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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 2026-06-12Trust: Agency-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × | Starbase Boca Chica 🇺🇸 United States Active · Last updated 2026-06-28Trust: Operator-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | United States Space Force | SpaceX |
| Ownership | Military | Private |
| Region | 🇺🇸 United States | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Launch pads | 3 active (SLC-4E Falcon 9, SLC-6 SpaceX conversion, SLC-2W Firefly)as of [3] ↑ Most pads | 2 (Pad A and Pad B/OLP-2 both operational)as of [3] |
| Annual launches | ~82 projected for 2026 (DAF cap raised to 100/yr)as of [3]Department of the Air Force May 2025 draft EIS approved up to 100 Falcon launches/year incl. SLC-6; primarily polar/SSO, predominantly SpaceX ↑ Most active | Up to 25 Starship flights/yr (FAA cap)as of [3]FAA approval May 2025 raised cap from 5 to 25 flights/yr; 12 integrated flights flown total through Flight 12 (2026-05-22, V3 debut) |
| Max payload (LEO) | 15,600 kg to polar orbit (Falcon 9 Block 5)as of [2] ↑ Highest capacity | 100,000+ kg to LEO (Starship target, fully reusable)as of [1]150,000 kg expendable; fully reusable figure TBC pending HLS missions |
| First operational launch | 1958-12-16as of [1]Thor-Able 1 — first orbital attempt from Vandenberg (failed); first success 1959-02-28 | 2023-04-20as of [1]Starship IFT-1 — first integrated flight test; vehicle lost at stage separation |
| Regulatory regime | U.S. Space Force Western Range + FAA-AST Part 450 for commercial users | FAA-AST Part 450 vehicle operator license + site-specific Environmental Assessment / PEA |
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