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Over 70 licensed launch facilities now operate globally — 20 commissioned since 2020.
| Attribute | Vandenberg Space Force Base 🇺🇸 United States Active · Last updated 2026-06-01Trust: Agency-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Oita Prefecture / NTT Communications consortium | ISC Kosmotras (defunct) / Russian Strategic Rocket Forces | United States Space Force |
| Ownership | Public-Private | Military | Military |
| Region | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇷🇺 Russia | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Launch pads | — | — | 3 active (SLC-4E Falcon 9, SLC-6 standby, SLC-2W Firefly)as of [1] ↑ Most pads |
| Annual launches | 0 | 0 | ~30as of [1]Primarily polar/SSO missions from Vandenberg; predominantly SpaceX ↑ Most active |
| Max payload (LEO) | — | — | 15,600 kg to polar orbit (Falcon 9 Block 5)as of [2] ↑ Highest capacity |
| First operational launch | 2020 | 1999 | 1958-12-16as of [1]Thor-Able 1 — first orbital attempt from Vandenberg (failed); first success 1959-02-28 |
| Regulatory regime | MEXT / Cabinet Office Space Activities Act (2018, amended 2023); Oita Airport operates under Japan Civil Aviation Bureau | Russian Ministry of Defence + Roscosmos; commercial operations ceased after Russia-Ukraine cooperation collapse 2014/2022 | U.S. Space Force Western Range + FAA-AST Part 450 for commercial users |
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