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That launch facility was for polar orbiting shuttle missions, which were never executed.
by sputknick 12y ago
That launch facility was for polar orbiting shuttle missions, which were never executed.
- timdiggerm 12y agoSource for saying it would be exclusively used for polar missions?
- mikeash 12y agoThat's all Vandenberg is ever used for aside from missile tests which go west[1], and there would be no reason to use it for launches to the east when you can accomplish those just as easily from Florida without the safety concerns. [1] http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm "With the exception of the Pegasus XL, all Vandenberg AFB launches take place from the base. Minuteman III missiles climb rather steeply and head due west. Delta, Taurus, and other satellite launch vehicles fly towards the south and climb more slowly."
- washedup 12y agoIt's not well sourced, but this Wikipedia about the Shuttle Launch Complex at Vandenberg provides further details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandenberg_AFB_Space_Launch_Complex_6#Space_Shuttle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandenberg_AFB_Space_Launch_Com...