Spaceflight Now: Breaking News
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Demolition of SLC-3 West

SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: January 23, 2000


Lockheed Martin toppled the mobile service tower of Space Launch Complex-3 West using explosives on Saturday, January 22 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Images: Lockheed Martin and U.S. Air Force.


Oceanfront pad
Space Launch Complex-3 West overlooks the Pacific Ocean at Vandenberg. The pad was activated in 1960 and served 81 rocket launches -- 43 Atlas and 38 Thor boosters.
Ocean
D-day arrives
Workers make final preparations for the toppling of SLC-3 West's mobile service tower. The pad in the background is SLC-3 East currently used for Atlas 2-series rockets.
Pre-explosion
Boom!
Less than twenty pounds of explosives are used to bring the 140-foot tall mobile service tower crashing down.
Topple
Job well done
The demolition went according to plan, officials said afterward. Workers will spend the spend the next three weeks dismantling and hauling the tower away.
On ground
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