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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 × | Baikonur Cosmodrome 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan Active · Last updated 2026-06-01Trust: Agency-primaryⓘ Last verified Remove × | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | United States Space Force | Highlands and Islands Enterprise / Orbex | Roscosmos |
| Ownership | Military | Public-Private | International Consortium |
| Region | 🇺🇸 United States | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan |
| Launch pads | 3 active (SLC-4E Falcon 9, SLC-6 standby, SLC-2W Firefly)as of [1] | — | 9 active (Soyuz-2 × 3, Proton-M × 2, Zenit × 1, Zenith-3SLB, and reserve pads)as of [1]Many historic pads retired; total complex has 52 pads historically ↑ Most pads |
| Annual launches | ~30as of [1]Primarily polar/SSO missions from Vandenberg; predominantly SpaceX | 0 | ~15as of [1] |
| Max payload (LEO) | 15,600 kg to polar orbit (Falcon 9 Block 5)as of [2] ↑ Highest capacity | — | 22,800 kg to LEO (Proton-M)as of [1] |
| First operational launch | 1958-12-16as of [1]Thor-Able 1 — first orbital attempt from Vandenberg (failed); first success 1959-02-28 | 2023 | 1957-10-04as of [1]Sputnik 1 — first artificial Earth satellite ever launched |
| Regulatory regime | U.S. Space Force Western Range + FAA-AST Part 450 for commercial users | UK CAA under the Space Industry Act 2018; planning consent granted Aug 2022 by Highland Council | Roscosmos (lease through 2050) / Kazakhstan KazCosmos co-oversight under 1994 lease agreement |
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