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Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0

Coordinates: 37°51′N 75°28′W / 37.850°N 75.467°W / 37.850; -75.467
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(Redirected from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2)
Launch Pad 0
The LP-0B (left) and LP-0A (center, with the large water tower).
Map
Launch siteMARS (WFF)
Coordinates37°51′N 75°28′W / 37.850°N 75.467°W / 37.850; -75.467
Short nameLP-0
OperatorOwners:
NASA (Wallops)
Virginia Space (MARS)
Tenants:
Northrop Grumman and Firefly Aerospace (LP-0A)
Northrop Grumman (LP-0B)
Rocket Lab (LC-2 and LC-3)
Total launches34
Launch pad(s)3 (plus one under construction)
LP-0A launch history
StatusUndergoing renovation
Launches19
First launch23 October 1995
Conestoga-1620 / Meteor
Last launch2 August 2023
Antares 230+ / Cygnus NG-19
Associated
rockets		Future: Antares 330, Firefly Alpha, MLV
Retired: Conestoga, Antares 100-series, Antares 200-series
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		Current: Minotaur I, Minotaur IV, Minotaur V
Retired: ALV
LC-2 (LP-0C) launch history
StatusActive
Launches6
First launch24 January 2023[1]
Electron / HawkEye 360 Cluster 6
Last launch14 December 2024
Electron / HASTE mission
Associated
rockets		Current: Electron
LC-3 (LP-0D) launch history
StatusUnder construction
Launches0
First launch2025 (planned)
Associated
rockets		Future: Neutron
Launch Sites at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport
Map
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Maps: terms of use
110m
120yds
4
4 LP-0D (LC-3)
4 LP-0D (LC-3)
3
3 LP-0C (LC-2)
3 LP-0C (LC-2)
2
2 LP-0B
2 LP-0B
1
1 LP-0A
1 LP-0A

  Active pads
  Inactive leased pads
  Inactive unleased pads
1
LP-0A
2
LP-0B
3
LP-0C (LC-2)
4
LP-0D (LC-3)
Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

Launch Pad 0 (LP-0), also known as Launch Complex 0 (LC-0),[2] or Launch Area 0 (LA-0),[3] is a launch complex at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island, Virginia, in the United States.[2] MARS is located right next to the NASA Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), which had run the launch complex until 2003.[4] WFF still provides support services to MARS launches under a contract with the Commonwealth of Virginia.[4]

The launch complex consists of three individual launch pads, LP-0A, LP-0B, and LP-0C, referred to by Rocket Lab as Launch Complex 2 (LC-2).[5] Additionally, there is a fourth pad, LP-0D (referred to by Rocket Lab as Launch Complex 3 or LC-3), that is currently under construction.

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.[6] The original launch tower was subsequently demolished in September 2008. A new pad facility was built from 2009 to 2011 for Orbital Sciences Taurus II, now renamed Antares. 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. The first launch of Antares occurred on April 21, 2013.

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.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9] The launch pad resumed flight operations with the Cygnus CRS OA-5 mission on October 17, 2016.[10]

In March 2021, Rocket Lab announced that they would launch their upcoming medium-lift launch vehicle Neutron from LP-0A,[11] with the initial launch planned for as early as 2024.[12] However, Rocket Lab later opted to construct their own Neutron launch site between Pad 0B and Pad 0C.

In August 2022, Northrop Grumman announced that they plan to transition from the 200-series to the 300-series of Antares, as the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February ended the production of the Russian-designed and Ukrainian-built RD-181 used as the first stage engine. As a result, LP-0A and surrounding facilities would require moderate renovations in order to support the upgraded rocket's larger first stage to be produced by Firefly Aerospace.[13] As part of the renovation, Firefly also announced that the facility will become an East Coast launch site of their own Firefly Alpha lifter upon the pad's completion, helping support existing operations from SLC-2W at Vandenberg Space Force Base and future operations at SLC-20 at Cape Canaveral.[14] In addition, Firefly and Northrop Grumman plans for LP-0A to support the launching and landing of their Antares successor currently in development, the Medium Launch Vehicle.

[edit]

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,[15] and was subsequently upgraded in 2003 with the construction of a mobile service tower, which was completed in 2004.[16] 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,[17] 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.[18] However, following the company's bankruptcy and restructuring, plans for these launches are unlikely.

[edit]

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).[19][20][21][22] 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.[23]

In December 2019, construction was completed and Rocket Lab inaugurated Launch Complex 2 at Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.[19] In April 2020, Rocket Lab performed a Wet Dress Rehearsal with an Electron rocket on the pad.[21]

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".[24][1][25]

Launch Complex 3 (Pad 0D)

[edit]

In October 2023, Rocket Lab began construction on a new pad at MARS located between LP-0B and LC-2. Christened as Rocket Lab Launch Complex 3 (LC-3) or Launch Pad 0D, the site is intended to support the launching and landing operations of Rocket Lab's upcoming Neutron launch vehicle.[26]

Launch statistics

[edit]

LP-0A

[edit]
1
2
3
1995
2010
2015
2020
2025

Conestoga launch operated by Space Services. Antares launches operated by Orbital Sciences Corporation in 2013 and 2014, Orbital ATK from 2016 to May 2018, and Northrop Grumman since November 2018.

No. Date (UTC) Launch Vehicle Payload Result Remarks
1 23 October 1995, 22:02 Conestoga 1620 METEOR Failure First launch from LP-0A, and only orbital launch of Conestoga. First launch from MARS and first non-Scout orbital launch from Wallops. Low frequency noise caused erroneous course changes, leading to self-destruction 46 seconds after launch.
2 21 April 2013, 21:00 Antares 110 Antares A-ONE Success[27] Maiden flight of Antares, and first successful launch from LP-0A. First of two demo missions for Commercial Orbital Transportation Services. Carried a boilerplate payload.
3 18 September 2013, 14:58 Antares 110 Cygnus Orb-D1 Success Second and last of two demo missions for COTS. First launch of an operational Cygnus spacecraft, going to the International Space Station.[28] Made Wallops/MARS the fifth space center to launch a payload to the ISS, after Baikonur, Cape Canaveral/KSC, Korou, and Tenegashima.
4 9 January 2014, 18:07[29][30][31] Antares 120 Cygnus CRS Orb-1 Success ISS resupply flight.
5 13 July 2014, 16:52[32] Antares 120 Cygnus CRS Orb-2 Success ISS resupply flight.
6 28 October 2014, 22:22[33] Antares 130 Cygnus CRS Orb-3 Failure[34] ISS resupply flight. Final flight of Antares 100, and final flight of Cygnus's standard variant. Turbopump failure in first stage engine caused rocket to fall back onto pad, activating range safety protocols 23 seconds after launch. Pad was extensively damaged by flight, leading to three Cygnus flights to be moved to Atlas V.
7 17 October 2016, 23:45 [35] Antares 230 Cygnus CRS OA-5 Success ISS resupply flight. First launch from LP-0A since Orb-3, and maiden flight of Antares 200. First flight from LP-0A operated by Orbital ATK, and first flight of Cygnus's enhanced variant from MARS.
8 12 November 2017, 12:19 Antares 230 Cygnus CRS OA-8E Success ISS resupply flight.
9 21 May 2018, 08:44 Antares 230 Cygnus CRS OA-9E Success ISS resupply flight.
10 17 November 2018, 09:01 Antares 230 Cygnus CRS NG-10 Success ISS resupply flight. First launch from LP-0A and first Cygnus flight operated by Northrop Grumman.
11 17 April 2019, 16:46 Antares 230 Cygnus CRS NG-11 Success ISS resupply flight.
12 2 November 2019, 13:59 Antares 230+ Cygnus CRS NG-12 Success ISS resupply flight. Contained the National Reconnaissance Office's IMPACT-2A and 2B demonstration satellites as a secondary payload.
13 15 February 2020, 20:21 Antares 230+ Cygnus CRS NG-13 Success ISS resupply flight.
14 3 October 2020, 02:16 Antares 230+ Cygnus CRS NG-14 Success ISS resupply flight.
15 20 February 2021, 17:36 Antares 230+ Cygnus CRS NG-15 Success ISS resupply flight.
16 10 August 2021, 22:01 Antares 230+ Cygnus CRS NG-16 Success ISS resupply flight.
17 19 February 2022, 17:40 Antares 230+ Cygnus CRS NG-17 Success ISS resupply flight.
18 7 November 2022, 10:32 Antares 230+ Cygnus CRS NG-18 Success ISS resupply flight.
19 2 August 2023, 00:31 Antares 230+ Cygnus CRS NG-19 Success ISS resupply flight. Final flight of Antares 200, being forced to retire due to first stage production being jeopardized by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Led to two Cygnus flights (previously three, but one was cancelled following damage during shipping) to be moved to Falcon 9.

LP-0B

[edit]
1
2
2006
2010
2015
2020
2025

ALV X-1 launch operated by Alliant Techsystems. Minotaur launches operated by Orbital Sciences Corporation from 2006 to 2013, and Northrop Grumman since 2020.

No. Date (UTC) Launch Vehicle Payload Result Remarks
1 16 December 2006, 12:00 Minotaur I TacSat-2 / GeneSat-1 Success[36] Experimental satellite developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory. First launch from LP-0B and first Minotaur launch from the East Coast.
2 24 April 2007, 06:48 Minotaur I NFIRE Success[36] Missile Defense Agency satellite aimed at analyzing rocket plumes.
3 22 August 2008, 09:10 ALV X-1 Hy-BoLT / SOAREX-VI Failure[37] Suborbital launch. Carried two hypersonics payloads for NASA. Only flight of the ATK Launch Vehicle. Range safety protocols engaged 20 seconds into launch after veering off-course.
4 19 May 2009, 23:55 Minotaur I TacSat-3 Success Experimental satellite developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory.
5 30 June 2011, 03:09 Minotaur I ORS-1 Success Reconnaissance satellite for the Operationally Responsive Space Office, also known as USA-231.
6 7 September 2013, 03:27 Minotaur V LADEE Success Lunar orbiter, aimed at studying the Moon and its atmosphere. Maiden flight of the Minotaur V and the first orbital civilian launch from LP-0B. First flight from Wallops to go to another celestial body.
7 20 November 2013, 01:15 Minotaur I ORS 3, STPSat-3 Success Reconnaissance satellite for the Operationally Responsive Space Office.
8 15 July 2020, 13:46[38] Minotaur IV NROL-129 Success NRO launch. Four unknown satellites, also known as USA-305 to USA-308. First Minotaur IV flight from Wallops, and first launch for the National Reconnaissance Office from Wallops.
9 15 June 2021, 13:35 Minotaur I NROL-111 Success NRO launch. Three unknown satellites, also know as USA-316 to USA 318.

LC-2 (LP-0C)

[edit]
1
2
3
2023
2024
2025

All launches operated by Rocket Lab.

No. Date (UTC) Launch Vehicle Payload Result Remarks
1 24 January 2023, 23:00 Electron HawkEye 360 Cluster 6 Success First launch from LC-2/LP-0C, and first Electron launch from the United States.[39]
2 16 March 2023, 22:39 Electron Capella 9 / Capella 10 Success
3 18 June 2023, 01:25 HASTE DYNAMO-A Success Suborbital launch. First flight of Electron in the HASTE configuration.
4 21 March 2024, 07:25 Electron NROL-123 Success NRO launch. Also known as RASR-5, containing four satellites including USA-352. First orbital military launch from LC-2.
5 24 November 2024, 06:00 HASTE MACH-TB Success Suborbital launch for the HASTE program.
6 14 December 2024, 01:00 HASTE Unknown Success Suborbital launch for the HASTE program.


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 "Facility Access Plan" (PDF). Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS). p. 1.2.2. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  3. ^ "Launches | Rocket Lab | Capella Acadia 3". tlpnetwork.com. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  4. ^ a b "> Launches > launch-nrol-129". www.nro.gov. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  5. ^ "The Virginia Spaceport Authority - Facilities". www.vaspace.org. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
  6. ^ Wade, Mark. "Wallops Island LA0A". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  7. ^ "MARS Launch Pad 0A" (PDF). Orbital Sciences.
  8. ^ "Teams investigate failure of unmanned rocket off Virginia coast". cnn.com. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  9. ^ "Completion Of Repairs at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0A". vaspace.org. September 30, 2015.
  10. ^ Graham, William (17 October 2016). "Antares 230 successfully returns with launch of OA-5 Cygnus". nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  11. ^ Foust, Jeff (2 March 2021). "Rocket Lab says SPAC deal will accelerate development of Neutron rocket". SpaceNews. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  12. ^ Foust, Jeff (1 March 2021). "Rocket Lab to go public through SPAC merger and develop medium-lift rocket". SpaceNews. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  13. ^ Navin, Joseph (November 7, 2022). "SS Sally Ride Cygnus arrives at ISS on NG-18 mission". NASASpaceflight. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  14. ^ Schnautz, Risa (2024-06-24). "Firefly Aerospace Adds Alpha Launch Capability on Wallops Island, Virginia". Firefly Aerospace. Retrieved 2025-02-11.
  15. ^ "Facilities". Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. Archived from the original on October 16, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  16. ^ "Launch Pad 0-B" (PDF). Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  17. ^ Wade, Mark. "Wallops Island LA0B". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  18. ^ "Vector to perform first orbital launches from Virginia". SpaceNews. 24 October 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  19. ^ a b Foust, Jeff (12 December 2019). "Rocket Lab inaugurates U.S. launch site". SpaceNews. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  20. ^ "Rocket Lab | News". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
  21. ^ a b "Rocket Lab tests Electron on new Virginia launch pad". SpaceNews.com. 2020-04-30. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  22. ^ "Virginia Space on Twitter". 6 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  23. ^ "Rocket Lab | Our Launch Sites". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 2018-12-30.
  24. ^ "Rocket Lab conducts first Electron launch from American soil". NASASpaceflight. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  25. ^ "Virginia is for Launch Lovers". Rocket Lab. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
  26. ^ "Rocket Lab General Discussion Thread". NASASpaceflight. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
  27. ^ "Antares Maiden Soar Pierces Virginia Sky and delivers NASA SmartPhone Pioneer Nanosats to Orbit - Universe Today". 24 April 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ "ORB-1: Antares successfully launches Cygnus en route to ISS – NASASpaceFlight.com". www.nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  30. ^ "Northrop Grumman Corporation". Northrop Grumman. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  31. ^ "NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  32. ^ Beutel, Allard (3 April 2015). "NASA Cargo Launches to Station Aboard Orbital Resupply Mission". Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  33. ^ "Antares Launch Postponed to Oct. 28 – Orbital ATK". blogs.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  34. ^ "Teams investigate failure of unmanned rocket off Virginia coast". CNN.
  35. ^ Beutel, Allard (17 October 2016). "Orbital ATK Launches NASA Resupply Mission to Space Station". Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  36. ^ a b Wade, Mark. "Wallops Island LA0B". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 2011-11-15. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
  37. ^ Tennant, Diane (22 Aug 2008). "NASA destroys rocket shortly after launch at Wallops Island". Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  38. ^ Koehler, Keith (15 July 2020). "Minotaur IV Launches from Wallops". Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  39. ^ Harwood, William (2023-01-24). "Rocket Lab launches 3 satellites in first mission from U.S. soil". CBS News. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
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