Launch Area 3 (LA-3) at the Wallops Flight Facility is a launch complex which was used, mostly by Scout rockets, between 1960 and 1985. Forty-one Scout launches occurred from the complex, making both orbital and suborbital. In addition, four Nike sounding rockets were launched from the complex in 1970.

Launch Area 3 contains two launch pads, Area 3 and Area 3A.

Area 3, also known as the Mk.I launcher, was used by eighteen Scout rockets between 1960 and 1964. The first launch from the complex, on 18 April 1960, was the maiden flight of the Scout launch vehicle, using the Scout X configuration. The last Scout launch from the pad occurred on 6 November 1964. On 7 March 1970, a Nike-Apache and four Nike-Iroquois rockets were launched from the complex.

The upgraded Launch Area 3A, or Mk.II launcher, replaced the original Launch Area 3. It was used for twenty-three Scout launches, starting on 20 July 1964. The last launch from the complex occurred on 13 December 1985.

Launches List of launches from Area 3, Mk.I launcher: DateLaunch VehicleMissionApogeeDetails1960 April 18Scout XCub Scout testLive first and third stages, broke up after first stage burnout.1960 July 2Scout X-1Test mission1380 kmFailure.1960 October 4Scout X-1Radiation Probe Plasma mission5600 km1960 December 4Scout X-1Explorer (9) S 56Second stage malfunction.1961 February 16Scout X-1Explorer 9Third stage failed ignition, vehicle destroyed.1961 August 25Scout X-1Explorer 13Partial failure.1961 October 19Scout X-1P-21 Plasma / aeronomy mission6855 km1962 March 1Scout X-1AReentry 1 re-entry vehicle test flight214 km 1962 March 29Scout X-2P-21A Plasma / aeronomy mission6291 km Late stage 3 ignition.1962 December 16Scout X-3AExplorer 161963 May 22Scout X-3RFD-1 re-entry vehicle test flight145 km1963 June 28Scout X-4GRSFailure.1963 July 20Scout X-3AReentry 3 re-entry vehicle test flight2 kmNASA Scout rocket, intentionally destroyed when it deviated from its course a few seconds after liftoff.1964 March 27Scout X-3Ariel 21964 August 18Scout X-4AReentry 4A183 km1964 November 6Scout X-4Explorer 231970 March 7Nike ApacheEclipse aeronomy mission200 km1970 March 7Nike IroquoisMass spectrometer Eclipse aeronomy mission76 km 1970 March 7Nike IroquoisMass spectrometer Eclipse aeronomy mission113 km1970 March 7Nike IroquoisMass spectrometer Eclipse aeronomy mission122 km

List of launches from Area 3A, Mk.II launcher: DateLaunch VehicleMissionApogee1964 July 20Scout X-4SERT 1 Technology mission4002 km1964 October 9Scout X-3CRFD-2 re-entry vehicle test flight132 km1964 December 15Scout X-4San Marco 1842 km1965 April 29Scout X-4Explorer 271309 km1965 August 10Scout BSECOR 5 (EGRS 5)2419 km1965 November 19Scout X-4Explorer 30856 km1966 February 10Scout X-4AReentry 4B Re-entry vehicle test175 km1966 June 10Scout BOV3-044704 km1967 October 19Scout BRAM C-1 Re-entry vehicle test217 km1968 March 5Scout BExplorer 37 (Partial Failure)433 km1968 April 27Scout X-5CReentry 5 re-entry vehicle test flight175 km1968 August 22Scout BRAM C-2 Re-entry vehicle test227 km1970 September 30Scout BRAM C-3 re-entry vehicle test flight269 km1970 November 9Scout BOFO 1, RM-1, RMS518, 526 km1971 June 20Scout BPAET re-entry vehicle test flight377 km1971 July 8Scout BExplorer 44632 km1971 August 16Scout B-1Eole 1836 km1971 September 20Scout BBIC Plasma / barium release mission31479 km1972 August 13Scout D-1Explorer 46811 km1976 June 18Scout D-1GP-A Physics mission10230 km1979 February 18Scout D-1SAGE506 km1979 June 2Scout D-1Ariel 6383 km1985 December 13Scout G-1USA 13 (ITV 1 ASAT Balloon Target), ITV 1 Balloon A, ITV 1 Balloon B, USA 14 (ITV 2 ASAT Balloon Target)691, 737, 160, 450 km

See also

Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 18 San Marco platform Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 5

References