SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy Awaits Customer Demand for California Launch
▼ Summary
– The Department of the Air Force has approved SpaceX to conduct up to 100 launches annually from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
– Vandenberg has seen a dramatic increase in launches, from just one orbital launch five years ago to 51 orbital flights this year, the most since the early 1970s.
– The base is used for missions into polar orbits, which are ideal for Earth observation satellites due to their coverage of most of the Earth’s surface.
– SpaceX’s increased launch rate is driven by deploying Starlink satellites and US government spy platforms, with up to 95 Falcon 9 and 5 Falcon Heavy launches authorized.
– The California Coastal Commission opposed the plan due to environmental concerns, but the Department of the Air Force approved it citing national security benefits and federal property jurisdiction.
The Department of the Air Force has granted SpaceX approval to conduct as many as 100 missions annually from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking a dramatic acceleration for the coastal launch facility. This decision signals a profound transformation for the spaceport, which just five years ago managed only one orbital launch. So far this year, Vandenberg has supported 51 orbital flights, plus two Minuteman missile tests, bringing the total to 53 launches, the highest annual count since the early 1970s.
Vandenberg specializes in missions that enter polar orbits, trajectories that run north to south and eventually sweep over nearly every part of the Earth. This type of orbit is especially valuable for Earth observation satellites, making the base a strategic hub for both commercial and government payloads.
SpaceX has been the primary force behind the recent surge in West Coast launch activity. Most of these missions involve deploying satellites for the Starlink broadband constellation or carrying sensitive payloads for U.S. government agencies. With the new authorization, SpaceX can now double its annual launch rate at Vandenberg from 50 to 100. The plan allows for up to 95 flights using the workhorse Falcon 9 rocket and up to five launches of the more powerful Falcon Heavy.
In a formal process, the Department of the Air Force published a final Environmental Impact Statement evaluating SpaceX’s proposed expansion and issued a “Record of Decision” on October 10 to approve the changes. Vandenberg, situated along the Pacific coastline roughly 140 miles northwest of Los Angeles, will see its Falcon launch operations significantly scaled up. The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to conduct its own review regarding the increase in commercial SpaceX launches from the California site.
However, the plan faces opposition from the California Coastal Commission, a state environmental body that has already rejected SpaceX’s proposal to double Vandenberg’s launch frequency. The commission cited potential noise impacts on local communities, wildlife, and property. This state agency has a history of disputes with SpaceX and its founder, Elon Musk, though its authority to enforce such a restriction remains uncertain. The Department of the Air Force, which manages Space Force operations, has emphasized that the increased launch tempo serves U.S. national security interests and noted that the launch facilities are located on federal property.
(Source: Ars Technica)
