Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Launch Pad 0

Launch Pad 0

LP-0B (foreground) and LP-0A (further back), prior to the demolition of LP-0A in 2008.
Launch site	WFF (former) MARS
Short name	LP-0
Operator	NASA (former) VCSFA
Total launches	5
Launch pad(s)	2
Pad A (LP-0A) launch history
Status	Inactive
Launches	1
First launch	23 October 1995
Last launch	23 October 1995
Associated rockets	Conestoga Taurus II (future)
Pad B (LP-0B) launch history
Status	Active
Launches	4
First launch	16 December 2006
Last launch	19 May 2009
Associated rockets	Minotaur I (active) ALV Minotaur IV (future) Minotaur V (future)

Launch Pad 0, Pad 0 or LP-0, also known as Launch Area 0 or LA-0, is a launch complex at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island in the United States. Prior to 2003, the complex was part of the Wallops Flight Facility. It consists of two individual launch pads, LP-0A and LP-0B. LP-0A was built for the Conestoga rocket, which made its only flight in 1995.^[1] It was subsequently demolished in September 2008,^[2] and is now being rebuilt for use by the Taurus II. LP-0B became operational in 1999,^[3] and was subsequently upgraded in 2003 with the construction of a mobile service tower, which was completed in 2004.^[4] It is active, and is currently used by Minotaur rockets. The first launch from LP-0B was of a Minotaur I in December 2006,^[5] and was the first launch from MARS. Pad 0B was also used for the failed ALV X-1 suborbital flight in 2008.

A third launch pad at the complex, to be used by HAD rockets was proposed, but never used.^[6]

A Minotaur I with TacSat-3 launched from the complex on May 19, 2009.

The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer is scheduled to launch from the complex in mid-2012.

References

1. ^ Wade, Mark. "Wallops Island LA0A". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/sites/waldla0a.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-21. 
2. ^ "Launch Tower Demolition". GMB. http://www.gmbnet.com/index.cfm?method=projects.project&projectID=56&categoryID=1. Retrieved 2009-01-21. 
3. ^ "Facilities". Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. http://www.marsspaceport.com/facilities.php. Retrieved 2009-01-21. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ "Launch Pad 0-B". Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. http://www.marsspaceport.com/pdfs/0-B%20FacStudy.pdf. Retrieved 2009-01-21. ^{[dead link]}
5. ^ Wade, Mark. "Wallops Island LA0B". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/sites/waldla0b.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-21. 
6. ^ Wade, Mark. "Wallops Island LA0 HAD". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/sites/wala0had.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-21.