SpaceX Falcon 1 at VAFB April 30, 2005
SLC-3W was used briefly by SpaceX during the early development of the Falcon 1 launch vehicle.
Several test firings of the Falcon 1 were accomplished before SpaceX discovered that due to the overflight risk they would not be allowed to launch from SLC-3W while launch vehicles were standing on adjacent launch sites. As one of the adjacent sites was at the time occupied by a "pad queen" (a launch vehicle that sits on its launch pad for months or years before launch) the restriction caused SpaceX to abandon SLC-3W and instead develop their Omelek Island launch site for Falcon 1.
Read MoreSeveral test firings of the Falcon 1 were accomplished before SpaceX discovered that due to the overflight risk they would not be allowed to launch from SLC-3W while launch vehicles were standing on adjacent launch sites. As one of the adjacent sites was at the time occupied by a "pad queen" (a launch vehicle that sits on its launch pad for months or years before launch) the restriction caused SpaceX to abandon SLC-3W and instead develop their Omelek Island launch site for Falcon 1.
