Vandenberg Air Force Base

Spy satellite successfully launched from California military base

A Delta 4-Heavy rocket lifts off Monday from Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Credit: National Reconnaissance Office A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket climbed into orbit Monday from a military base northwest of Los Angeles, delivering to space a classified U.S. government spy satellite as large as a school bus …

Spy satellite successfully launched from California military base Read More »

Photos: Delta 4-Heavy rocket awaits liftoff from historic SLC-6 launch pad

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket is awaiting liftoff with a classified U.S. government spy satellite at Vandenberg Air Force Base’s historic Space Launch Complex-6, a picturesque rocket facility that was once intended to support launches of military astronauts and space shuttles. These photos show the triple-body rocket, clad in orange thermal insulation, standing …

Photos: Delta 4-Heavy rocket awaits liftoff from historic SLC-6 launch pad Read More »

One of ULA’s four remaining Delta 4 rockets set to launch from California

A Delta 4-Heavy rocket stands on Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Credit: United Launch Alliance United Launch Alliance ground crews on California’s Central Coast are gearing up to send a classified U.S. government spy satellite into orbit as soon as Monday — weather permitting — aboard one of the company’s …

One of ULA’s four remaining Delta 4 rockets set to launch from California Read More »

ULA, SpaceX split military launch contract awards

Artist’s illustration of a Vulcan Centaur launch. Credit: United Launch Alliance The U.S. Space Force announced Tuesday that it awarded $384 million in contracts to United Launch Alliance and SpaceX, giving each company two missions to launch military satellites in 2023. United Launch Alliance won task orders for the USSF-112 and USSF-87 missions. Both launches …

ULA, SpaceX split military launch contract awards Read More »

Launch of asteroid deflection demonstrator slips to November

NASA’s DART spacecraft is prepared for thermal testing in February. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Ed Whitman The launch of a NASA spacecraft designed to smash into an asteroid to try out a technique that could protect Earth from threatening space rocks has slipped from July until November, at the earliest, after development delays partially caused by …

Launch of asteroid deflection demonstrator slips to November Read More »

Delta 4-Heavy rocket erected on Vandenberg launch pad

A Delta 4-Heavy rocket stands inside the mobile shelter on Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base ahead of liftoff later this spring. Credit: United Launch Alliance United Launch Alliance recently raised a Delta 4-Heavy rocket, one of four left in the company’s backlog, vertical on its launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base …

Delta 4-Heavy rocket erected on Vandenberg launch pad Read More »