Point Arguello Launch Complex B
Encyclopedia
Launch Complex B or LC-B at the Point Arguello
Naval Air Station in California
, United States
was a launch complex which was used for twenty three sounding rocket
launches between 1960 and 1963. Astrobee-1500
, Deacon-Arrow, Kiva-Hopi, Nike-Cajun
, Nike-Viper, Terrier-Asp rockets were launched from the complex whilst it was active.
The complex was transferred to the Vandenberg Air Force Base
as a result of a merger between it and Point Arguello in 1964, however by that time it was already inactive.
Point Arguello
Point Arguello is a headland used as a launch site by the United States Navy. Point Arguello was first used in 1959 for the launch of military and sounding rockets. It was transferred to the United States Air Force in 1964, at which time it became part of Vandenberg Air Force Base.There were 6...
Naval Air Station in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was a launch complex which was used for twenty three sounding rocket
Sounding rocket
A sounding rocket, sometimes called a research rocket, is an instrument-carrying rocket designed to take measurements and perform scientific experiments during its sub-orbital flight. The origin of the term comes from nautical vocabulary, where to sound is to throw a weighted line from a ship into...
launches between 1960 and 1963. Astrobee-1500
Astrobee
Astrobee is the designation of series of American sounding rockets with 1 - 3 stages. Several versions were realized.The three-stage Astrobee 500 has a ceiling of 1000 km, a takeoff thrust of 161 kN, a takeoff weight of 900 kg, a diameter of 0.38 m and a length of 7.80 m.The three-stage Astrobee...
, Deacon-Arrow, Kiva-Hopi, Nike-Cajun
Nike-Cajun
The Nike-Cajun was a two-stage sounding rocket built by combining a Nike base stage with a Cajun upper stage. It was launched 714 times between 1956 and 1976 and was the most frequently used sounding rocket of the western world...
, Nike-Viper, Terrier-Asp rockets were launched from the complex whilst it was active.
The complex was transferred to the Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
as a result of a merger between it and Point Arguello in 1964, however by that time it was already inactive.
Launch history
| Date/Time (GMT) | Rocket | Mission | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 February 1960 | Nike-Viper | ||
| 29 April 1960 | Nike-Viper | ||
| 27 June 1960 | Nike-Viper | ||
| 1 July 1960 | Deacon-Arrow | ||
| 8 July 1960 | Deacon-Arrow | ||
| 14 July 1960 | Deacon-Arrow | ||
| 20 July 1960 | Nike-Cajun | ||
| 12 August 1960 | Kiva-Hopi | ||
| 30 September 1960 | Nike-Viper | ||
| 12 October 1960 | Kiva-Hopi | ||
| 27 October 1960 | Kiva-Hopi | ||
| 21 November 1960 | Nike-Cajun | ||
| 22 November 1960 | Nike-Cajun | ||
| 6 December 1960, 18:44 | Kiva-Hopi | ||
| 14 December 1960 | Kiva-Hopi | ||
| 14 December 1960 | Kiva-Hopi | ||
| 16 December 1960 | Kiva-Hopi | ||
| 27 March 1961 | Deacon-Arrow | ||
| 14 March 1962 | Terrier-Asp | ||
| 9 July 1962 | Astrobee-1500 | Failed | |
| 5 August 1962 | Kiva-Hopi | ||
| 13 December 1962 | Terrier-Asp | ||
| 11 May 1963 | Kiva-Hopi |