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Vandenberg

All articles tagged with #vandenberg

SpaceX launches covert US spy satellites into orbit from California
space14 days ago

SpaceX launches covert US spy satellites into orbit from California

SpaceX launched the US government’s spy satellites (NROL-172) from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base atop a Falcon 9, part of the NRO’s proliferated architecture to widen signals and imagery across multiple orbits; the first stage landed on a drone ship after liftoff, and SpaceX and Northrop Grumman-built satellites will expand the United States’ space surveillance capabilities.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Set for NROL-172 Launch From Vandenberg Space Force Base Monday
technology15 days ago

SpaceX Falcon 9 Set for NROL-172 Launch From Vandenberg Space Force Base Monday

SpaceX plans a Falcon 9 liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Monday at 3:28 p.m. local time (backup window at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday) to deploy the NRO’s NROL-172 mission, with the first stage targeting a landing on the Pacific drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You.” A live webcast will be available at spacex.com/launches, and spectators can watch from viewing spots around Lompoc and the Harris Grade Road area; SpaceX also has additional Falcon launches from Vandenberg on May 15 and May 18. Delays are possible due to technical, weather, or scheduling factors.

Tiny CubeSat Probes Solar Neutrinos from Low-Earth Orbit
space18 days ago

Tiny CubeSat Probes Solar Neutrinos from Low-Earth Orbit

NASA-supported SNAPPY, a half-pound CubeSat, launched from Vandenberg AFB to test a solar neutrino detector in a low-Earth polar orbit, featuring four crystal detectors shielded with tungsten-dust epoxy and an electronics stack on a Kongsberg NanoAvionics platform; the mission, funded by NASA's NIAC program, aims to validate detector performance in space and inform future near-Sun detectors, with contributions from NASA centers, Wichita State University, and other partners.

SpaceX pivots to Starship, turning Vandenberg into its new launch hub
space20 days ago

SpaceX pivots to Starship, turning Vandenberg into its new launch hub

SpaceX is shifting focus from its Falcon 9 workhorse to Starship, boosting launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base while reducing Falcon 9 activity at Cape Canaveral. As Starship comes online, Vandenberg could become SpaceX’s busiest launch site, with plans for Starlink upgrades and Moon/Mars missions on the horizon, while Falcon 9 remains in service through the ISS era and toward a future that increasingly centers on Starship-enabled operations.

Midnight Falcon 9 Launch From Vandenberg Aims to Deploy CAS500-2
local-news24 days ago

Midnight Falcon 9 Launch From Vandenberg Aims to Deploy CAS500-2

SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base between 11:59 p.m. Saturday and 12:36 a.m. Sunday to place the CAS500-2 Earth‑observation satellite into a sun‑synchronous orbit, with a backup window if needed. The first-stage booster is targeting a Landing Zone 4 touchdown about seven minutes after liftoff. Sonic booms are expected to be heard across Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties. The mission includes multiple rideshares and will be webcast live; viewing spots around Lompoc and Vandenberg Village are noted, and SpaceX has additional Falcon 9 launches from Vandenberg planned in the coming days.

technology1 month ago

SpaceX targets historic 600th Falcon 9 landing on West Coast Starlink mission

SpaceX is aiming for its 600th Falcon booster landing during the West Coast Starlink 17-22 mission from Vandenberg. The Falcon 9 first stage B1097 will launch Sunday, April 19, 2026, within a 7 a.m. PDT window and attempt a landing on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You about eight minutes after liftoff, potentially marking the 191st landing on that vessel as Starlink adds 25 satellites to its constellation of more than 10,200; a Saturday launch was postponed.

SpaceX fires off two Starlink batches from opposite coasts in one day
space-exploration1 month ago

SpaceX fires off two Starlink batches from opposite coasts in one day

SpaceX kicked off and closed the day with two Starlink launches: 29 satellites (group 10-24) blasted off from Cape Canaveral in the morning, and about 19 hours later 25 more satellites (group 17-27) lifted off from Vandenberg, joining the SpaceX megaconstellation. Both missions succeeded, with the Falcon 9 first stages returning to Earth on droneships (B1080 and B1082), bringing SpaceX’s Starlink fleet past 10,200 satellites in orbit.

space2 months ago

SpaceX delays Falcon 9 Starlink launch from Vandenberg to Sunday

SpaceX scrubbed Saturday’s Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base and now targets Sunday morning for the Starlink 17-18 mission, which will add 25 satellites to the Starlink constellation. Liftoff is planned in a 3:58 a.m. PDT window, with booster B1097 scheduled to land on the drone ship OCISLY in the Pacific, marking another milestone in SpaceX’s launch and landing cadence.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Poised for Sunday Sunrise Liftoff at Vandenberg
technology4 months ago

SpaceX Falcon 9 Poised for Sunday Sunrise Liftoff at Vandenberg

SpaceX is targeting a Falcon 9 liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base’s Space Launch Complex-4 on Sunday morning between 7:17 and 11:17 a.m., with a backup window Monday if needed. The first stage will attempt a landing on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific. A live webcast will be available at spacex.com/launches and on X; spectators can view from spots around Lompoc, Harris Grade Road, and Moonglow/Stardust roads, with sunrise launches offering potentially picturesque views.