Vandenberg Space Force Base Sees launch Rate soar, Reflecting Growing Commercial Space Industry
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, CA – The skies above California are becoming increasingly active as Vandenberg Space Force Base experiences a dramatic surge in launch activity. In the past five years, the base has transformed from supporting 4-6 launches annually too executing more than 50 per year, signaling a notable expansion of the commercial space industry and a heightened role for the West Coast in space operations.
This rapid increase isn’t driven solely by government programs; commercial ventures, particularly SpaceX, are fueling the growth.The escalating launch cadence underscores a broader trend of increased accessibility to space and a competitive landscape where companies are rapidly deploying satellites for communications, Earth observation, and other applications. This expansion has national security implications, requiring the base to scale its capabilities to meet growing demands and maintain a competitive edge in the space domain.
“Within just five years, our West Coast spaceport and test range has evolved from supporting 4-6 launches annually to executing more than 50 launches per year, transforming our operations to a high-capacity spaceport,” said Col. Mark Shoemaker, Vandenberg’s Space Launch Delta 30 commander. “As we accelerate our space launch efforts and push boundaries, we are rewriting the playbook of what is possible within the rules of the game.”
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying 26 Starlink satellites launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Monday, June 16, 2025, was visible over Los Angeles, a testament to the frequency of these events.
Shoemaker expressed confidence in the base’s ability to continue its growth trajectory, stating, ”We are scaling our capacity and accelerating our space launch capabilities to meet national demands and stay competitive in the space domain. I am confident our skilled and dedicated team-civilians, military, and contractors-will continue to build on our achievements.”
Vandenberg Space Force Base is poised to remain a critical component of the nation’s defense infrastructure and a vital gateway to space for the West coast as launch numbers continue to climb.
