Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0

(Redirected from Pad 0A)

Launch Pad 0 (LP-0), also known as Launch Complex 0 (LC-0),[2][3] or Launch Area 0 (LA-0), is a launch complex at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Virginia, in the United States. MARS is located adjacent to NASA's Wallops Flight Facility (WFF),[2] which ran the launch complex until 2003. WFF continues to provide various support services to MARS launches under contract with the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Launch Pad 0
The LP-0B (left) and LP-0A (center, with the large water tower).
Map
Launch siteMARS (WFF)
Short nameLP-0
OperatorNASA
VCSFA
Total launches32
Launch pad(s)3
LP-0A launch history
StatusActive
Launches19
First launch23 October 1995
Conestoga-1620 / Meteor
Last launch2 August 2023
Antares 230+ / Cygnus NG-19
Associated
rockets
Conestoga (retired)
Antares (active)
LP-0B launch history
StatusActive
Launches9
First launch16 December 2006
Minotaur I / TacSat 2, GeneSat
Last launch15 June 2021
Minotaur I / NROL-111
Associated
rockets
LC-2 (LP-0C) launch history
StatusActive
Launches4
First launch24 January 2023[1]
Electron / HawkEye 360 Cluster 6
Last launch21 March 2024
Electron / Live and Let Fly (NROL-123)
Associated
rockets
Electron

The launch complex consists of three individual launch pads, LP-0A, LP-0B, and Launch Complex-2 (LC-2).

37°51′N 75°28′W / 37.850°N 75.467°W / 37.850; -75.467

Launch Pads edit

Pad 0A edit

LP-0A (located at 37°50′02″N 75°29′16″W / 37.833959°N 75.4878331°W / 37.833959; -75.4878331 (Wallops Island Launch Pad 0-A)) was first built for the failed Conestoga rocket program.[4] The original launch tower was subsequently demolished in September 2008.[5] A new pad facility was built from 2009 to 2011 for Orbital Sciences Taurus II, now renamed Antares.[6] Pad modifications for Antares included the construction of a Horizontal Integration Facility for launcher/payload mating and a wheeled transporter/erector that will roll out and erect the rocket on its launch pad about 24 hours prior to launch.[6] The first launch of Antares occurred on April 21, 2013.[7]

The pad was reinforced with pilings and features a liquid fueling facility, flame trench, and deluge system for cooling and sound suppression. The pad is capable of supporting a gross liftoff weight of 453.6 metric tons (1,000,000 lb) and can launch payloads of up to 5,035 kilograms (11,100 lb) into low Earth orbit.[8]

On October 28, 2014, an Orbital Systems Antares rocket, flying as mission Cygnus CRS Orb-3, crashed 6 seconds after takeoff and appeared to have done significant damage to the launch pad itself. On October 29, 2014, teams of investigators began examining debris at the crash site.[9] By May 2015, estimates had been revised down to around US$13 million. At that time, NASA had committed US$5 million, Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority committed US$3 million and Orbital ATK US$3 million. Repairs were underway and planned to be completed by September 2015, but repairs were only funded up to August with Virginia CSFA requesting that Orbital provide the remaining US$2 million. On September 30, 2015, the spaceport announced repairs on pad 0A had been completed.[10] The launch pad resumed flight operations with the Cygnus CRS OA-5 mission on October 17, 2016.[11]

In March 2021, Rocket Lab announced that they would launch their upcoming medium-lift launch vehicle Neutron from LP-0A,[12] with the initial launch planned for as early as 2024.[13] However, Rocket Lab later opted to construct their own Neutron launch site south of Pad 0B.

Antares will continue flights from Pad 0A indefinitely, as Northrop Grumman transitions from the 200-series to the 300-series of the rocket. Said transition will require moderate renovations to the pad and surrounding facilities in order to support the upgrade rocket's larger first stage.[14]

Gallery edit

Launches edit

Date (UTC) Vehicle Payload Result Remarks
23 October 1995, 22:02 Conestoga 1620 Meteor recoverable experimental satellite Failure The only orbital launch attempt of Conestoga.
21 April 2013, 21:00 Antares 110 Antares A-ONE Success[15]
18 September 2013, 14:58 Antares 110 Cygnus Orb-D1 Success[16] COTS Demo Mission
9 January 2014, 18:07[17][18][19] Antares 120 Cygnus CRS Orb-1 Success First Cygnus.

ISS re-supply mission.

13 July 2014, 16:52[20] Antares 120 Cygnus CRS Orb-2 Success ISS re-supply mission.
28 October 2014, 22:22[21] Antares 130 Cygnus CRS Orb-3 Failure[22] Pad damaged by explosion and fire.
17 October 2016, 23:45 [23] Antares 230 Cygnus CRS OA-5 Success ISS re-supply mission.
12 November 2017, 12:19 Antares 230 Cygnus CRS OA-8E Success ISS re-supply mission.
21 May 2018, 08:44 Antares 230 Cygnus CRS OA-9E Success ISS re-supply mission.
17 November 2018, 09:01 Antares 230 Cygnus NG-10 Success ISS re-supply mission.
17 April 2019, 16:46 Antares 230 Cygnus NG-11 Success ISS re-supply mission.
2 November 2019, 13:59 Antares 230+ Cygnus NG-12 Success ISS re-supply mission.
15 February 2020, 20:21 Antares 230+ Cygnus NG-13 Success ISS re-supply mission.
3 October 2020, 02:16 Antares 230+ Cygnus NG-14 Success ISS re-supply mission.
20 February 2021, 17:36 Antares 230+ Cygnus NG-15 Success ISS re-supply mission.
10 August 2021, 22:01 Antares 230+ Cygnus NG-16 Success ISS re-supply mission.
19 February 2022, 17:40 Antares 230+ Cygnus NG-17 Success ISS re-supply mission.
7 November 2022, 10:32 Antares 230+ Cygnus NG-18 Success ISS re-supply mission.

Pad-0B edit

LP-0B (located at 37°49′52″N 75°29′29″W / 37.8311576°N 75.4913829°W / 37.8311576; -75.4913829 (Wallops Island Launch Pad 0-B)) became operational in 1999,[24] and was subsequently upgraded in 2003 with the construction of a mobile service tower, which was completed in 2004.[25] It is active, and is currently used by Northrop Grumman Minotaur rockets. The first launch from LP-0B was of a Minotaur I in December 2006,[26] and was the first launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.

Pad 0B hosted the Minotaur V launch of the LADEE lunar orbiter in 2013, becoming the first (and so far only) beyond-Earth mission to launch from Wallops.

On October 19, 2017, Vector Launch announced plans to conduct three launches from near Pad 0B with its then-in-development Vector-R small satellite launch vehicle over the subsequent two years, with an option for five additional launches.[27] However, following the company's bankruptcy and restructuring, plans for these launches are unlikely.

Gallery edit

Launches edit

Date (UTC) Vehicle Payload Result Remarks
16 December 2006, 12:00 Minotaur I TacSat-2 / GeneSat-1 Success[28]
24 April 2007, 06:48 Minotaur I NFIRE Success[28]
22 August 2008, 09:10 ALV X-1 Hy-BoLT / SOAREX-VI Failure[29] Suborbital launch.
19 May 2009, 23:55 Minotaur I TacSat-3 Success
30 June 2011, 03:09 Minotaur I USAF ORS-1 Satellite Success
7 September 2013, 03:27 Minotaur V LADEE mission to Lunar orbit Success
20 November 2013, 01:15 Minotaur I ORS 3, STPSat-3 Success
15 July 2020, 13:46 [30] Minotaur IV NROL-129 Success Classified NRO payload.
15 June 2021, 13:35 Minotaur I NROL-111 Success Classified NRO payload.

Launch Complex 2 (Pad 0C) edit

In October 2018, Rocket Lab announced that it had selected Mid-Atlantic as its second launch site (the launch site in Mahia had at the time 2 pads, so this was Rocket Lab's third launch pad) called Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 (LC-2) or Launch Pad 0C (located at 37°50′00″N 75°29′18″W / 37.833266°N 75.4882304°W / 37.833266; -75.4882304 (Wallops Island Launch Complex-2)). The new launch pad is near Pad 0A (and shares some systems with Pad 0A).[31][32][33][34] Rockets launched from LC-2 are integrated at Rocket Lab's integration facility, located just a few miles away from the pad. They are transported to the pad and integrated onto the strongback.[35]

In December 2019, construction was completed and Rocket Lab inaugurated Launch Complex 2 at Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.[31] In April 2020, Rocket Lab performed a Wet Dress Rehearsal with an Electron rocket on the pad.[33]

The first launch from LC-2 successfully occurred on January 24, 2023. An Electron rocket carried three satellites to orbit in a mission named "Virginia is for Launch Lovers".[36][1][37]

Launches edit

Date (UTC) Vehicle Payload Result Remarks
24 January 2023, 23:00 Electron HawkEye 360 Cluster 6 Success First launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex-2.[38]
16 March 2023, 22:39 Electron Capella 9, 10 Success
18 June 2023, 01:25 HASTE DYNAMO-A Success First launch of the HASTE program; suborbital trajectory
21 March 2024, 07:25 Electron NROL-123 Success First NRO launch on an Electron from MARS.

Launch statistics edit

Chart excludes the only launch of Conestoga from pad 0A in 1995; the launch attempted to put a satellite into orbit but was unsuccessful. Chart also excludes the suborbital launch of ALV X-1 on 22 August 2008 from pad 0B.

References edit

  1. ^ a b Harwood, William (2023-01-24). "Rocket Lab launches 3 satellites in first mission from U.S. soil". CBS News. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  2. ^ a b "Commercial Space Transportation License LSO-02-007" (PDF). FAA. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Facility Access Plan" (PDF). Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS). p. 1.2.2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  4. ^ Wade, Mark. "Wallops Island LA0A". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  5. ^ "Launch Tower Demolition". GMB. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  6. ^ a b Kyle, Ed (2011-05-14). "TaConurus 2". Space Launch Report. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  7. ^ "NASA Partner Orbital Sciences Test Launches Antares Rocket". NASA. Retrieved 21 April 2013.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ^ "MARS Launch Pad 0A" (PDF). Orbital Sciences.
  9. ^ "Teams investigate failure of unmanned rocket off Virginia coast". cnn.com. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  10. ^ "Completion Of Repairs at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0A". vaspace.org. September 30, 2015.
  11. ^ Graham, William (17 October 2016). "Antares 230 successfully returns with launch of OA-5 Cygnus". nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  12. ^ Foust, Jeff (2 March 2021). "Rocket Lab says SPAC deal will accelerate development of Neutron rocket". SpaceNews. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  13. ^ Foust, Jeff (1 March 2021). "Rocket Lab to go public through SPAC merger and develop medium-lift rocket". SpaceNews. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  14. ^ Navin, Joseph (November 7, 2022). "SS Sally Ride Cygnus arrives at ISS on NG-18 mission". NASASpaceflight. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  15. ^ "Antares Maiden Soar Pierces Virginia Sky and delivers NASA SmartPhone Pioneer Nanosats to Orbit - Universe Today". 24 April 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  16. ^ Dietrich, Tamara (19 September 2013). "Cargo ship takes off for station". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. p. A4. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "ORB-1: Antares successfully launches Cygnus en route to ISS – NASASpaceFlight.com". www.nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  18. ^ "Northrop Grumman Corporation". Northrop Grumman. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  19. ^ "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  20. ^ Beutel, Allard (3 April 2015). "NASA Cargo Launches to Station Aboard Orbital Resupply Mission". Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  21. ^ "Antares Launch Postponed to Oct. 28 – Orbital ATK". blogs.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  22. ^ "Teams investigate failure of unmanned rocket off Virginia coast". CNN.
  23. ^ Beutel, Allard (17 October 2016). "Orbital ATK Launches NASA Resupply Mission to Space Station". Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  24. ^ "Facilities". Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. Archived from the original on October 16, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  25. ^ "Launch Pad 0-B" (PDF). Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  26. ^ Wade, Mark. "Wallops Island LA0B". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  27. ^ "Vector to perform first orbital launches from Virginia". SpaceNews. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  28. ^ a b Wade, Mark. "Wallops Island LA0B". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  29. ^ Tennant, Diane (22 Aug 2008). "NASA destroys rocket shortly after launch at Wallops Island". Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  30. ^ Koehler, Keith (15 July 2020). "Minotaur IV Launches from Wallops". Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  31. ^ a b Foust, Jeff (12 December 2019). "Rocket Lab inaugurates U.S. launch site". SpaceNews. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  32. ^ "Rocket Lab | News". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
  33. ^ a b "Rocket Lab tests Electron on new Virginia launch pad". SpaceNews.com. 2020-04-30. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  34. ^ "Virginia Space on Twitter". 6 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  35. ^ "Rocket Lab | Our Launch Sites". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  36. ^ "Rocket Lab conducts first Electron launch from American soil". NASASpaceflight. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  37. ^ "Virginia is for Launch Lovers". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
  38. ^ Harwood, William (2023-01-24). "Rocket Lab launches 3 satellites in first mission from U.S. soil". CBS News. Retrieved 2023-01-25.