly from SLC-6 successfully lifted off at 8:33 p.m. PDT on June 27, 2006 when a Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) rocket lofted NROL-22, a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, into orbit. The payload was successfully deployed approximately 54 minutes later.

Space and Missile Heritage Center

The Space and Missile Heritage Center preserves and displays artifacts and memorabilia to interpret the evolution of missile and spacelift activity at Vandenberg from the beginning of the Cold War through current non-classified developments in military, commercial, and scientific space endeavors.

The initial display area is made up of two exhibits, the "Chronology of the Cold War" and the "Evolution of Technology". The exhibits incorporate a combination of launch complex models, launch consoles, rocket engines, re-entry vehicles, audiovisual and computer displays as well as hands-on interaction where appropriate. The Center will evolve in stages from these initial exhibit areas as restorations of additional facilities are completed.

The Center is located at Space Launch Complex 10, site of the first IRBM tests of the Thor and Discoverer (aka Corona spy satellite) series of launches. It is Vandenberg's only National Historic Landmark that is open for regularly scheduled tours through the 30th Space Wing's Public Affairs office.

Mission

Vandenberg's location on the northern Pacific Ocean makes it possible to easily launch satellites into polar orbit, unlike the Kennedy Space Center. This, along with its location relative to the jet stream, makes Vandenberg a good site to launch reconnaissance satellites.

Vandenberg is also used for the launch of non-military satellites into polar orbits. The space probe "Clementine" was also launched there, using a "recycled" Titan II ICBM.

Geography

Vandenberg AFB is located at 34°43'47.43"N, 120°34'31.33"W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the base has a total area of 57.3 km2 (22.1 sq mi). 57.1 km2 (22.0 sq mi) of it is land and 0.2 km2 (0.077 sq mi) of it (0.32%) is water.

Much of the base is rugged, mountainous, and undeveloped; predominant groundcover includes chaparral with coastal sage scrub and oak woodland. Because of its protected nature—none of the backcountry areas are open to the public or to any kind of development—the base contains some of the highest quality coastal habitat remaining in southern or central California. It is home to numerous threatened or endangered species, including Gambel's watercress (Nasturtium gambelii).[5] The western terminus of the Santa Ynez Mountains is on the base, and is dominated by Tranquillion Peak, which rises 2,297 feet (700 m) above sea level. An optical tracking station is located at the top of the peak, which overlooks the various space launch complexes.

Demographics

The United States Census Bureau has designated the base as its own census-designated place for statistical purposes.

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 6,151 people, 1,707 households, and 1,601 families residing in the base. The population density was 107.7/km2 (278.8/mi2). There were 1,992 housing units at an average density of 34.9/km2 (90.3/mi2). The racial makeup of the base was 72.26% White, 11.74% African American, 0.54% Native American, 3.90% Asian, 0.65% Pacific Islander, 4.96% from other races, and 5.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.10% of the population.

There are 1,707 households, out of which 71.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 87.2% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 6.2% were non-families. 5.4% of all households were made up of individuals and none had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.33 and the average family size was 3.44.

In the base, the population was spread out with 38.0% under the age of 18, 15.2% from 18 to 24, 44.7% from 25 to 44, 1.9% from 45 to 64, and 0.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 109.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.2 males.

The median income for a household in the base was $39,444, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $27,352 versus $22,283 for females. The per capita income for the base was $13,570. About 6.0% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Vandenberg supports a population greater than 18,000 composed of military, family members, government contractors, and civilian employees.

The majority of the workforce that does not live on base resides in the immediate northern Santa Barbara county communities of Lompoc, Vandenberg Village, Santa Ynez, Orcutt or Santa Maria. A small percentage commute from as far south as Santa Barbara and Isla Vista to as far north as the Five Cities area near San Luis Obispo, which are all roughly an hour's drive along U.S. Route 101 and State Route 1 to the base's five access gates.

The base's ZIP code is 93437 and its area code 805.

Politics

In the state legislature Vandenberg AFB is located in the 19th Senate District, represented by Republican Tony Strickland, and in the 33rd Assembly District, represented by Republican Sam Blakeslee. Federally, Vandenberg AFB is located in California's 24th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +5[7] and is represented by Republican Elton Gallegly.

Launch sites

Active sites

Site Status Uses
Space Launch Complex 2 Active Delta II, previously Thor, Delta
Space Launch Complex 3-East Active Atlas V, previously Atlas II and Atlas
Space Launch Complex 3-West Active Falcon 1, previously Atlas, Thor
Space Launch Complex 6 Active Delta IV, previously Athena, Shuttle (unused), Titan III (unused)
Space Launch Complex 8 Active Minotaur
Space Launch Complex 576-E Active Taurus (rocket).[8]

Inactive sites

Site Status Uses
Space Launch Complex 1 Inactive Thor
Space Launch Complex 4-West Inactive Titan II, Titan IIIB
Space Launch Complex 4-East Inactive Titan IV, Titan III; under redevelopment for SpaceX Falcon 9[9]
Space Launch Complex 5 Inactive Scout
Space Launch Complex 10 Inactive Thor ( a National Historic Landmark)

Vandenberg Tracking Station

The Vandenberg Tracking Station is a satellite ground station located at VAFB and operated by Detachment 1 of the 22d Space Operations Squadron of the 50th Space Wing. The 35-year old antenna and associated electronics at the station were recently upgraded in a $60 million modernization effort.[10]

In popular fiction

In It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Hawthorne works at Vandenberg.

Vandenberg is portrayed in the film Moonraker, as the location of a space shuttle launched by the US military to destroy Hugo Drax's space station.

Vandenberg Air Force Base appears in the 2000 computer role-playing game Deus Ex. Set in the near future of 2052, in the game the Base is occupied by scientists after it was abandoned due to the effects of an earthquake.

While not specifically identified in dialog, Vandenberg AFB is the home of the John Connor's Resistance cell in Terminator: Salvation. In one scene during a prisoner interrogation, the 30th Space Wing logo can be clearly identified in the background.

In the video game Modern Warfare 2 Vandenberg is in contact with NORAD when the Russians arrive on US soil.

Vandenberg is featured in the Michael Crichton book The Andromeda Strain.

In white nationalist leader William Pierce's race war novel The Turner Diaries, the Nazi revolutionaries seize Vandenberg and the nuclear weapons in it. They later launch nuclear missiles against New York City, Israel and the Soviet Union from Vandenberg and detonate other portable nuclear weapons taken from Vandenberg at other places in the United States.

The base is enclosed (and thus rendered impotent) by an impenetrable, hemispherical force-field 20 kilometres in diameter in the novel The Peace War by Vernor Vinge.

In episode 19 of season 1 of Gilligan's Island, VAFB is also referenced when the base launches a rocket on a top secret mission called Operation Powdercake to the exact coordinates where the island is located. Fearing it'll blow up the island, Gilligan is volunteered to disarm the warhead.

In episode 19 of the first season of the TV series JAG features Vandenberg Air Force Base.

See also

References

  •  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  •  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "Vandenberg Air Force Base".
  • Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office 1961 (republished 1983, Office of Air Force History, ISBN 0-912799-02-1).
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History 1984. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
  • Mueller, Robert, Air Force Bases Volume I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History, 1989

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Vandenberg Air Force Base (official site)
  2. ↑ FAA Airport Master Record for VBG (Form 5010 PDF), effective 2007-07-05
  3. ↑ "VAFB History Office Fact Sheet". USAF. http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4606. 
  4. ↑ Space Launch Complex 6 [SLC-6], Globalsecurity.org, 2007-04-27.
  5. ↑ Center for Plant Conservation: Nasturtium gambelii
  6. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  7. ↑ "Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?". Campaign Legal Center Blog. http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html. Retrieved 2008-02-10. 
  8. ↑ NASA.GOV - 2009 Highlights for 2009 Orbiting Carbon Observatory(OCO) satellite.
  9. ↑ Largest Commercial Rocket Launch Deal Ever Signed by SpaceX , SPACE.com, 2010-06-16, accessed 2010-06-16.
  10. ↑ "Vandenberg Tracking Station Transition to Operations (OMRT)". USAF. 2008-06-05. http://www.losangeles.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123101518. 

External links

Official sites
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