Vandenberg AFB Launch Complex 576A
Coordinates: 34°44′22″N 120°37′09″W / 34.73944°N 120.61917°W / 34.73944; -120.61917
Launch Complex 576A, also known as Area 576, is a group of rocket launch pads at Vandenberg Air Force Base. The pads at the complex were used from 1959 until 1971 to launch SM-65 Atlas missiles. The site was also known as Complex ABRES.[1] Pads in Area 576A include 576-A-1,2,3[2]
The first operational launch of an Atlas missile by the Strategic Air Command was conducted from 576-A-2 by the 576th Strategic Missile Squadron on September 9, 1959. It impacted 4,480 nautical miles (8,300 km) away, near Wake Island.[3]
The three launch sites are:
576A-1
| Date |
Site |
Type |
Codename |
| 26-Oct-62 | 576A-1 | ATLAS D | CLOSED CIRCUITS |
| 22-Dec-62 | 576A-1 | ATLAS D | FLY HIGH |
| 13-Feb-63 | 576A-1 | ATLAS D | FLAG RACE |
| 16-Mar-63 | 576A-1 | ATLAS D | LEADING EDGE |
| 1-Dec-64 | 576A-1 | ATLAS D | BROOK TROUT |
| 27-Feb-65 | 576A-1 | ATLAS D | DRAG BAR |
| 26-Mar-65 | 576A-1 | ATLAS D | FRESH FROG |
| 8-Jun-65 | 576A-1 | ATLAS D | LEA RING |
| 29-Nov-65 | 576A-1 | ATLAS D | WILD GOAT |
| 10-Feb-66 | 576A-1 | ATLAS D | YEAST CAKE |
| 4-Mar-66 | 576A-1 | ATLAS D | ETERNAL CAMP |
| 19-Mar-66 | 576A-1 | ATLAS D | WHITE BEAR |
| 3-May-66 | 576A-1 | ATLAS D | CRAB CLAW |
| 30-Jun-66 | 576A-1 | ATLAS D | HEAVY ARTILLERY |
| 19-May-67 | 576A-1 | ATLAS F | BUSY PIGSKIN |
| 10-Nov-67 | 576A-1 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 26-Feb-68 | 576A-1 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 18-Apr-68 | 576A-1 | ATLAS E | -- |
| 29-Jun-68 | 576A-1 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 27-Sep-68 | 576A-1 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 24-Nov-68 | 576A-1 | ATLAS F | -- |
576A-2
| Date |
Site |
Type |
Codename |
| 9-Sep-59 | 576A-2 | ATLAS D | DESERT HEAT |
| 5-Aug-65 | 576A-2 | ATLAS F | SEA TRAMP |
| 8-Aug-66 | 576A-2 | ATLAS F | BUSY RAMROD |
| 11-Oct-66 | 576A-2 | ATLAS F | LOW HILL |
| 17-Jan-67 | 576A-2 | ATLAS F | BUSY STEPSON |
| 16-Mar-67 | 576A-2 | ATLAS F | LITTLE CHURCH |
| 29-Jul-67 | 576A-2 | ATLAS F | BREAD HOOK |
| 14-Oct-67 | 576A-2 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 6-Apr-68 | 576A-2 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 3-May-68 | 576A-2 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 1-Jun-68 | 576A-2 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 11-Jul-68 | 576A-2 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 17-Mar-69 | 576A-2 | ATLAS F | -- |
576A-3
| Date |
Site |
Type |
Codename |
| 26-Jan-60 | 576A-3 | ATLAS D | DUAL EXHAUST |
| 12-Dec-62 | 576A-3 | ATLAS D | DEER PARK |
| 31-Jan-63 | 576A-3 | ATLAS D | FAINT CLICK |
| 28-Feb-63 | 576A-3 | ATLAS D | PITCH PINE |
| 12-Jun-63 | 576A-3 | ATLAS D | HARPOON GUN |
| 4-Dec-64 | 576A-3 | ATLAS D | OPERA GLASS |
| 2-Mar-65 | 576A-3 | ATLAS D | PORK BARREL |
| 10-Jun-65 | 576A-3 | ATLAS D | STOCK BOY |
| 13-Feb-67 | 576A-3 | ATLAS F | BUSY BOXER |
| 9-Jun-67 | 576A-3 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 22-Jul-67 | 576A-3 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 27-Oct-67 | 576A-3 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 21-Dec-67 | 576A-3 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 31-Jan-68 | 576A-3 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 6-Mar-68 | 576A-3 | ATLAS E | -- |
| 27-Apr-68 | 576A-3 | ATLAS E | -- |
| 22-Jun-68 | 576A-3 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 25-Sep-68 | 576A-3 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 16-Nov-68 | 576A-3 | ATLAS F | -- |
| 16-Jan-69 | 576A-3 | ATLAS F | -- |
References