View source for Vandenberg Probe Launch Complex C

{{Infobox launch pad
| name        = Probe Launch Complex C
| site        = [[Vandenberg Space Force Base]]
| location    = {{coord|34.6095|-120.6284}}
| short       = PLC-C
| operator    = [[US Air Force]]
| tlaunches   = 6
| pads        = 1
| paddetails  = 
{{Infobox launch pad/pad <!--add one of these templates for each pad in the complex -->
  | designation  = <!-- name of the individual launch pad -->
  | status       = Inactive
  | launches     = 6
  | first_launch = 29 June 1971
  | first_details= 
  | last_launch  = 12 December 1975
  | last_details = <!-- Rocket and payload of last launch -->
  | rockets     = [[Aerobee|Aerobee-170]]<br/>[[Tomahawk (rocket)|Tomahawk]]
  }}
}}
'''Probe Launch Complex C''' or '''PLC-C''' at the [[Vandenberg Space Force Base]] in [[California]], [[United States]], is a launch complex which was used for six [[sounding rocket]] launches between 1971 and 1975. It was originally built as '''Launch Complex C''' or '''LC-C''' at the [[Point Arguello]] Naval Air Station, however no launches were made from the site whilst it was part of Point Arguello. Following the merger of Point Arguello into Vandenberg in 1964, it was briefly designated PALC-C, and subsequently Probe Launch Complex C.

== Launch history ==
Six launches occurred from Probe Launch Complex C. The first four launches used [[Aerobee|Aerobee-170]] rockets, whilst the last two used [[Tomahawk (rocket)|Tomahawks]]. Five of the launches reached [[outer space|space]], with the exception of the third Aerobee, which failed early in its flight. The Aerobee launches conducted tests of [[infrared]] sensors for [[anti-ballistic missile]] systems, whilst the Tomahawks were used for [[aeronomy]] research.

{| class="wikitable"
! Date/Time (GMT)
! Rocket
! Mission
! Outcome
! Apogee
! Remarks
|-
| 29 June 1971, 13:10
| Aerobee-170
| Chaser-1
| {{Success}}
| {{convert|161|km}}
|
|-
| 24 November 1971, 06:15
| Aerobee-170
| Chaser-2
| {{Success}}
| {{convert|145|km}}
|
|-
| 20 June 1972, 16:45
| Aerobee-170
| Chaser-3
| {{Failure}}
| {{convert|8|km}}
|
|-
| 11 October 1972, 11:31
| Aerobee-170
| Chaser-4
| {{Success}}
| {{convert|151|km}}
|
|-
| 15 August 1975, 05:21
| Tomahawk
| Escape I
| {{Success}}
| {{convert|272|km}}
|
|-
| 12 December 1975, 05:09
| Tomahawk
| Escape II 
| {{Success}}
| {{convert|164|km}}
|
|}

== References ==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/vangplcc.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030910040905/http://astronautix.com/sites/vangplcc.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 10, 2003|title=Vandenberg PLC-C|first=Mark|last=Wade|publisher=[[Encyclopedia Astronautica]]|access-date=2009-05-19}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.spacearchive.info/vafblog.htm|first=Brian|last=Webb|title=Vandenberg AFB Launch History|publisher=Southwest Space Archive|access-date=2009-05-19}}
{{refend}}
{{reflist}}

{{Vandenberg Air Force Base launch sites}}
{{Point Arguello launch sites}}

[[Category:Vandenberg Space Force Base|Probe Launch Complex C]]


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