🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1989Dec17.214834.10372@athena.mit.edu> mmachlis@athena.mit.edu (Matthew A Machlis) writes:
>[text deleted....]
>
>About the launch facility at Vandenberg: when I was back in L.A. I saw
>a CBS news report about what happened there.  If anyone knows differently,
>please correct me, but my impression is that the Air Force spent billions
>of dollars (of -taxpayers'- dollars!) to build a complete facility, and
>then decided that because of the weather and other considerations -- things
>which should have been considered before a cent was spent on building
>anything -- the entire facility was declared unusable.  It ended up costing
>the military an incredible amount of money and was a completely and utterly
>worthless from the very beginning.
>
I remember when I was at the AFROTC Field Traning Encampment an Vandenberg
in June of 1983, we got a tour of SLC-6 (or Slick-6) (SLC stands for
Shuttle Launch Complex).  It was about 80% complete then.  It was built
on what used to be an atlas test site.

Vandenberg was really geared up for the shuttle.  The runway was extended
to 15,000' and widened to 300', and the only permanent airfcraft based
there were some Hueys from a Search and Rescue Detachment (Det 8 I think).

In addition, there was a mate-demate facility for the orbiter and the 747.

The road was widened to be able to take the orbiter from the runway
to the launch complex.  Also, a barge facility was built for the
SRBs and external tank.

There are several advantages for launching from Vandenberg.  Satellites can
be placed into polar orbit, since the downrange portion of the launch
is over the ocean, with no danger of an exploding launch vehicle
hitting land.

As the the weather, early morning there stinks.  During the month I was
there, the fog would roll in very early, and sometimes not even 
burn off until 10 or 11 in the morning, but after that, the weather
was great!!!

One of the most impressive sights I have ever seen was a night
salvo launch of 2 Minuteman ICBMs.  We were on survival training.   We
were just about to bed down, and head this rumble.  We ran to a clearing,
and saw 2 streaks of light heading west.

I also was able to witness the first launch of the MX (Peacekeeper).  What
a sight!!!



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