SpaceX to take over Space Launch Complex 6 at Vandenberg ...
SpaceX will take over the lease of Space Launch Complex 6, formerly used by United Launch Alliance to launch the Delta IV rocket family.
www.teslarati.comI don’t have live access to current news feeds right now. Here’s what’s generally known about Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6) at Vandenberg AFB and the latest developments you might expect to see covered in recent headlines:
- SpaceX has been pursuing a retrofit of SLC-6 to host both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy flights, expanding West Coast launch capabilities. This involves modifications to the pad, additional landing infrastructure, and an increased annual launch cadence if approved.
- The U.S. Air Force and Space Force have been evaluating environmental and technical impacts through draft and final Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) as part of the approval process for upgrading SLC-6 for dual-vehicle operations. Public comment periods and agency reviews have been part of this process, with decisions potentially aligning with broader National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program goals.
- Historical context: SLC-6 previously hosted Delta IV and Delta IV Heavy missions until 2022, after which SpaceX entered into a lease for the site and began planning retrofit work to enable Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations from Vandenberg. This builder/lease history shapes current coverage and expectations around recent launches from nearby facilities.
If you’d like, I can search for the very latest articles and summarize the most current statements from Space Force/Vandenberg and SpaceX, with direct quotes and dates. I can also pull official statements or the Draft/Final EIS documents and highlight what they mean for SLC-6’s operational status and launch cadence.