VSFB Reachs A Historic Milestone in 2024 with 51 Launches

Published by Shivani Bhore on

The United States Space Force’s West Coast Spaceport and Test Range achieved an incredible 51 launches in 2024, demonstrating how Vandenberg Space Force Base has revolutionised space and test launch operations on the West Coast. This milestone is a testament to the base’s commitment to innovation, its efforts to improve standards and procedures, and its solid partnerships with launch and test mission partners.

“This year marks a historic milestone for our nation’s space launch capabilities, achieving a level of activity not seen in the past 50 years at Vandenberg,” explained Col. Mark Shoemaker, 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.”

Vandenberg Space Force Base last reached this level of launches in 1974.

In recent years, Vandenberg SFB has enhanced its operations by adopting strategies aimed at increasing capacity, resilience, agility, and responsiveness. These initiatives encompass the optimization of the Day of Launch workforce, the revision of existing policies, and the incorporation of digital tools into operational processes. As a result of these efforts, SLD 30 is streamlining processing timelines and boosting overall efficiency, thereby facilitating support for a growing number of launches.

On June 17, 2024, an unarmed Mk21A reentry vehicle was successfully tested following its launch from Vandenberg SFB on a Minotaur I rocket. This launch served as an in-flight environmental test to aid in the development of the Air Force’s new Mk21A reentry vehicle.

“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,” Shoemaker explained.

To attain the desired launch frequency, SLD 30 has made considerable advancements in its architectural development to enhance launch preparedness. The establishment of the Western Range Modernization Network, along with the overhaul of the Western Range Operations Control Center, plays a crucial role in ensuring a safe and efficient spaceport. By facilitating swift range reconfiguration and upgrading weather data dissemination, SLD 30 is guaranteeing that its spaceport operations remain flexible and responsive to the requirements of the Department of Defense and its mission partners.

The Weather System Follow-on – Microwave satellite was part of the U.S. Space Force’s first mission, which was launched successfully from Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Space Force Base on April 11, 2024, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This was the thirteenth mission from Vandenberg SFB in 2024. Specifically built for low-Earth orbit, the satellite can detect, record, and send raw microwave sensor data. In order to improve collaborative military operations and mission planning globally, this data makes it easier to analyse ocean surface vector winds, tropical cyclone intensity, snow depth, soil moisture, and sea ice characteristics.

As authorised by the U.S. Congress, SLD 30 introduced indirect charging in 2024, which permits commercial space launch firms to charge up to 30% of indirect costs related to direct expenses. The base’s capacity and responsiveness for launch operations were enhanced in part by the money raised through this approach.

This year, guardians and airmen at Vandenberg Space Force Base have enabled three unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test launches, including two in a single day. Vandenberg SFB serves as the primary intercontinental ballistic missile test range and carries out yearly testing to ensure the operational capabilities and preparedness of this vital national defence system.

Vandenberg Space Force Base is in a strong position to maintain its critical role in the country’s defence structure and to provide dependable access to space from the western coast as the number of launches increases.