Iain Young wrote in message ...
On 2003-11-26, ed kyle wrote:

BTW, the planned Falcon launch is apparently supposed to go from
Space Launch Complex 3-West at Vandenberg AFB, formerly used for
Atlas E/F/H launches. The site's service and unbilical towers
were demolished in 2000, so this must be a "flat pad" setup.
SLC-3W is supposed to be rebuilt for Atlas V in a few years as
I understand it.

They've also been allocated Complex 46 out at The Cape. From
a reply that Kim (Keller) gave to me wondering where Complex 46 was,
that is a "flat pad". I'd guess SLC-3W is the same...


SLC 46 is flat in the sense that it has a subgrade flame
trench and no umbilical tower to speak of (Athena used a
steel pole-like mast), but it does have a mobile service
structure that can house a vehicle during pre-launch
assembly and testing. Vandenberg's SLC 3-West won't have
a service tower, unless SpaceX or the Air Force builds
one.

I'm going to waffle a bit now about the Atlas V pad. It
turns out that a recent Aviation Week story said that
SLC-*East*, the current Atlas IIAS pad, is supposed to
be rebuilt to support Atlas V. SLC-3E in current form
is practically brand new (first launch in 1999), but
has only hosted two Atlas IIA(S) launches. A third and
final Atlas IIA(S) is on that pad right now.

- Ed Kyle