United States Space Force · Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States
Launch Pads
4 active (SLC-40, SLC-41, SLC-37B, SLC-16 standby)as of [1]Annual Launches
~40as of [1]Includes SpaceX SLC-40 Falcon 9 + ULA SLC-41 Atlas V operationsMax Payload (LEO)
22,800 kg to LEO (Falcon 9 Block 5)as of [2]Established
1950
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is America's oldest launch facility and one of the busiest spaceports in the world. Originally established as a missile testing range, it has been the departure point for numerous historic missions including Mercury, Gemini, and Mars rover launches. It operates alongside Kennedy Space Center on Florida's Space Coast.
| Region | North America |
| Country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Coordinates | 28.4889° N, -80.5778° E |
| Ownership | Military |
| Parent Entity | U.S. Space Force (Space Launch Delta 45) |
| Regulatory Regime | U.S. Space Force Eastern Range + FAA-AST Part 450 for commercial operators |
| Latitude Advantage | 28.5°N — same easterly Atlantic boost as KSC; the dominant U.S. site for commercial LEO/GTO economics. |
| Azimuth Range | 35°–120° (LEO/ISS to GTO; constrained on south by Bahamas overflight rules) |
| Human Spaceflight | Active crewed launches |
| Employees | ~13,500 (military, civilian, contractor combined with SLD 45) |
| Website | https://www.patrick.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Cape-Canaveral-Space-Force-Station/ |
Anchor Tenants
Active Users
Strategic Value
The world's busiest orbital range and the backbone of U.S. national-security launch. Hosts the densest commercial-tenant cluster on Earth — SpaceX, ULA, Blue Origin, Relativity all share Eastern Range services.
Recent Activity
Sustained 50+ launches/year cadence through 2025; SLC-40 turnaround records broken multiple times in 2024–2025 driven by Starlink and NSSL missions.
2026
Blue Origin New Glenn second flight from LC-36
2026
ULA Vulcan Centaur NSSL Phase 2 missions ramp
2027
Eastern Range modernization Phase 2 completion (automated range safety)