Latest news with #SpaceLaunchDelta30
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
What is the Vandenberg Space Force Base? 4 things to know about California rocket launches
When spaceflight enthusiasts think about catching a rocket launch, the first place to come to mind, more than likely, is Florida. The Sunshine State is brimming with a near-constant schedule of crewed and uncrewed launches from NASA's Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, both located on Florida's Space Coast. Catching the sight of a SpaceX or NASA vehicle getting off the ground has become so popular among tourists, that the U.S. space agency even sells tickets for spectators. But all the way across the U.S. on the West Coast, plenty of spaceflights are launching from California. In Santa Barbara County, a military base regularly hosts rocket launches that span the civil and commercial arenas. Rocket launches have become so well-known that spectators have established popular locations in both Southern California and neighboring Arizona to watch the spacecraft soar into orbit. Here's everything to know about the Vandenberg Space Force Base, the only site for rocket launches in California. California rocket launches: Here's a look at the upcoming schedule from Vandenberg The Vandenberg Space Force Base is a rocket launch site in Santa Barbara County in Southern California. Established in 1941, the site was previously known as the Vandenberg Air Force Base. Though it's a military base, the site also hosts both civil and commercial space launches for entities like NASA and SpaceX. Space Launch Delta 30, a unit of the U.S. Space Force, is responsible for managing the launch operations at Vandenberg, as well as the missile tests that take place at the base. Vandenberg hosts a regular cadence of weekly rocket launches, most from its Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E.) In the month of May, a total of six launches got off the ground from Vandenberg, all of which were SpaceX missions to deploy Starlink internet satellites into orbit. This year, the Federal Aviation Administration, which licenses commercial rocket launches, gave SpaceX the greenlight to increase its Falcon 9 rocket launches from Vandenberg from 36 per year to 50. But it's not just SpaceX that launches from Vandenberg. In March, NASA contracted a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to boost both its SPHEREx space telescope and small sun-observing PUNCH satellites into orbit following a launch from the base. And in late-April, Texas spaceflight company Firefly Aerospace attempted to launch prototype satellites into orbit for Lockheed Martin from the base. SpaceX's Starlink missions have become by far the most frequent and common rocket launches from Southern California. Two Starlink deployments have taken place so far in June, with a third and fourth on the way in less than a week. The company's Famous two-stage Falcon 9 rocket, one of the world's most active, has become crucial in regularly deploying batches of the internet-beaming Starlink satellites into what's called low-Earth orbit – an altitude that allows for things like satellites to circle Earth fairly quickly. Owned by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, Starlink is a constellation of more than 7,000 satellites that provide internet service to customers around the world. SpaceX has spent more than six years delivering the satellites to orbit with a regular cadence of rocket launches from both Florida and California. Following the delivery and deployment of the satellites from California, the Falcon 9 rocket's booster aims to land on a SpaceX drone ship, nicknamed "Of Course I Still Love You," in the Pacific Ocean. This allows for SpaceX personnel to recover the booster so it can be reused in future spaceflights. Because Vandenberg is an active military base, the launch complex does not host public viewings of launches. But if conditions are clear, rocket launches from the Vandenberg Space Force Base can be viewed from several locations as far as Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. The city of Lompoc in Santa Barbara County is filled with places to catch a rocket launch. The city's tourism bureau, Explore Lompoc, even maintains a list with suggested viewing locations. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Where are California rocket launches? What to know about Vandenberg
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Repurposed ICBM Launched Secret US Spy Satellites From California
A Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV rocket launched the NROL-174 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. It was the first launch of a Minotaur IV from the site since 2011, the NRO said via X. Credit: Staff Sgt. Joshua LeRoi / Space Launch Delta 30 | edited by
American Military News
24-04-2025
- Science
- American Military News
US nuclear deterrent showcased with major ICBM launch
The U.S. Air Force announced a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test earlier this year to demonstrate the country's 'strong, credible nuclear deterrent.' In a February press release, the Air Force confirmed that a joint team of Vandenberg Space Force Base Guardians and Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile with a 'single telemetered joint test assembly re-entry vehicle' from Vandenberg Space Force Base. In the press release, the Air Force explained that the missile launch was a routine launch intended to 'demonstrate that the United States' nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure, reliable, and effective in deterring 21st-century threats and reassuring allies.' 'Today's Minuteman III test launch is just one of the ways the Department of the Air Force demonstrates the readiness, precision, and professionalism of U.S. nuclear forces,' Acting Secretary of the Air Force Gary Ashworth said. 'It also provides confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation's nuclear deterrence mission.' The Air Force noted in the press release that the U.S. military has conducted more than 300 similar tests. The Air Force added that the missile launch was part of the military's efforts to maintain a 'credible deterrent' and was not conducted as a 'response to current world events.' READ MORE: Video: Trump threatens military force if Iran rejects nuclear deal 'Facilitating test launches from the Western Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base is a critical component of our mission and the national defense strategy,' U.S. Space Force Col. Dorian Hatcher, deputy commander of Space Launch Delta 30, said. 'Our Guardians and Airmen are dedicated to enabling Minuteman III tests to ensure a credible and effective deterrent for the nation.' Col. Dustin Harmon, commander of the 377th Test and Evaluation Group, explained that February's missile test allowed the Air Force and Space Force to collect and analyze performance data, allowing the U.S. military to observe the reliability and accuracy of the missile system and support improvements to the system. 'The data we collect and analyze is crucial for maintaining Minuteman III while we pave the way for Sentinel,' Harmon said. According to the Air Force press release, the U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile test launch program showcases the capability of the Minuteman III and helps the United States maintain its nuclear deterrent as a 'key element of U.S. national security and the security of U.S. allies and partners.'
