Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 46

The Space Launch Complex 46 (SLC-46), previously Launch Complex 46 (LC-46), is a launch complex at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station operated under license by Space Florida previously used for Athena rocket launches. It has been used by Astra Space for the Rocket 3 system and is currently used as a multipurpose launch pad.

History

Construction and Trident Operations

This complex was built as part of the United States Navy's Trident II submarine-launch missile development effort. Construction was underway by early February 1984, with the first Trident II launch LC-46 occurring on 15 January 1987. A total of 19 Trident IIs were launched from the site between 15 January 1987 and 27 January 1989. After this, all subsequent Trident II testing took place at sea, and the site was deactivated.

During the construction of then-called LC-46, the nearby sounding rocket complex LC-43 was demolished. Its operations were transferred to LC-47.

Space Florida

In 1997, Space Florida began operations at the site, and was opened for commercial space operations. Lockheed Martin launched an Athena II and an Athena I from the pad in 1998 and 1999 respectively. The Athena II, launched January 7, 1998, carried the Lunar Prospector spacecraft which orbited the Moon. On January 27, 1999, the Athena I lifted off with Taiwan's first satellite, ROCSAT-1, carrying experimental communications, ocean imagery, and ionospheric studies instruments.

In March 2010, the USAF 45th Space Wing issued Real Property Licenses to Space Florida for Launch Complexes 36 and 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. On July 1, 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration approved a Launch Site Operator's License for commercial launches at Launch Complex 46.

On September 24, 2010, the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast was awarded a $500,000 Defense Infrastructure Grant from the State of Florida to be used for critical communications upgrades at SLC-46. In early 2014, Space Florida contracted with Alliant Techsystems (ATK) to begin phase three of the communications infrastructure refurbishment, with completion expected to take one year.

In July 2015, the U.S. Air Force and Orbital ATK announced a Minotaur IV launched from SLC-46 would be used for the ORS-5 mission in 2017. ORS-5 was successfully launched on August 26, 2017.

Ascent Abort-2

On July 2, 2019, NASA launched a repurposed Peacekeeper missile from SLC-46, carrying the Orion spacecraft for the Ascent Abort-2 mission. The mission's goal was to demonstrate and qualify the Orion Launch Abort System (LAS) that will allow the astronaut crew to safely escape in the event of an emergency during launch pad operations, through the ascent phase of the Orion vehicle.

Astra

On December 6, 2021, Astra announced plans to launch its small orbital rockets from SLC-46 as soon as February 2022. The company was planning for a launch cadence of once a month for two years.

On 10 February 2022, the first Astra launch from SLC-46 resulted in failure. After two previous scrubbed launch attempts in the preceding days, the launch of the rocket occurred nominally. However, first stage separation failed, leading to the second stage to spin out of control, and the rocket and payload were lost.

On 12 June 2022, the second Astra launch from SLC-46 also resulted in failure. Astra's Rocket 3.3 vehicle (serial number LV0010) carrying two TROPICS CubeSats for NASA failed to reach orbit and the satellites were lost.

ABL and Dark Eagle

In March 2023, ABL Space Systems announced that they would be using SLC-46 as a temporary launching site for their RS1. That month, they were leased Launch Complex 15 by the United States Space Force, and clarified that this measure was taken while LC-15 undergoes reactivation. ABL stated their first launch from Pad 46 would happen later in the year. However, no launch has yet occurred and future outlooks remain in question following ABL's shift from commercial launches to military applications in October 2024.

On December 12, 2024, the United States Army and United States Navy launched and tested their Dark Eagle Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon from SLC-46 in a joint exercise. A second test was conducted the next year, on April 25.

Future Super-Heavy launch

On December 19, 2025, the United States Space Force issued an RFI to lease SLC-46 for launches of a Super-Heavy class launch vehicle.

Launch statistics

• Trident II
• Athena I
• Athena II
• Minotaur IV
• Orion Abort Test Booster
• Astra Rocket
• Dark Eagle

Trident II

All launches operated by the United States Navy.

Post-Trident II

All launches before 2006 overseen by the United States Air Force. All launches since then overseen by Space Florida.

See also

• List of Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island launch sites

External links