Recent Activity
Continued MDA target launches and hypersonic test vehicle support through 2025; commercial small-launch tenancy has thinned after Astra's pivot.
Investor Brief
Only U.S. site north of Vandenberg with an orbital license — niche but valuable for missile-defense intercept tests and high-latitude SSO startups. Small footprint but no commercial alternative for true-polar/retrograde profiles.
Ownership
Parent Entity
Regulatory Regime
Anchor Tenants
Latitude Advantage
Launch Azimuth Range
Employees
Country
🇺🇸United States
Region
North America
Established
1,998
Launches / Year
25
Years Active
28
Strategic Position
57.4357° N, 152.3378° W
Azimuth: 110°–220° (south, southwest, southeast Pacific corridors)
57.4°N — the highest-latitude orbital site in the U.S.; trivially achieves true-polar and SSO inclinations with minimal yaw steering, and supports retrograde launches that Vandenberg cannot.
Future Milestones
- 2026
Continued MDA Aegis BMD intercept test cadence
- 2027
Targeted return of small-launch commercial tenant (RFP open 2025)
About
The Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island, Alaska, is a commercially operated launch facility optimized for polar and sun-synchronous orbit missions. Its high-latitude location and open ocean launch corridors to the south and southwest make it uniquely suited for high-inclination launches without overflying populated areas.
Key Features
Optimized for polar and sun-synchronous orbit launches
High-latitude location ideal for high-inclination missions
Open ocean corridors to south and southwest
Commercially operated — supports multiple launch providers
Remote location minimizes range safety concerns
Rockets That Launch Here
Companies Operating Here
Orbit Types
Notable Launches
Athena I (1998) — First orbital launch from Kodiak
Minotaur IV (2010) — SBSS satellite for Space Force
Astra Rocket 3 (2021-22) — Small satellite launch attempts
Multiple missile defense interceptor tests
Hypersonic flight test vehicles for DoD programs
Recent Launches From This Site
Most recent missions flown from Pacific Spaceport Complex
- Astra Rocket 3 | STP-27AD1Astra SpaceFailure
- Astra Rocket 3 | Spaceflight Astra-1Astra SpaceSuccess
- RS1 | Maiden FlightLong WallFailure