🇺🇸Firefly SLC-2W Vandenberg
Vandenberg SFB, California, United States
Country
🇺🇸 United States
Region
North America
Established
2021
Launches / Year
3-6
Coordinates
34.7561° N, 120.6231° W
About
Space Launch Complex 2 West (SLC-2W) at Vandenberg Space Force Base is operated by Firefly Aerospace for its Alpha small launch vehicle. The pad was historically used for Delta II launches. Firefly Aerospace achieved its first successful orbital launch of Alpha from this site in 2022, establishing the company as a viable small-launch provider.
Key Features
Former Delta II launch pad repurposed for Firefly Alpha operations
Supports Firefly Alpha small launch vehicle for LEO and SSO missions
West Coast location ideal for polar and sun-synchronous orbits
Firefly plans to also launch its larger MLV (Medium Launch Vehicle) from here
Part of Vandenberg SFB's growing commercial launch portfolio
Rockets That Launch Here
Companies Operating Here
Orbit Types
Notable Launches
Alpha Flight 2 'To The Black' (2022) — First successful Firefly Alpha orbital launch
Alpha Flight 3 'Fly The Lightning' (2023) — Successful DoD mission
Alpha Flight 4 (2024) — Continued successful launch cadence
Historic Delta II GPS and Earth observation missions from same pad