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From: serre@tramp.Colorado.EDU (SERRE GLENN)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Shuttle Vandenburg Lauch Site
Message-ID: <15010@boulder.Colorado.EDU>
Date: 19 Dec 89 01:17:19 GMT
References: <47679458.20b6d@apollo.HP.COM> <3614@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> <896@xroads.UUCP> <1989Dec18.051039.24421@utzoo.uucp>
Sender: news@boulder.Colorado.EDU
Reply-To: serre@tramp.Colorado.EDU (SERRE GLENN)
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Lines: 20

Info about Vandenberg:
 
1) SLC-6 (Shuttle Launch Pad) was indeed mostly, if not completely, finished. 

2) I get the impression that West Coast Launches were abandoned when it was
   decided not to go ahead with composite SRBs for the shuttle.  Without the
   upgraded boosters, Shuttle payload would have been extremely limited.  

3) Much SLC-6 AGE (Aerospace Ground Equipment) has been salvaged for use on 
   other programs.  
 
4) The Air Force wanted to build another Titan IV, not Titan III launch pad.

5) Yes, it would probably cost more to convert SLC-6 to a marginally useful
   Titan IV launch site than it would to build a new SLC-7. 

--All the above words are my own.  

--Glenn Serre
serre@tramp.colorado.edu