Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4 Space Launch Complex 4 ( SLC - 4 ) is a launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base , with two pads one of which is currently used by SpaceX to launch the Falcon 9 rocket . The complex was previously used by Atlas and Titan rockets between 1963 and 2005 . It consisted of two separate launch pads , SLC - 4W and SLC - 4E , which were formerly designated PALC2 - 3 and PALC2 - 4 respectively . Both pads were originally built for use by Atlas - Agena rockets , but were later rebuilt to handle Titan rockets . The designation SLC - 4 was applied at the time of the conversion to launch Titans . Space Launch Complex 4E is currently used by SpaceX as a launch site for the Falcon 9 rocket , which first flew from Vandenberg on 29 September 2013 . A 24 month refurbishment program started in early 2011 . < ref name = " http : / / www . spacex . com / updates . php " > < / ref > SLC - 4W . History . Atlas - Agena . The first launch to use what is now SLC - 4 occurred on 12 July 1963 , when an Atlas LV - 3 Agena - D launched the first KH - 7 Gambit reconnaissance satellite , from PALC2 - 3 . Twelve Atlas - Agenas launches were conducted from PALC2 - 3 , with the last occurring on 12 March 1965 . Titan IIIB . Following this , it was rebuilt as SLC - 4W , a Titan launch complex . The first Titan launch from SLC - 4W was a Titan IIIB , on 29 July 1966 . All 70 Titan IIIB launches occurred from SLC - 4W , with the last on 12 February 1987 . Titan 23G . Subsequent to the retirement of the Titan IIIB , it became a Titan 23G launch site , and twelve Titan II launches , using the 23G orbital configuration , were conducted between 5 September 1988 and 18 October 2003 . Following the retirement of the Titan 23G , SLC - 4W was deactivated . 93 rockets were launched from SLC - 4W . SLC - 4W was the site of the launch of Clementine , the only spacecraft to be launched from Vandenberg to the Moon , which was launched by a Titan 23G on 25 January 1994 . SLC - 4E . Atlas - Agena . The first launch from PALC2 - 4 occurred on 14 August 1964 , when a KH - 7 satellite was launched by an Atlas - Agena D . After 27 Atlas - Agena launches , the last of which was on 4 June 1967 , the complex was deactivated . Titan IIID . During 1971 the complex was reactivate and refurbished for use by the Martin Marietta Titan III launch vehicles . The Titan IIID made its maiden flight from SLC - 4E on 15 June 1971 , launching the first KH - 9 Hexagon satellite . The first KH - 11 Kennan satellite was launched from the complex on 19 December 1976 . All 22 Titan IIIDs were launched from SLC - 4E , with the last occurring on 17 November 1982 . Titan 34D . The complex was then refurbished to accommodate the Martin Marietta Titan 34D . Seven Titan 34Ds were launched between 20 June 1983 , and 6 November 1988 . On 18 April 1986 , a Titan 34D exploded less than nine seconds after launch , showering debris over the launch pad . Titan IV . The last type to use the complex was the Titan IV , starting on 8 March 1991 , with the launch of Lacrosse 2 . On 19 October 2005 , the last flight of a Titan rocket occurred , when a Titan IVB was launched from SLC - 4E , with an Improved Crystal satellite . Following this launch , the complex was deactivated , having been used for 68 launches . Falcon . SpaceX refurbished SLC – 4E for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches , in a 24 - month process that began in early 2011 . The draft environmental impact assessment with a finding of " no significant impact " was published in February 2011 . Demolition began on the pad ' s fixed and mobile service towers in summer 2011 . In April 2011 , company plans had projected Falcon Heavy hardware arriving at Vandenberg in 2012 , with launch " soon thereafter " and an initial Falcon Heavy launch from SpaceX ' Cape Canaveral launch complex in 2014 . By late 2012 , SpaceX continued to anticipate that the initial launch from the Vandenberg pad would be in 2013 , but would be a Falcon 9 launch — actually , a heavily modified and much larger Falcon 9 v1 . 1 . As the pad was nearing completion in February 2013 , the first Falcon 9 launch was scheduled for summer 2013 , but was ultimately launched on 29 September 2013 , and was the maiden flight of the Falcon 9 v1 . 1 configuration , carrying Canada ' s CASSIOPE satellite .