Image: SpaceX
SpaceX has received official approval from the U.S. Air Force to double its annual launch capacity from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking a major expansion of the company’s West Coast operations. The decision, announced by Space Launch Delta 30 earlier this week, allows SpaceX to conduct up to 100 launches per year from the facility — up from the previous limit of 50.
As first reported by Aviation Week, the U.S. Air Force signed a record of decision on October 10 authorizing the expanded launch cadence for both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets from SpaceX’s two pads at Vandenberg: Space Launch Complex 4 (SLC-4) and Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6). Under the new approval, Falcon Heavy will be permitted to launch and land up to five times per year from SLC-6, which SpaceX will modify to support both vehicles.
SpaceX also plans to construct a new hangar near SLC-6 for rocket integration and processing, complementing its existing horizontal integration facility. The move is expected to further streamline operations as SpaceX continues to dominate global launch activity.
The Air Force said the decision supports national defense and commercial needs, “specifically for medium- and heavy-lift launches to polar and other orbits less reliably available elsewhere without compromising current launch capabilities.” The approval follows a detailed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and comes despite earlier opposition from the California Coastal Commission over concerns about noise and environmental impact.
This expansion arrives as SpaceX continues its unprecedented pace of activity. The company completed its milestone 300th Starlink launch last month and recently sought FCC approval for an additional 15,000 Starlink satellites to boost its burgeoning cellular network. Just days ago, SpaceX also secured a $714 million Pentagon contract for a series of critical U.S. military launches.
The timing aligns with CEO Elon Musk’s recent projection that SpaceX could be responsible for delivering 95% of Earth’s payload to orbit by next year once Starship — the company’s fully reusable next-generation launch system — comes online. With the new Vandenberg approval, SpaceX is clearly positioning itself to meet that goal.
