Vandenberg Space Force Base

United States Space Force Base near Los Angeles

Vandenberg Space Force Base

Santa Barbara County, California in United States

A Delta IV Heavy rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 6 in 2013

Space Launch Delta 30

Site information
Type| U.S. Space Force Base
Owner| Department of Defense
Operator| United States Space Force
Controlled by| Space Launch Delta 30
Condition| Operational
Website| vandenberg.spaceforce.mil
Location

Vandenberg

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Vandenberg

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Vandenberg

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Coordinates| 34°45′05″N 120°31′13″W﻿ / ﻿34.751330°N 120.52023°W﻿ / 34.751330; -120.52023
Site history
Built| 1941–1942 (as Camp Cooke)
In use| 1941–present
Garrison information
Current
commander| Col Mark Shoemaker[1]
Airfield information
Identifiers| IATA: VBG, ICAO: KVBG, FAA LID: VBG, WMO: 723930
Elevation| 112.1 m (368 ft) AMSL
| Runways

Direction | Length and surface
12/30 | 4,572 m (15,000 ft) concrete
Source: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)[2]
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Vandenberg Space Force Base (IATA: VBG, ICAO: KVBG, FAA LID: VBG), previously Vandenberg Air Force Base, is a United States Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Established in 1941, Vandenberg Space Force Base is a space launch base, launching spacecraft from the Western Range, and also performs missile testing. The United States Space Force's Space Launch Delta 30 serves as the host delta for the base, equivalent to an Air Force air base wing. In addition to its military space launch mission, Vandenberg Space Force Base also hosts space launches for civil and commercial space entities, such as NASA and SpaceX.

## History

[edit]

### United States Army

[edit]

#### Camp Cooke (1941–1953)

[edit]

Not to be confused with Camp Cooke (Montana).

In 1941, just before the United States entered World War II, the United States Army embarked on an initiative to acquire lands in the United States to be used to train infantry and armored forces. These areas needed to be of a varied nature to ensure relevant training. In March 1941, the Army identified approximately 86,000 acres (35,000 ha) of open ranch lands along the Central Coast of California between Lompoc and Santa Maria. With its flat plateau, surrounding hills, numerous canyons, and relative remoteness from populated areas, the Army was convinced this portion of the Gaviota Coast was an ideal training location. The government purchased most of the land, however, some smaller parcels were obtained either by lease, license, or as easements.[3] The land was previously part of six ranchos: Casmalia, Guadalupe, Mission de la Purisima, Rancho Lompoc and Rancho Todos Santos y San Antonio, and Jesús María.[4]

Construction of the Army camp began in September 1941. Although unfinished, the camp was activated on the 5th of October and was named Camp Cooke in honor of Phillip St. George Cooke, a cavalry officer with a distinguished career spanning the Mexican War, Indian Wars, the Civil War.[3]

Troop training didn't wait for construction to finish. The 5th Armored Division was the first to arrive in February and March 1942. Throughout the war, Camp Cooke served as a training ground for numerous armored and infantry divisions before their deployment overseas. Additionally, anti-aircraft artillery, combat engineer, ordnance, and hospital units trained at Cooke. In total, over 400 groups passed through the camp.[3]

As the war progressed, Camp Cooke was used to house German and Italian prisoners of war. Following the Geneva Convention, the groups were kept separate and assigned various jobs within the camp, including construction, clerical work, food service, and laundry. To address wartime labor shortages, German prisoners also participated in agricultural work in nearby communities.[3][5]

After the war's conclusion in 1946, Camp Cooke became home to a maximum-security military prison, while most of the land was largely leased for agriculture and grazing. From 1950 to 1953, Camp Cooke served again as a training ground for units heading to the Korean War. In 1953, the camp was inactivated, and the military prison became a federal prison for civilians, now known as the United States Penitentiary, Lompoc.[3]

The final remaining buildings from Camp Cooke were demolished in 2010.[3]

#### Known United States Army Units at Camp Cooke

[edit]

World War II

* 5th Armored Division
* 81st Armored Regiment
* 6th Armored Division
* 50th Armored Infantry Regiment, 6th Armored Division
* 11th Armored Division
* 13th Armored Division
* 20th Armored Division
* 86th Infantry Division
* 97th Infantry Division
* 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiment

Korean War

* 40th Infantry Division
* 44th Infantry Division[6]

### United States Air Force

[edit]

#### Cooke Air Force Base

[edit]

As the 1950s ushered in the age of missiles, and the United States urgently needed a training ground that could also serve as an initial combat ready missile base. In 1956, after examining over 200 potential locations, a committee selected Camp Cooke. Similar to its appeal in 1941 for the Army, Camp Cooke's vast size, remoteness, moderate climate, and coastal location made it ideal. Missiles could be launched westward over the Pacific Ocean without flying over populated areas, and satellites could be placed into polar orbit towards the South Pole without traversing any landmass until reaching Antarctica.[3]

Following the committee's recommendation, on 16 November 1956, the Secretary of Defense directed the Army to transfer 64,000 acres (26,000 ha) to the United States Air Force. This land was initially called North Camp Cooke, but when the official transfer happened on 21 June 1957 it was named Cooke Air Force Base.

The first airmen of the 6591st Support Squadron arrived on 15 February, before the official transfer, and found the base in rough shape. World War II-era buildings were dilapidated, and roads needed extensive repair. Over the next two years, launch and control facilities emerged, old structures were renovated, and new housing was built. The initial mission of the base was to train personnel on the PGM-17 Thor, SM-65 Atlas, and HGM-25A Titan I missiles, while also serving as an emergency operational facility for the Atlas.[3][7]

The 1957 launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union intensified the urgency of the U.S. missile program. In November, the Department of Defense authorized ballistic missile launches from Cooke AFB. Management responsibility shifted from the Air Research and Development Command (ARDC) to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) in January 1958. SAC assumed responsibility for training missile launch crews and achieving initial operational capability. ARDC retained oversight of site activation, research, and development testing. This began a close working relationship between the two commands that would last 35 years.[3]

In February 1958, the PGM-19 Jupiter program was transferred from the Army to the Air Force. SAC established squadrons for both the Jupiter and Atlas missiles at Cooke. Construction also began on the Operational System Test Facility for the Titan I. The first Thor missile arrived later that year.[3][7]

The southern 19,800 acres (8,000 ha) of Cooke AFB was transferred to the Navy in May 1958 for their Pacific Missile Range. However, in 1963, a restructuring returned major sections of this range, including Point Arguello, to the Air Force. This move gave the Air Force full responsibility for missile range safety at Vandenberg and much of the Pacific Ocean. The Air Force renamed the area the Western Range.[3]

#### Vandenberg Air Force Base

[edit]

Vandenberg Space Force Base main gate

The facility was renamed Vandenberg Air Force Base on 4 October 1958 in honor of General Hoyt Vandenberg, the Air Force's second Chief of Staff.[3]

The final acquisition of 15,000 acres (6,100 ha) of land for the base occurred in 1966 to accommodate the construction of Space Launch Complex 6 for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory program. With the annexation, the base reached its final size, 99,099 acres (40,104 ha).

##### Ballistic missile testing

[edit]

###### PGM-17 Thor

[edit]

PGM-17 Thor IRBM

The transition from U.S. Army camp to missile base solidified on 15 December 1958 when Vandenberg AFB successfully launched its first missile, a PGM-17 Thor IRBM (Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile). The launch from Vandenberg inaugurated the intermediate-range ballistic missile portion of the Pacific Missile Range and was fired by a crew from the 1st Missile Division. The first successful launch of a Thor IRBM by a Royal Air Force crew took place at Vandenberg AFB on 16 April 1959. The launch was part of integrated weapon system training. In October 1959, the first combat training launch of a Thor IRBM by a Royal Air Force crew was successful.

On 22 April 1960, the fourth and final British-based Thor IRBM squadron was turned over to the Royal Air Force by the Strategic Air Command, thus completing the deployment of this weapon system in the United Kingdom. The next month, the first missile to be removed from an operational unit and sent to Vandenberg AFB for confidence firing arrived from a Thor IRBM squadron (No. 98 Squadron RAF) in the United Kingdom. Confidence firing was the predecessor of SAC's operational test program.[3][7]

###### SM-65 Atlas

[edit]

Atlas missiles on alert, 1960

On 16 October 1958, the first Atlas ICBM launcher (576A-1) constructed at Vandenberg AFB, California, was accepted from the contractor by the 1st Missile Division. The first intercontinental ballistic missile, the SM-65D Atlas ICBM, was delivered and was accepted by SAC's 576th Strategic Missile Squadron on 18 February 1959. The first Atlas-D flew on 9 September 1959, and following the successful launch, General Thomas S. Power, CINCSAC, declared the Atlas ICBM to be operational. The following month, equipped with a nuclear warhead, the Atlas at Vandenberg became the first ICBM to be placed on alert in the United States. It was an SM-69D Atlas ICBM (AFSN 58-2190) on launcher 576A-1. In April 1960, the first attempted launch of a Series D Atlas ICBM from a coffin-type launcher (576B-2) was successful. This launcher was the prototype of the ones to be used at the first operational Atlas squadron, the 564th Strategic Missile Squadron, Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming. Following this successful launch, Major General David Wade, Commander of the 1st Missile Division, declared the coffin-type launcher to be operational.[7]

In July 1959, construction began on the first Series E Atlas ICBM coffin-type launcher (Atlas operational system test facility #1). On 28 February 1962, the first successful launch of the SM-65E Atlas took place. Construction began on the first SM-65F Atlas ICBM "silo-lift" launcher (Atlas operational system test facility #2) in November 1962. The first Atlas F arrived in June 1961 and the first operationally configured Series F Atlas was successfully launched on 1 August 1962.[7]

During its testing phase, Vandenberg would operate two Atlas-D launch complexes; two Atlas-E, and three Atlas-F silos.[8] The Atlas-Ds were taken off alert at the 576th Strategic Missile Squadron (Complex 576B) in May 1964 as part of the phaseout of the Atlas from active ICBM service. The last Atlas F test launch was on 18 January 1965, and the 576th Strategic Missile Squadron was inactivated on 2 April 1966. The 576th SMS carried out 53 Atlas-D, 7 Atlas-E and 7 Atlas-F test launches between 1959 and 1965.[7]

The Atlas would remain in use as a launch vehicle for satellites from Vandenberg as a space booster configured with an RM-81 Agena upper-stage rocket and the Atlas-Agena would launch many different types of satellites into orbit until its phaseout in the late 1980s.[3]

###### HGM-25A Titan I

[edit]

Titan I missile emerges from its silo at Vandenberg Operational System Test Facility in 1960.

The HGM-25A Titan I was the United States' first multistage ICBM. When designed and manufactured, the Titan I provided an additional nuclear deterrent to complement the U.S. Air Force's SM-65 Atlas missile. It was the first in a series of Titan rockets, and was an important step in building the Air Force's strategic nuclear forces.

In July 1958, construction began on the Titan I ICBM Operational System Test Facility (OSTF). This was the prototype of the hardened Titan I launch control facility at its operational sites. It consisted of one silo-lift launcher, blockhouse, and associated equipment. Designated "OSTF-8", the facility was destroyed on 3 December 1960 when the launcher elevator failed while lowering a fully fueled missile back into the silo. There were no injuries. This was the first silo accident at Vandenberg.[7]

The first "silo-lift" launch of the Titan I was successful in September 1961, and the first SAC launch of the ICBM was successful in January 1962. As a result, the Titan I ICBM launch complex (395-A1/A2/A3) at Vandenberg was turned over to the Strategic Air Command 395th Strategic Missile Squadron to perform test launches of the missile.[7]

However, the operational lifetime of the Titan I was short, as Secretary of Defense McNamara announced in November 1964 that all remaining first-generation ICBMs (Series E and F Atlas and Titan I) would be phased out (Project Added Effort) by the end of June 1965.[7]

On 5 March 1965, the last test launch of a Titan I ICBM conducted by the Strategic Air Command at Vandenberg was successful. The 395th SMS performed 19 test launches between 1963 and 1965 before moving on to exclusively Titan II testing. During the 1980s, some Titan I second stages were used as targets for early Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) testing.[7]

###### LGM-25C Titan II

[edit]

Titan II test launch from Vandenberg

The LGM-25C Titan II ICBM was a second-generation ICBM with storable propellants, all inertial guidance, and in-silo launch capability. Construction of the first Titan II site began in 1962, and eventually Vandenberg operated four Titan II launch complexes.[9][7]

Most of the testing of the missile was done at Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, Florida by the 6555th Aerospace Test Group, and the first successful underground silo launch of a Titan II ICBM took place at Vandenberg by the 395th SMS in April 1963. The first fully operational test took place in March 1965.[7]

On 25 March 1966, the 200th SAC missile launched from Vandenberg AFB, California was a Titan II. The operational testing of the Titan II continued until 1985.[7] Like its predecessor the Atlas ICBM, the Titan II GLV a derivative of that missile was used to launch Project Gemini spacecraft and the Titan 23G was used as a space booster to launch satellites. The final launch of a Titan II was made in 2003 when the last Titan IIG was expended.[3]

###### LGM-30 Minuteman

[edit]

Minuteman 3 missile launch

The advent of solid-propellant gave the three-stage LGM-30 Minuteman ICBM a major advantage over earlier liquid propellant ICBMs. In February 1961, the construction began on Minuteman ICBM test launch facilities at Vandenberg. Silos 394A-1 through A-7 were the first constructed for use by the SAC 394th Strategic Missile Squadron.[10][3][7]

LGM-30A Minuteman IA flight tests began in September 1962. The first Minuteman IB test took place in May 1963. On 24 February 1966, the first attempted salvo (simultaneous) launch of two model "A" Minuteman I ICBMs from Vandenberg silos LF-04 (394A-3) and LF-06 (394-A5) was successful. This launch demonstrated the multiple countdown and launch techniques that would be used at operational bases under actual combat conditions. Minuteman I testing continued until 1968.[10][7]

LGM-30F Minuteman II testing began in August 1965 with the first launch conducted by Air Force Systems Command, was successful. The missile flew 5,000 mi (8,000 km) down the Pacific Missile Range and its reentry vehicle impacted in the target area.[7]

On 22 October 1970, the first attempted OT GT70F (Salvo) operational test launch (simultaneous) launch of two Minuteman II ICBMs was successful from LF-25 and LF-26. The last Minuteman II phase I operational test was performed in April 1972.[7][11]

The first LGM-30G Minuteman III phase II operational test was launched on 5 December 1972 from the LF-02 silo. The ICBM flew 800 mi (1,300 km) downrange before impacting in the Pacific Ocean. This was the beginning of Minuteman III launches which continue to this day from Vandenberg.[7]

In July 1974, the initial training of Minuteman missile combat crews, formerly performed by Air Training Command (ATC) instructors at Vandenberg AFB, California, was incorporated into the 4315th Combat Crew Training Squadron's Operational Readiness Training (ORT) program at Vandenberg. As a result of this action, the entire Minuteman missile combat training, from beginning (initial training) to end (upgrade training) became the responsibility of Strategic Air Command.[7]

SAC launched two Minuteman III ICBMs from Vandenberg AFB during exercise Global Shield, a comprehensive exercise of SAC's nuclear forces on 10 July 1979 from LF 08 and LF 09. One of these Global Shield missions, Glory Trip 40 GM, was the last Minuteman III phase I operational test flight. The missiles were launched 12 seconds apart by a SAC task force from the 90th Strategic Missile Wing, Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.[7]

Glory Trip 77GM, a Minuteman III Operational Test in September 1980, became the longest Minuteman flight test when its payload impacted a broad ocean area target over 5,600 nmi (10,400 km) downrange.[7]

###### LGM-118 Peacekeeper

[edit]

Test launch of LGM-118 Peacekeeper

The last ICBM tested from Vandenberg was the LGM-118 Peacekeeper (MX) ICBM beginning in June 1983. In addition to having a longer range than earlier ICBMs, the Peacekeeper could deliver up to 10 reentry vehicles to separate targets.[3] It was intended as a replacement for the LGM-30 Minuteman, but it suffered from a long development time, and was retired in 2005 before the Minuteman because of arms reduction treaties.

The first Peacekeeper ICBM was launched by Air Force Systems Command from an above ground canister-type launch facility from Launch Complex TP-01 on 17 June 1983. This was the first "cold launch" of a missile at Vandenberg AFB, the missile reaching 600 mi (970 km) downrange. Two more test launches were conducted in 1983 from Launch Complex TP-01.[7][12]

The first Peacekeeper with a Mark-21 test reentry vehicle was flight-tested from TP-01 on 15 June 1984. The Mark-21 resembled the reentry vehicle intended for the Peacekeeper weapon system. Two more test launches were conducted in 1984, the missile from TP-01. Air Force Systems Command conducted the final Peacekeeper launch from the above-ground TP-01 launch pad on 30 June 1985.[7][12]

The first silo launch from LF-05 took place on 24 August 1985 from LF-08. LF-02 began to be used in 1986 for additional launches. On 23 August 1986 the first launch of a completely operational hardware configured missile and launch facility, and also the first Peacekeeper launch by a SAC combat crew under the control of Air Force Systems Command took place from silo LF-02.[7][12]

A new Peacekeeper Missile Procedures Trainer was dedicated in March 1987. The US$17 million facility featured a state-of-the-art computer based simulator which would be used to train and evaluate missile crew members. The first LGM-118 Peacekeepers were deployed to Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming that year.[7][12] LGM-118 Peacekeeper test launches continued from Vandenberg with a third silo, LF-05 becoming operational in March 1990. The final launch of a LGM-118 Peacekeeper 33PA took place on 21 July 2004 before the missile was retired from service.[7][12]

###### Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Interceptor

[edit]

Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) interceptor in launch silo at Vandenberg

The latest missile deployed at Vandenberg in 2005 is the Ground-based Interceptor (GBI) missile suborbital booster for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense system's EKV ballistic missile kill vehicle. It is part of a National missile defense system advocated by President George W. Bush. The OBV is under development by Orbital Sciences; for every interceptor missile there is a missile silo and a Silo Interface Vault (SIV), which is an underground electronics room adjacent to the silo.[3] The basic OBV consists of the upper three stages and guidance system from the Taurus orbital launch vehicle (essentially a wingless Pegasus-XL). The developmental OBV is launched from an open pad; the operational version is to be silo-launched.[13]

The first test firing of the OBV took place from former Atlas-F pad 576-E on 6 February 2003. Launch silo LF-23 is used for ongoing silo testing, with target missiles consisting of surplus inert Minuteman ICBM second and third stages being launched from the Kwajalein Meck launch site in the Pacific Range.[13][14]

##### Early space exploration

[edit]

The world's first polar orbit satellite, Discoverer 1, launched from Vandenberg on 28 February 1959. The launch vehicle for this mission consisted of a Thor-Agena combination.[3] The Discoverer series of satellites provided other significant firsts for Vandenberg. For instance, in August 1960, the data capsule was ejected from Discoverer XIII in orbit and recovered from the Pacific Ocean to become the first man-made object ever retrieved from space. A week later, on 19 August 1960, the descending capsule from Discoverer XIV was snared by an aircraft in flight for the first air recovery in history.[3] Shrouded in a cover story of scientific research, Discoverer was actually the cover name for CORONA, America's first photo reconnaissance satellite program. The publicized Discoverer series came to an end on 13 January 1962 after 38 launches (or launch attempts).[3]

Over the years, satellites of every description and purpose, including international satellites, were placed in orbit from Vandenberg by a widening variety of boosters. Among the parade of newer space boosters are the Titan IV (March 1991), Taurus (March 1994), Pegasus (April 1995), Delta II (February 1996), Atlas IIAS (December 1999), Minotaur (2000), and beginning in late 2005, the Falcon 1, the Delta IV, and Atlas V vehicles.[3]

The most ambitious Air Force endeavors at Vandenberg were the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) and the Space Shuttle programs. The MOL vehicle consisted of a Titan III booster carrying a modified Gemini space capsule (Gemini B) attached to a space laboratory. Construction work for MOL began at Space Launch Complex-6 (SLC-6) on South Vandenberg in March 1966. President Richard Nixon canceled the estimated US$3 billion program in June 1969, as a result of cost overruns, completion delays, emerging new technologies, and the expense of fighting the Vietnam War. SLC-6 remained closed for the next decade.[3]

##### Space Shuttle

[edit]

1985 photo of Space Shuttle Enterprise (OV-101) moving toward the shuttle assembly building at Vandenberg Space Launch Complex-6 aboard its specially designed Cometto 76-wheel transporter. In the background are the payload changeout room and the payload preparation room.

In 1972, Vandenberg was selected as the West Coast Space Shuttle launch and landing site, but it was never used as such.

Space Launch Complex-6 (SLC-6, pronounced as "Slick Six"), originally built for the abandoned Manned Orbital Laboratory project, was extensively modified for shuttle operations. Over US$4 billion was spent on the modifications to the complex and construction of associated infrastructure. The original Mobile Service Tower (MST) was lowered in height and two new flame ducts were added for the shuttle's solid rocket boosters. Additional modifications or improvements, included liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen storage tanks, a payload preparation room, payload changeout room, a new launch tower with escape system for the shuttle crewmembers, sound suppression system and water reclamation area and a Shuttle Assembly Building were added to the original complex.

The existing 8,500-foot (2,590 m) runway and overruns on the North Base flightline were lengthened to 15,000 feet (4,580 m) to accommodate end-of-mission landings, along with construction of the Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights/large triangle arrows at both ends of the runway. Turn-around servicing and refurbishing of the Space Shuttle orbiter would be accomplished in the adjacent Orbiter Maintenance and Checkout Facility (OMCF). The Mate-Demate Facility, to load and unload the Orbiter from the Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), was changed from the large structure found at Dryden Flight Research Center and Kennedy Space Center, to a transportable "erector set-like" Orbiter Lifting Frame (OLF). This facility design change was due to the possibility of needing to support a landing at a location where there was no facility to load the Orbiter onto the SCA. The OLF could be disassembled, loaded onto two C-5 aircraft, shipped to the overseas Orbiter landing site, and reassembled to load the Orbiter onto the Boeing 747. To transport the Orbiter from the OMCF (on North Vandenberg AFB) to SLC-6, the 22 mi (35 km) route was upgraded to accommodate a 76-wheeled vehicle, built by Commetto in Italy specifically to carry the Orbiter on its large flat deck utilizing the three external tank interface points, versus towing the Orbiter on its landing gear that long distance.

Modification of SLC-6 to support polar missions had been problematic and expensive.[citation needed] SLC-6 was still being prepared for its first Shuttle launch, mission STS-62-A targeted for 15 October 1986, when the Challenger disaster grounded the Shuttle fleet and set in motion a chain of events that finally led to the decision to cancel all west coast shuttle launches. The orbiter transporter was sent to Kennedy Space Center in Florida after the Vandenberg AFB launch site was abandoned and was used to transport the Orbiter from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building.

Persistent site technical problems and a joint decision by the Air Force and NASA to consolidate Shuttle operations at the Kennedy Space Center, following the Challenger disaster in 1986, resulted in the official termination of the Shuttle program at Vandenberg on 26 December 1989.

Had the space shuttle program been successful at SLC-6, the West Coast operation would have contrasted with that at the Kennedy Space Center by creating the orbiter stack directly on the launch pad, rather than assembling it and then moving it. Three movable buildings on rails, the Launch Tower, Mobile Service Building and Payload Changeout Room were used to assemble the Shuttle orbiter, external tank and SRBs. These buildings were designed to protect the shuttle "stack" from high winds in the area and were used during a series of "fit tests" utilizing the space shuttle Enterprise in 1985.

##### Delta IV

[edit]

After the end of the shuttle program at Vandenberg in 1989, SLC-6 was reconfigured in 1999 to support polar-orbit satellite launches by the new Delta IV family of launch vehicles, utilizing a Common Core Booster for all its class sizes including the Delta IV (Heavy) launcher. After the reconfiguration, the 132 acres (53 ha) launch site included structures similar to those at the Delta IV launch site at Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 37 (SLC-37B) in Florida, with a Fixed Umbilical Tower, Mobile Service Tower, Fixed Pad Erector, Launch Control Center and Operations Building, and a Horizontal Integration Facility. SLC-6 also featured a Mobile Assembly Shelter that protects the rocket from adverse weather.

The first of the Delta IV launch vehicles to fly from SLC-6 successfully lifted off at 20:33 PDT on 27 June 2006 when a Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) rocket lofted NROL-22, a classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, into orbit. The payload was successfully deployed approximately 54 minutes later.[15] ten Delta IVs were launched from SLC-6, with the last launching in 2022 before the site was relinquished to SpaceX.

##### Atlas V

[edit]

The Atlas V was developed by Lockheed Martin as part of the United States Air Force (USAF) Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. The Atlas V launches from Space Launch Complex-3E (SLC-3E). Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services markets the Atlas V to government and commercial customers worldwide.[16]

The first Atlas V launch vehicle to fly from SLC-3E was launched on 19 March 2008 for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).[17]

All Atlas V launches from Vandenberg have been successful.

##### SpaceX Falcon

[edit]

The launch of the first Falcon 9 v1.1 from SLC-4, Vandenberg AFB (Falcon 9 Flight 6) on 29 September 2013

SpaceX briefly used SLC-3W during the early development of the Falcon 1 launch vehicle,[18][19] and later moved operations to Space Launch Complex 4-East (SLC-4E). SpaceX refurbished SLC-4E for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches,[20] in a 24-month process that began in early 2011.[21] The draft environmental impact assessment with a finding of "no significant impact" was published in February 2011.[21] Demolition began on the pad's fixed and mobile service towers in summer 2011.[22]

By late 2012, SpaceX continued to anticipate that the initial launch from the Vandenberg pad would be in 2013, but would be a Falcon 9 launch—actually a heavily modified and much larger Falcon 9 v1.1.[23] As the pad was nearing completion in February 2013, the first Falcon 9 launch was scheduled for summer 2013[24] and was finally launched on 29 September 2013. This was the maiden flight of the Falcon 9 v1.1 evolution, carrying Canada's CASSIOPE satellite.[25] In October 2018, SpaceX landed a Falcon 9 booster on a Vandenberg ground pad for the first time.[26]

In April 2023, SpaceX leased SLC-6 to begin converting it for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches after the last Delta IV launch there.[27] SpaceX expects to begin Falcon 9 launches from SLC-6 in 2025 and Falcon Heavy launches in 2026.[28]

##### Boeing X-37B

[edit]

The Boeing X-37B, a reusable uncrewed spacecraft operated by the Space Force, also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), has landed at Vandenberg in the past.[29] On 3 December 2010, the X-37B spaceplane successfully landed at the base after 224 days in space thus performing the first autonomous orbital landing onto a runway conducted by a U.S. spacecraft. Since then, the X-37B has successfully landed on the 15,000-foot runway at Vandenberg two more times, on 16 June 2012 after 468 days in orbit and again on 14 October 2014 after 674 days in orbit. All of the X-37B missions thus far have been launched from Florida, the first four using expendable Atlas V rockets from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and the fifth on a reusable SpaceX Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center.

#### Major commands to which assigned

[edit]

* Air Research and Development Command, 21 June 1957
* Strategic Air Command, 1 January 1958
* Air Force Space Command, 15 January 1991 – 20 December 2019[30]
* Space Operations Command, 20 December 2019 – present

#### Major units assigned

[edit]

* 1st Strategic Aerospace Division, 16 July 1957 – 1 September 1991
* 392d Strategic Missile Wing, 18 October – 20 December 1961
* Space and Missile Test Center, 1 April 1970 – 1 July 1980
* Air Force Space Test Center, Provisional, 2 January – 15 May 1964
* Air Force Western Test Range, 5 May 1964 – 1 April 1970

Redesignated Western Space and Missile Center, 1 October 1979
Redesignated 30th Space Wing, 1 November 1991 – present

* 704th Strategic Missile Wing (ICBM), 1 July 1957 – 1 July 1959
* 6565th Test Wing, 20 October 1960

Redesignated 6595th Aerospace Test Wing, 1 April 1961 – 1 October 1979

* 10th Aerospace Defense Group, 1 January 1967 – 31 December 1971 (Aerospace Defense Command)
* 30th Launch Group, 1 December 2003 – present
* 30th Operations Group, 19 November 1991 – present
* 6595th Missile Test Group, 1 May 1970 – 1 October 1990
* 6595th Space (later Satellite, later Aerospace) Test Group, 1 May 1970 – 1 October 1990
* 6595th Space Transportation (later Shuttle) Test Group, 21 May 1979 – 30 September 1987
* 2d Space Launch Squadron, 19 November 1991 – 31 October 2005; 1 June 2019 – present
* 4th Space Launch Squadron, 15 April 1994 – 29 June 1998; 1 December 2003 – 31 May 2019
* 10th Aerospace Defense Squadron, 15 November 1963 – 1 January 1967; 31 December 1970 – 1 November 1979
* 394th Missile Testing Squadron (ICBM-Atlas), 1 April – 15 December 1958
* 394th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Titan), 1 July 1960 – 30 June 1976

Redesignated 394th Test Maintenance Squadron, 1 July 1976
Redesignated 394th Operational Missile Maintenance Squadron, 1 September 1991
Redesignated 394th Field Missile Maintenance Squadron, 1 September 1994 – present

* 395th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Titan), 1 February 1959 – 31 December 1969
* 576th Strategic Missile Squadron (ICBM-Atlas), 1 April 1958 – 2 April 1966

Redesignated 576th Flight Test Squadron, 1 September 1991 – present
Assigned to Air Force Global Strike Command, 1 December 2009 – present

* 644th Strategic Missile Squadron, 15 January – 1 November 1959
* 670th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, 5 May 1950 – 2 August 1951
* 4315th Combat Crew Training Squadron, 1 May 1958 – 15 January 1991

[30][31][32]

### United States Space Force

[edit]

Vandenberg's redesignation as a Space Force installation

On 14 May 2021, the base was renamed Vandenberg Space Force Base, in keeping with the expansion and standing up of the Space Force.[33]

As of March 2025, the Space Force has activated the Site Activation Task Force (SATAF) Detachment to modernize the nation's nuclear defence capabilities, preparing to replace the Minuteman III ICBM fleet with the newly developed LGM-35A Sentinel.[34]

## Role and operations

[edit]

See also: List of Vandenberg Space Force Base launch facilities

Launch sites at Vandenberg Space Force Base

7km
4.3miles

* view
* talk
* edit

Active pads

Active pads not used for launches

Inactive leased pads

Inactive unleased pads

SLC-1E

SLC-1W

SLC-2E

SLC-2W

SLC-10E

SLC-10W

LC-576E

SLC-9

SLC-3E

SLC-3W

SLC-4E

SLC-4W (LZ-4)

SLC-5

SLC-6

SLC-8

SLC-7

SLC-11

SLC-12

SLC-14

SLC-15

The host unit at Vandenberg SFB is the Space Launch Delta 30 (SLD 30). The unit oversees the Western Range, a vast testing area stretching from Vandenberg's coast westward to the Western Pacific, including sites in Hawaii. This range facilitates Department of Defense space and missile testing, including launches that place satellites into near-polar orbits. Their operations involve collaboration with a multitude of federal agencies and commercial partners.

SLD 30 is organized into operations, mission support and medical groups, along with several directly assigned staff agencies:

* 30th Operations Group

The 30th Operations Group provides the core capability for West Coast spacelift and range operations. The group is responsible for operating and maintaining the Western Range for spacelift, missile test launch, aeronautical and space surveillance missions.

* 30th Mission Support Group

The 30th Mission Support Group is responsible for quality-of-life needs on the base, including, housing, personnel, services, civil engineering, contracting and security.

* 30th Medical Group

The 30th Medical Group provides medical, dental, bio-environmental and public health services for the base.

### Space and Missile Heritage Center

[edit]

The Space and Missile Heritage Center is located at Space Launch Complex 10, site of the first IRBM tests of the Thor and Discoverer (aka CORONA) spy satellite series of launches.[35][failed verification] It is Vandenberg's only National Historic Landmark that is open for regularly scheduled tours through the 30th Space Wing's Public Affairs office. The Center preserves and displays artifacts and memorabilia to interpret the evolution of missile and spacelift activity at Vandenberg from the beginning of the Cold War through current non-classified developments in military, commercial, and scientific space endeavors.

The current display area is made up of two exhibits, the "Chronology of the Cold War" and the "Evolution of Technology". The exhibits incorporate a combination of launch complex models, launch consoles, rocket engines, re-entry vehicles, audiovisual and computer displays as well as hands-on interaction where appropriate. There are plans to evolve the center in stages from the current exhibit areas as restorations of additional facilities are completed.

## Based units

[edit]

Notable units based at Vandenberg Space Force Base.[36] Units marked GSU are Geographically Separate Units, which although based at Vandenberg, are subordinate to a parent unit based at another location.

### United States Space Force

[edit]

Space Systems Command (SSC)

* Space Launch Delta 30 (SLD 30)
* Headquarters Space Launch Delta 30
* 30th Comptroller Squadron
* 30th Operations Group
* 2nd Space Launch Squadron
* 30th Operations Support Squadron
* 30th Space Communications Squadron
* 30th Launch Support Squadron
* 30th Medical Group
* 30th Medical Operations Squadron
* 30th Medical Support Squadron
* 30th Mission Support Group
* 30th Civil Engineer Squadron
* 30th Contracting Squadron
* 30th Force Support Squadron
* 30th Logistics Readiness Squadron
* 30th Security Forces Squadron
* United States Space Forces – Space (S4S)
* Space Delta 5
* Space Delta 6
* 21st Space Operations Squadron (GSU)
* 65th Cyber Squadron

Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM)

* Space Delta 1
* 1st Delta Operations Squadron
* 533rd Training Squadron

Space Operations Command (SpOC)

* Space Delta 7
* 72 ISRS, Det 2

### United States Air Force

[edit]

Air Education and Training Command (AETC)

* Second Air Force
* 381st Training Group
* 81st Training Support Squadron
* 532rd Training Squadron

Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC)

* 576th Flight Test Squadron

### Air National Guard

[edit]

California Air National Guard

* 195th Wing
* 195th Operations Group
* 148th Space Operations Squadron (GSU)
* 216th Space Control Squadron (GSU)

### Department of Defense

[edit]

United States Space Command

* Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander
* Combined Space Operations Center

|

## Geography

[edit]

The base as seen by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 in August 2020

Much of the base is rugged, mountainous, and undeveloped; predominant groundcover includes chaparral with coastal sage scrub and oak woodland. Because of its protected nature—none of the backcountry areas are open to the public or to any kind of development—the base contains some of the highest quality coastal habitat remaining in southern or central California. It is home to numerous threatened or endangered species, including Gambel's watercress (Nasturtium gambellii).[37] The western terminus of the Santa Ynez Mountains is on the base, and is dominated by Tranquillion Peak, which rises 2,297 ft (700 m) above sea level. An optical tracking station is located at the top of the peak, which overlooks the various space launch complexes. The Amtrak Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner trains travel along the coast, providing a splendid view and one of the few ways for the public to see these remote areas. Conversely, State Route 1, California's Pacific Coast Highway, avoids these coastal protected areas and instead turns inland to serve the base's eastern side. The Breeze Bus provides service between the base, Santa Maria, and Lompoc.

### Beaches

[edit]

Surf Beach is open to the public, while Wall and Minuteman beaches are restricted to those with regular access to the base. Sections of these three beaches are closed between 1 March and 30 September every year during the nesting season of the Western Snowy Plover.[38] The closures are in place to protect the bird under the Endangered Species Act. If a set number of trespass violations have been reached during any nesting season (50 for Surf, 10 for Wall, 10 for Minuteman), the beach is closed entirely.[39]

Surf Beach is adjacent to the Surf Amtrak station, just south of Ocean Beach Park, run by the Santa Barbara County Parks Division.[40] On 22 October 2010, 19-year-old Lucas Ransom, a University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) student, was killed by a great white shark near Surf Beach.[41] On 23 October 2012, 38-year-old Francisco Javier Solorio Jr. was killed by a shark near Ocean Beach.[42]

### Wildlife

[edit]

Snowy plovers nest on the beach.[43]

## Demographics

[edit]

Census-designated place in California, United States

Vandenberg Space Force Base

Census-designated place

Country| United States
State| California
County| Santa Barbara
Elevation

[44]

| 505 ft (154 m)
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 3,559
Time zone| UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)| UTC-7 (PDT)
GNIS feature ID| 2409501
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Vandenberg Space Force Base

The United States Census Bureau has designated Vandenberg Space Force Base as a separate census-designated place (CDP) for statistical purposes, covering the base's residential population. Per the 2020 census, the population was 3,559.[45] The CDP was formerly known as Vandenberg Air Force Base, reflecting the base's former name.

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1970| 13,193| | —
1980| 8,136| | −38.3%
1990| 9,846| | 21.0%
2000| 6,151| | −37.5%
2010| 3,338| | −45.7%
2020| 3,559| | 6.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[46]
1850–1870[47][48] 1880-1890[49]
1900[50] 1910[51] 1920[52]
1930[53] 1940[54] 1950[55]
1960[56] 1970[57] 1980[58]
1990[59] 2000[60] 2010[61] 2020[62]
Vandenberg SFB CDP, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. Race / Ethnicity  | Pop 2000[63] | Pop 2010[64] | Pop 2020[62] | % 2000  | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|
|
|

White alone  | 4,198  | 2,005  | 1,851  | 68.25%  | 60.07%  | 52.01%
Black or African American alone  | 686  | 285  | 314  | 11.15%  | 8.54%  | 8.82%
Native American or Alaska Native alone  | 25  | 8  | 14  | 0.41%  | 0.24%  | 0.39%
Asian alone  | 233  | 197  | 215  | 3.79%  | 5.90%  | 6.04%
Pacific Islander alone  | 40  | 20  | 36  | 0.65%  | 0.60%  | 1.01%
Other Race alone  | 23  | 9  | 20  | 0.37%  | 0.27%  | 0.56%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial | 263  | 198  | 309  | 4.28%  | 5.93%  | 8.68%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 683  | 616  | 800  | 11.10%  | 18.45%  | 22.48%
Total | 6,151 | 3,338 | 3,559 | 100% | 100% | 100%

## See also

[edit]

* Spaceflight portal

* Point Arguello Light
* Canyon Fire – a 2016 wildfire that burned over 12,500 acres (51 km2) on the base.[65]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "About Us".
2. ^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "Airport Diagram – Vandenberg AFB (KVBG)" (PDF). FAA. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "Vandenberg AFB history office fact sheet". Vandenberg.af.mil. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
4. ^ "Judith Dale: Vandenberg Air Force Base – into the future, a look at the past". 22 August 2020.
5. ^ "Camp Cooke". 20 May 2006. Archived from the original on 20 May 2006. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
6. ^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "Historic Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields: Camp Cooke by Jeffrey Geiger Chief, Office of History, 30th Space Wing". Militarymuseum.org. 1 February 1953. Archived from the original on 27 March 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "SAC Missile Chronology 1 May 1990 Office of the Historian, Strategic Air Command". Alternatewars.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
8. ^ "Atlas Missile Silo Coordinates". Techbastard.com. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
9. ^ "Titan II Missile Silo Coordinates". Techbastard.com. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
10. ^ a b "Vandenberg Air Force Base Launch sites". asuwlink.uwyo.edu. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
11. ^ "Minuteman II". Astronautix. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
12. ^ a b c d e "Martin Marietta LGM-118 Peacekeeper". Astronautix. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
13. ^ a b "OBV". Astronautix. 15 December 2010. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
14. ^ "Kwajalein Meck launch site". Astronautix.com. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
15. ^ Bergin, Chris (27 June 2006). "Delta IV - NROL-22 launch success". Retrieved 14 September 2023.
16. ^ "Lockheed Martin Ready For Launch of Intelsat 14 Spacecraft". Lockheed Martin. 11 November 2009. Archived from the original on 17 December 2011.
17. ^ "Atlas V launch successful". Vandenberg Air Force Base. 19 March 2008. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012.
18. ^ NASASpaceflight.com Forum > General Space Flight (Atlas, Delta, ESA, Russian, Chinese) > Commercial Launchers (Space X, Sea Launch, etc.) > Topic: Elon Musk Q&A – Updates SpaceX status on Falcon and Dragon > Reply #2554
19. ^ Federal Register /Vol. 73, No. 245 / Friday, 19 December 2008 / Proposed Rules, page 77579.
20. ^ "SpaceX announces launch date for FH". Archived from the original on 21 September 2011.
21. ^ a b Scully, Janene (5 February 2011). "Report: Falcon plan OK for environment". Santa Maria, California: Santa Maria Times. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
22. ^ "SpaceX News". SpaceX. 15 August 2011. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
23. ^ "SpaceX Gears Up for Launches at Vandenberg Air Force Base". SpaceNews. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
24. ^ "First look/SpaceX Launch Complex/Vandenberg AFB". dailybreeze.com. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
25. ^ Space.com, SpaceX Falcon 9 From Vandenberg AFB Near Perfect (accessed 5 August 2014)
26. ^ popularmechanics.com, SpaceX Completes First Ever Falcon 9 Launch and Landing on the West Coast
27. ^ "SPACE LAUNCH DELTA 30 TO LEASE SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX 6 TO SPACE X". Vandenberg Space Force Base. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
28. ^ Scully, Janene (4 December 2023). "SpaceX Yearly Launch Rate at Vandenberg SFB Could Soar to 100 by 2025". Noozhawk. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
29. ^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "Fact Sheet Display". af.mil. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
30. ^ a b Mueller, Robert, Air Force Bases Volume I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History, 1989
31. ^ Maurer, Maurer Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office 1961 (republished 1983, Office of Air Force History, ISBN 0-912799-02-1)
32. ^ Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977 Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History 1984 ISBN 0-912799-12-9
33. ^ Flores, Oscar (12 May 2021). "Vandenberg AFB Renames Base and 30th Space Wing". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
34. ^ Green-Lanchoney, Jennifer (7 March 2025). "Air Force Activates Key Unit for Nuclear Modernization at VSFB". Vandenberg Space Force Base.
35. ^ "Space and Missile Heritage Center". Vandenberg Space Force Base. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
36. ^ "Units". Vandenberg AFB. US Air Force. Archived from the original on 26 October 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
37. ^ "Nasturtium gambelii". Center for Plant Conservation. Archived from the original on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
38. ^ "Vandenberg Air Force Base utilizes unique horse patrol to help protect plovers, maintain conservation efforts". Santa Ynez Valley News. 19 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
39. ^ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: "Vandenberg Beaches to close for Annual Snowy Plover Nesting Season". Vandenberg Air Force Base. 1 March 2012. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
40. ^ "Ocean Beach Park". Country of Santa Barbara. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
41. ^ "UPDATE: UCSB student dead after large shark severs leg off Surf Beach". Lompoc Record. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
42. ^ "UPDATE: Man reportedly dead in shark attack near Surf Beach". Lompoc Record. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
43. ^ Sahagun, Louis (9 May 2017). "Rare birds find Southern California beach housing". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
44. ^ "Vandenberg Air Force Base". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
45. ^ "Vandenberg SFB CDP, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
46. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
47. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
48. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
49. ^ "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
50. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
51. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
52. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
53. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
54. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
55. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
56. ^ "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
57. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
58. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
59. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
60. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
61. ^ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
62. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Vandenberg SFB CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
63. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Vandenberg AFB CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
64. ^ "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Vandenberg AFB CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
65. ^ Phipps, Staff Sgt. Shane (27 September 2016). "Coalition unites to extinguish base wildland fires". Vandenberg Air Force Base. 30th Space Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.

*  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
*  This article incorporates public domain material from Vandenberg Space Force Base. United States Air Force.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Geiger, Jeffrey (2014). Camp Cooke and Vandenberg Air Force Base, 1941–1966: From Armor and Infantry Training to Space and Missile Launches. McFarland. OCLC 857803877.
* Page, Joseph T. (2014). Images of America: Vandenberg Air Force Base. Arcadia Publishing. OCLC 905345173.
* Valencia, Joseph (2004). Beyond Tranquillon Ridge. AuthorHouse. OCLC 57341426.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

* KML
* GPX (all coordinates)
* GPX (primary coordinates)
* GPX (secondary coordinates)

Official sites

* Vandenberg Space Force Base official site
* History/Chronology of Vandenberg AFB
* Space and Missile Heritage Center

Other

* Vandenberg Air Force Base Spacecraft and Rocket Listing
* California Spaceport Website
* Vandenberg AFB Launch Schedule
* Vandenberg AFB Launch History
* Vandenberg SFB Launch Schedule
* FAA Airport Diagram for Vandenberg AFB (PDF), effective July 10, 2025

* Resources for this U.S. military airport:
* FAA airport information for VBG
* AirNav airport information for KVBG
* ASN accident history for VBG
* NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
* SkyVector aeronautical chart for KVBG

* v
* t
* e

Vandenberg Space Force Base

* Launch Facilities

Space Launch Complexes|

| Active|

* SLC-2W
* SLC-4E
* SLC-4W†
* SLC-8
* LC-576E

|

Inactive (leased)|

* SLC-3E‡
* SLC-5
* SLC-6‡
* SLC-9

Inactive (not leased)|

* SLC-1E
* SLC-1W
* SLC-2E
* SLC-3W
* SLC-7
* SLC-10E
* SLC-10W
* SLC-11
* SLC-12
* SLC-14
* SLC-15

Launch Complexes|

* LC-394
* LC-395
* LC-4300
* LC-576/ABRES
* LC-576A
* LC-75
* BMRS
* Bomarc
* CLF
* HP-06

Launch Facilities|

* LE-6
* LE-7
* LE-8
* LF-02
* LF-03
* LF-04
* LF-05
* LF-06
* LF-07
* LF-08
* LF-09
* LF-10
* LF-21
* LF-22
* LF-23
* LF-24
* LF-25
* LF-26
* OSTF
* PLC-C
* SLTF
* TP-01

Other Facilities|

* Runway 12/30
* Point Arguello Warning Area Drop Zone
* Western Test Range

* † indicates that the launch pad's use is currently not as a launch site. ‡ indicates that the launch pad is under construction or renovation.

* v
* t
* e

United States Space Force

Leadership|

* Department of the Air Force
* Secretary of the Air Force
* Under Secretary of the Air Force
* Space Staff
* Chief of Space Operations
* Vice Chief of Space Operations
* Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force
* Director of Staff
* Deputy Chiefs of Space Operations
* General Officers
* Generals
* Lieutenant Generals

| Oversight|

* House Armed Services Committee
* Strategic Forces subcommittee
* Senate Committee on Armed Services
* Strategic Forces subcommittee

|

Structure|

| Field commands|

* Space Futures Command
* Space Operations Command
* Commander
* Space Systems Command
* Commander
* Space Training and Readiness Command
* Commander

|

Component Field
Commands|

* United States Space Forces – Central
* United States Space Forces – Europe and Africa
* United States Space Forces – Indo-Pacific
* United States Space Forces – Korea
* United States Space Forces – Space

Deltas|

* Space Delta 1
* Mission Delta 2
* Mission Delta 3
* Mission Delta 4
* Space Delta 5
* Space Delta 6
* Space Delta 7
* Space Delta 8
* Space Delta 9
* Space Delta 10
* Space Delta 11
* Space Delta 12
* Space Delta 13
* Space Delta 15
* Space Delta 18
* Space Delta 21
* Space Delta 23
* Space Delta 26
* Space Launch Delta 30
* Mission Delta 31
* Space Launch Delta 45
* Space Base Delta 1
* Space Base Delta 2
* Space Base Delta 3

Squadrons|

* 1st Delta Operations
* 319th Combat Training
* 328th Weapons
* 392d Combat Training
* 533rd Training
* 21st Operations Support
* 15th Space Surveillance
* 18th Space Defense
* 19th Space Defense
* 20th Space Surveillance
* 3rd Combat Training
* 4th EW
* 5th EW
* 16th EW
* 23rd EW
* 2nd Space Warning
* 3rd satellite Communications
* 5th Space Warning
* 6th Space Warning
* 7th Space Warning
* 10th Space Warning
* 11th Space Warning
* 12th Space Warning
* 13th Space Warning
* 55th Training
* 21st Space Operations
* 22nd Space Operations
* 23rd Space Operations
* 62nd Cyberspace
* 63rd Cyberspace
* 64th Cyberspace
* 65th Cyberspace
* 68th Cyberspace
* 69th Cyberspace
* 645th Cyberspace
* 71st ISR
* 72nd ISR
* 73rd ISR
* 74th ISR
* 75th ISR
* 76th ISR
* 1st Space Operations
* 2nd Navigation Warfare
* 3rd Space Operations
* 4th Space Operations
* 10th Space Operations
* 53rd Space Operations
* 527th Space Aggressor
* 1st Test and Evaluation
* 3rd Test and Evaluation
* 17th Test and Evaluation
* 25th Space Range
* 2nd Space Launch
* 5th Space Launch
* 1st Range Operations
* NSSI

Direct reporting units|

* Space Development Agency
* Space Rapid Capabilities Office
* Space Warfighting Analysis Center

Locations|

| Space Force Bases|

* Buckley
* Los Angeles
* Patrick
* Peterson
* Schriever
* Vandenberg

|

Space Bases|

* Pituffik

Space Force Stations|

* Cape Canaveral
* Cape Cod
* Cavalier
* Cheyenne Mountain
* Clear
* Kaena Point
* New Boston

Personnel
and training|

* Astronauts
* Awards and decorations
* Badges
* Ranks
* Training
* Academy
* Reserve Officer Training Corps
* Officer Training School
* Basic Military Training
* Uniforms

History and
traditions|

* Delta
* Flag
* History
* Seal
* "Semper Supra"
* Air & Space Forces Association
* Space Force Association

| Former wings and deltas|

* 21st Space Wing
* 50th Space Wing
* 460th Space Wing
* Space Training and Readiness Delta (Provisional)

|

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Space Operations Command

Air Forces|

* Fourteenth (Strategic)

Centers|

* Space and Missile Systems
* Space Innovation and Development
* 614th Air and Space Operations

Bases|

* Buckley
* Los Angeles
* Patrick
* Peterson
* Schriever
* Thule
* Vandenberg

Stations|

* Cape Canaveral
* Cape Cod
* Cavalier
* Cheyenne Mountain
* Clear
* Eldorado (closed)
* Kaena Point
* New Boston
* Onizuka (closed)

Space wings|

* 21st
* 30th
* 45th
* 50th
* 310th
* 460th

Air Base groups|

* 61st
* 821st Air Base Group

Squadrons|

| Command and Control|

* 1st
* 2d
* 3d
* 4th
* 55th Mobile
* 119th
* 153d
* 222d
* 721st Mobile

|

Space Control|

* 1st
* 4th
* 16th
* 20th
* 25th
* 76th
* 380th

Space Launch|

* 1st
* 2nd
* 3d Space Launch Squadron
* 4th
* 5th

Space Operations|

* 1st
* 2nd
* 3rd
* 4th
* 5th
* 6th
* 7th
* 8th
* 9th
* 19th
* 21st
* 22d
* 23d
* 111th
* 148th
* AFSPC

Space Warning|

* 2nd
* 4th
* 5th
* 6th
* 7th
* 8th
* 9th
* 10th
* 11th
* 12th
* 13th
* 137th
* 213th

Others|

* 26th Space Aggressor (AFRC)
* 527th Space Aggressor (ACC)
* 3d Space Communications
* 50th Space Communications
* 850th Space Communications
* 1st Space Development Squadron
* 2d Space Development Squadron
* 3d Space Development Squadron
* 3rd Space Experimentation
* 1st Space Surveillance
* 3d Space Surveillance
* 5th Space Surveillance
* 1st Air and Space Test
* 2d Test Operations Squadron
* 3d Space Test Squadron
* 4th Space Test Squadron
* 55th Space Weather

* v
* t
* e

Strategic Air Command (SAC)

Bases|

| active
(MAJCOM)|

| CONUS|

* Altus (AETC)
* Andersen (PACAF)
* Andrews (AMC)
* Barksdale (ACC)
* Beale (ACC)
* Bolling (AFDW)
* Cannon (AFSOC)
* Cape Cod (USSF)
* Columbus (AETC)
* Davis-Monthan (ACC)
* Dyess (ACC)
* Eielson (PACAF)
* Ellsworth (ACC)
* Eglin (AFMC)
* F. E. Warren (AFGSC)
* Fairchild (AMC)
* Forbes (ANG)
* Grand Forks (AMC)
* Grissom (AFRC)
* Homestead (AFRC)
* Lincoln (ANG)
* Little Rock (AETC)
* MacDill (AMC)
* Malmstrom (AFGSC)
* March (AFRC)
* McChord (AMC)
* McConnell (AMC)
* McGuire (AMC)
* Minot (ACC)
* Mountain Home (ACC)
* Nellis (ACC)
* Offutt (ACC)
* Patrick (USSF)
* Pease (ANG)
* Rickenbacker (ANG)
* Robins (AFMC)
* Seymour Johnson (ACC)
* Sheppard (AETC)
* Selfridge (ANG)
* Travis (AMC)
* Vandenberg (USSF)
* Westover (AFRC)
* Whiteman (ACC)
* Wright-Patterson (AFMC)

|

overseas|

* RAF Alconbury (USAFE)
* Diego Garcia (USN)
* Kadena (PACAF)
* RAF Fairford (USAFE)
* RAF Lakenheath (USAFE)
* RAF Mildenhall (USAFE)
* Thule (USSF)

former /
inactive|

| CONUS|

* Amarillo
* Bergstrom
* Biggs
* Calumet Air Force Station
* Carswell
* Castle
* Chennault
* Clinton-Sherman
* Dow
* Eaker
* Glasgow
* Grand Island (AAF)
* Griffiss
* Hunter
* K. I. Sawyer
* Kearney
* Kincheloe
* Larson
* Loring
* Lowry
* Mather
* McCoy
* Plattsburgh
* Presque Isle
* Ramey
* R.I. Bong (unbuilt)
* Schilling
* Stead
* Turner
* Walker
* Wurtsmith

|

overseas|

* Strategic Air Command in the United Kingdom
* RAF Bassingbourn
* Ben Guerir
* Boulhaut
* RAF Brize Norton
* RAF Bruntingthorpe
* RAF Burtonwood
* RAF Chelveston
* RAF Greenham Common
* Goose
* Ernest Harmon
* RAF High Wycombe
* RAF Upper Heyford
* Torrejón
* RAF Manston
* Morón
* Nouasseur
* Rabat-Salé
* RAF Scampton
* RAF Sculthorpe
* Sidi Slimane
* RAF South Ruislip
* U-Tapao
* RAF Waddington
* RAF Woodbridge
* RAF Wyton
* Zaragoza

Units|

| Air Forces|

* Second Air Force
* Eighth Air Force
* Fifteenth Air Force
* Sixteenth Air Force
* Twentieth Air Force

|

Divisions|

| Air|

* 3d
* 4th
* 5th
* 6th
* 7th
* 12th
* 14th
* 17th
* 19th
* 21st
* 36th
* 40th
* 42d
* 45th
* 47th
* 57th
* 100th
* 311th
* 801st
* 802d
* 806th
* 817th
* 822d
* 823d
* 4310th

|

Strategic
aerospace|

* 1st
* 18th
* 22d
* 810th
* 813th
* 816th
* 818th
* 819th
* 820th
* 821st
* 825th

Strategic missile|

* 13th

Wings|

| Bombardment|

* 2d
* 5th
* 7th
* 9th
* 17th
* 19th
* 22d
* 28th
* 39th
* 40th
* 42d
* 43d
* 68th
* 70th
* 72d
* 92d
* 93d
* 96th
* 97th
* 99th
* 303d
* 319th
* 320th
* 340th
* 379th
* 380th
* 397th
* 410th
* 416th
* 449th
* 450th
* 454th
* 456th
* 461st
* 465th
* 484th
* 494th
* 509th

|

Fighter|

* 1st
* 4th
* 12th
* 27th
* 31st
* 33d
* 56th
* 71st Strategic Reconnaissance (Fighter)
* 82d
* 407th
* 506th
* 508th

Missile|

* 44th
* 90th
* 91st
* 308th
* 321st
* 341st
* 351st
* 381st
* 389th
* 390th
* 392d
* 451st
* 455th
* 702d
* 703d
* 704th
* 705th
* 706th
* 4320th Strategic Wing (Missile)

Reconnaissance|

* 6th Strategic Reconnaissance
* 26th Strategic Reconnaissance
* 55th Strategic Reconnaissance
* 544th Aerospace Reconnaissance Technical

Refueling|

* 11th
* 100th
* 301st
* 305th
* 384th
* 452d
* 497th
* 499th
* 500th

Strategic|

| Aerospace|

* 310th
* 385th
* 462d

|

AFCON|

* 95th
* 98th
* 306th
* 307th
* 376th

MAJCOM|

* 3918th
* 3920th
* 3960th
* 3970th
* 3973d
* 4026th
* 4038th
* 4039th
* 4042d
* 4043d
* 4047th
* 4080th
* 4081st
* 4082d
* 4083d
* 4123d
* 4126th
* 4128th
* 4130th
* 4133d
* 4134th
* 4135th
* 4136th
* 4137th
* 4138th
* 4141st
* 4157th
* 4158th
* 4170th
* 4228th
* 4238th
* 4239th
* 4241st
* 4245th
* 4252nd
* 4258th
* 4321st

USAAF
Groups
*= initial assigned
unit upon SAC's
activation|

| Bombardment|

* 2d (7/47)
* 7th (10/46)
* 28th (8/46)
* 40th (3/46*)
* 43rd (10/46)
* 44th (3/46*)
* 92nd (10/46)
* 93d (3/46*)
* 97th (8/46)
* 98th (7/47)
* 301st (8/46)
* 307th (8/46)
* 444th (3/46*)
* 448th (3/46*)
* 449th (3/46*)
* 467th (3/46*)
* 485th (3/46*)
* 498th (3/46*)
* 509th Composite (3/46*)

|

Fighter|

* 27th (6/47)
* 55th (2/47)

Reconnaissance|

* 91st Strategic Reconnaissance (1/47)

Major
weapon
systems|

| Bombers|

* Rockwell B-1 Lancer
* Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
* Boeing B-29 Superfortress
* Convair B-36 Peacemaker
* North American B-45 Tornado
* Boeing B-47 Stratojet
* Boeing B-50 Superfortress
* Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
* Convair B-58 Hustler
* General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark

|

Command
& Control|

* Lockheed DC-130
* Boeing E-4
* Boeing EC-135
* Boeing RC-135

Fighters|

* North American F-2 Mustang
* North American F-82 Twin Mustang
* Republic F-84F Thunderstreak
* North American F-86 Sabre
* Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
* General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark

Missiles|

* ADM-20
* AGM-28
* AGM-69
* AGM-84
* AGM-86
* AGM-129
* HGM-16
* LGM-30A/B
* LGM-30F
* LGM-30G
* LGM-118A
* SM-62
* PGM-17A
* PGM-19A

Reconnaissance|

* Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird
* Lockheed TR-1
* Lockheed U-2
* Martin RB-57D Canberra
* Boeing RB-17
* Boeing RB-29

Tankers|

* Boeing KB-29 Superfortress
* Boeing KB-50
* McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender
* Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter
* Lockheed HC-130
* Lockheed Martin KC-130
* Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker

Transport|

* Beechcraft C-45
* Douglas C-47 Skytrain
* Douglas C-54 Skymaster
* Fairchild C-82 Packet
* Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter
* Douglas C-118
* Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
* Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
* Convair C-131 Samaritan
* Boeing C-135 Stratolifter

Commanders|

* George Kenney
* Curtis LeMay
* Power
* Ryan
* Joseph J. Nazzaro
* Bruce K. Holloway
* John C. Meyer
* Russell E. Dougherty
* Richard H. Ellis
* Bennie L. Davis
* Larry D. Welch
* John T. Chain, Jr,
* George Lee Butler

Emblems|

* Strategic Air Command Emblem Gallery

United States military aircraft designation systems

* v
* t
* e

Aerospace Defense Command (ADC)

Bases|

| CONUS|

* Amarillo
* Beale
* Charleston
* Davis-Monthan
* Dobbins
* Dover
* Dow
* Duluth
* Eglin
* Edwards
* Ellington
* Ellsworth
* England
* Ent
* Ethan Allen
* Fairfax
* Fallon
* Fort Lee
* Fort Heath
* Geiger
* George
* Glasgow
* Grand Forks
* Grenier
* Griffiss
* Gunter
* Hamilton
* Hancock
* Homestead
* Hurlburt
* Hunter
* Imeson
* Key West
* Kincheloe
* Kingsley
* Kirtland
* Lackland
* Laredo
* Larson
* Luke
* MacDill
* March
* Malmstrom
* McCoy
* McChord
* McClellan
* McGhee Tyson
* McGuire
* Minneapolis-St. Paul
* Minot
* Mitchel
* New Castle
* Niagara Falls
* Norton
* O'Hare
* Otis
* Oxnard
* Paine
* Perrin
* Peterson
* Pittsburgh
* Portland
* Presque Isle
* R.I. Bong
* Richards-Gebaur
* Robins
* K.I. Sawyer
* Selfridge
* Seymour Johnson
* Sioux City
* Stead
* Stewart
* Suffolk County
* Tinker
* Travis
* Truax
* Tyndall
* Vandenberg
* Vincent
* Walker
* Webb
* Westover
* Wright-Patterson
* Wurtsmith
* Youngstown

|

Overseas|

* Ernest Harmon
* Frobisher Bay
* Goose
* Keflavik
* McAndrew
* Pepperrell
* Thule

Stations|

| CONUS|

* Adair
* Aiken
* Almaden
* Alpena
* Antigo
* Arlington Heights
* Baker
* Bedford
* Bellefontaine
* Belleville
* Benton
* Blaine
* Brookfield
* Brunswick
* Bucks Harbor
* Burns
* Calumet
* Cambria
* Cape Charles
* Cape Cod
* Carmi
* Caswell
* Chandler
* Charleston
* Cheyenne Mountain
* Claysburg
* Clear
* Colville
* Condon
* Continental Divide
* Cottonwood
* Cross City
* Crystal Springs
* Curlew
* Custer
* Cut Bank
* Dallas Center
* Dauphin Island
* Dickinson
* Duncanville
* Eldorado
* Empire
* Finland
* Finley
* Flintstone
* Fordland
* Fort Fisher
* Fort Lee
* Fortuna
* Gettysburg
* Grand Marais
* Grand Rapids
* Guthrie
* Hanna City
* Havre
* Highlands
* Houma
* Hutchinson
* Joelton
* Keno
* Killeen
* Kingman
* Kirksville
* Klamath
* Lake Charles
* Lake City
* Las Cruces
* Las Vegas
* Lewistown
* Lockport
* Lufkin
* Lyndonville
* Madera
* Makah
* Mica Peak
* Miles City
* Mill Valley
* Minot
* Montauk
* Moriarty
* Mount Hebo
* Mount Laguna
* Mount Lemmon
* Naselle
* North Bend
* North Charleston
* North Truro
* Oklahoma City
* Olathe
* Omaha
* Opheim
* Osceola
* Othello
* Owingsville
* Ozona
* Palermo
* Point Arena
* Port Austin
* Port Isabel
* Pyote
* Red Bluff
* Rochester
* Rockport
* Rockville (Indiana)
* Roslyn
* Rye
* Saint Albans
* San Clemente Island
* Santa Rosa Island
* Saratoga Springs
* Sault Ste Marie
* Shemya
* Snelling
* Snow Mountain
* Sweetwater
* Texarkana
* Tierra Amarilla
* Thomasville
* Tonopah
* Topsham
* Two Creeks
* Wadena
* Walnut Ridge
* Watertown
* Waverly
* West Mesa
* Willow Run
* Winnemucca
* Winslow
* Winston-Salem
* Woomera
* Yaak
* Zapata

|

Overseas|

* Armstrong
* Baldy Hughes
* Beausejour
* Cape Makkovik
* Cartwright
* Cut Throat Island
* Elliston Ridge
* Fox Harbour
* Hofn
* Hopedale
* Kamloops
* La Scie
* Langanes
* Latrar
* Melville
* Puntzi Mountain
* Ramore
* Red Cliff
* Rockville
* Saglek
* St. Anthony
* Saskatoon Mountain
* Sioux Lookout
* Spotted Island
* Stephenville

Air
Defense
units|

| Forces|

* Central Air Defense
* Eastern Air Defense
* Iceland
* Western Air Defense
* First
* Fourth
* Tenth
* Fourteenth

|

Air
Divisions|

* 8th
* 9th
* 20th
* 21st
* 23d
* 24th
* 25th
* 26th
* 27th
* 28th
* 29th
* 30th
* 31st
* 32d
* 33d
* 34th
* 35th
* 36th
* 37th
* 58th
* 64th
* 73d
* 85th

Sectors|

* Albuquerque
* Bangor
* Boston
* Chicago
* Detroit
* Duluth
* Goose
* Grand Forks
* Great Falls
* Kansas City
* Los Angeles
* Minot
* Montgomery
* New York
* Oklahoma City
* Phoenix
* Portland
* Reno
* Sault Sainte Marie
* San Francisco
* Seattle
* Sioux City
* Spokane
* Stewart
* Syracuse
* Washington

Wings|

* Fighter 1st
* 4th
* 23d
* 32d
* 33d
* 50th
* 52d
* 56th
* 78th
* 81st
* 325th
* 328th
* 507th

* Detection and Control 71st
* 73d
* 551st
* 552d

* Air Defense 46th
* 4620th
* 4621st
* 4622d
* 4624th
* 4625th
* 4627th
* 4628th
* 4683d
* 4700th
* 4702d
* 4703d
* 4704th
* 4705th
* 4706th
* 4707th
* 4708th
* 4709th
* 4710th
* 4711th
* 4750th
* 4751st
* 4752d
* 4756th
* 4780th

Groups|

* Fighter 1st
* 4th
* 14th
* 15th
* 23d
* 32d
* 33d
* 50th
* 52d
* 53d
* 54th
* 56th
* 57th
* 78th
* 79th
* 81st
* 82d
* 84th
* 325th
* 326th
* 327th
* 328th
* 329th
* 337th
* 343d
* 355th
* 408th
* 412th
* 414th
* 473d
* 475th
* 476th
* 478th
* 507th

* Air Defense 10th
* 500th
* 501st
* 502d
* 503d
* 514th
* 515th
* 516th
* 517th
* 518th
* 519th
* 520th
* 521st
* 525th
* 527th
* 528th
* 529th
* 530th
* 533d
* 534th
* 564th
* 566th
* 567th
* 568th
* 575th
* 637th
* 665th
* 678th
* 692d
* 701st
* 751st
* 762d
* 765th
* 778th
* 780th
* 827th
* 858th
* 4606th
* 4620th
* 4676th
* 4700th
* 4721st
* 4722d
* 4727th
* 4728th
* 4729th
* 4730th
* 4731st
* 4732d
* 4733d
* 4734th
* 4735th
* 4750th
* 4756th

* Aircraft Control & Warning 503d
* 505th
* 540th
* 541st
* 542d
* 543d
* 544th
* 545th
* 546th
* 563d
* 564th
* 565th
* 566th

Squadrons|

* Aerospace Defense Command Fighter Squadrons
* Aircraft Control and Warning Squadrons

Major
weapon
systems|

| Electronic|

* TB-29
* EB-57
* EC-121

|

Fighters|

* Propeller:
* F-47
* F-51
* P-61
* F-82

* Subsonic Jet:
* P-80
* F-84
* F-86
* F-89
* F-94

* Supersonic Jet:
* F-101
* F-102
* F-104
* F-106

Missiles|

* AIM-4
* AIM-26
* AIR-2
* CIM-10

Ships|

* Guardian
* Interceptor
* Interdictor
* Interpreter
* Investigator
* Locator
* Lookout
* Outpost
* Pickett
* Protector
* Scanner
* Searcher
* Skywatcher
* Tracer
* Watchman
* Vigil

Texas Towers|

* Texas Tower 2
* Texas Tower 3
* Texas Tower 4

Miscellaneous|

* Air Defense Command Emblem Gallery (on Wikimedia Commons)
* General Surveillance Radar Stations

* v
* t
* e

Operational military installations in California

Army|

| Fort|

* Fort Irwin
* Fort Hunter Liggett

|

Airfield|

* Bicycle Lake
* Fresno
* Los Alamitos

Heliport|

* O'Sullivan
* Roberts

Range|

* Camp Parks
* Camp San Luis Obispo

Logistics|

* Sierra Army Depot

School|

* Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

Marines|

| Air Station|

* Miramar
* Pendleton

|

Bases|

* MCRD San Diego
* Camp Pendleton
* Twentynine Palms

Range|

* Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range
* Mountain Warfare Training Center
* Edson Range

Logistics|

* Barstow

Navy|

| Depot|

* Broadway Complex
* Seal Beach

|

Military Sealift Command|

* Long Beach

Naval outlying landing field|

* Imperial Beach
* San Clemente Island
* San Nicolas Island

Base|

* Coronado
* Point Loma
* San Diego
* Ventura County (composed of NAS Point Mugu, NCBC Port Hueneme)

Air Station|

* Lemoore
* North Island
* El Centro

Range|

* China Lake
* Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range

School|

* Naval Postgraduate School

Air Force|

| Air base|

* Beale
* Edwards
* March
* Travis

|

Range|

* R-2508 Complex

Space Force|

| Space Force Base|

* Los Angeles
* Vandenberg

|

Range|

* Western Range

National Guard|

| Army|

* Los Alamitos
* Camp Roberts
* Camp San Luis Obispo

|

Air|

* Channel Islands
* Fresno
* Moffett Field

School|

* California Military Academy

Coast Guard|

| Air Station|

* Humboldt Bay
* Sacramento
* San Francisco
* San Diego
* Ventura

|

Station|

* Coast Guard Island
* Golden Gate

Training Center|

* Training Center Petaluma

Base|

* Alameda

* v
* t
* e

Spaceports

Active|

| Asia|

* Chinese government: CNSA
* Jiuquan
* Taiyuan
* Wenchang
* Xichang
* Chinese private launches: HICAL (Wenchang Commercial)
* India: ISRO
* Satish Dhawan
* Thumba
* Indonesia: LAPAN
* Pameungpeuk
* Iran: ISA
* Semnan
* IRGC
* Shahroud Space Center
* Israel: ISA
* Palmachim
* Japanese government: JAXA
* Tanegashima
* Uchinoura
* Japanese private launches: Space One
* Kii
* Kazakhstan / Russia: Roscosmos / VKS
* Baikonur
* VKS
* Sary Shagan
* North Korea: NADA
* Sohae
* South Korea: KARI
* Naro
* Pakistan: SUPARCO
* Sonmiani
* Russia: Roscosmos
* Vostochny
* VKS
* Dombarovsky / Yasny

|

Europe|

* Norway: NOSA
* Andøya
* SvalRak
* Russia: VKS
* Kapustin Yar
* Plesetsk
* Spain: INTA
* El Arenosillo
* Sweden: SSC Esrange
* United Kingdom: UKSA
* Spaceport Cornwall
* SaxaVord Spaceport

United States|

* Government: USSF
* Cape Canaveral SFS / ER
* Vandenberg SFB / WR
* NASA
* Kennedy
* Wallops
* Academic:
* Poker Flat
* Private:
* Corn Ranch
* Pacific
* MARS
* Mojave
* Spaceport America
* SpaceX Starbase

Oceania|

* Australia: RAAF
* Woomera
* Southern Launch
* Koonibba
* New Zealand: Rocket Lab
* Mahia Peninsula
* Marshall Islands / United States: DoD
* Reagan Test Site

South America|

* Brazil: FAB / AEB
* Alcântara
* Barreira do Inferno
* Europe: ESA / France: CNES
* Guiana / Kourou

International waters|

* Sea Launch

Proposed|

* Canada: Canso
* India: Kulasekharapatnam
* Indonesia: LAPAN
* Biak
* Japan:
* Oita
* Hokkaido
* Sweden: Spaceport Sweden
* United Kingdom: Sutherland spaceport
* United States:
* Cecil
* Clinton-Sherman
* Colorado
* Ellington
* Maine
* Midland
* Spain: El Hierro

Historical|

* Algeria / France:
* CIEES
* Hammaguir
* Reggane
* Australia: Carnarvon
* Canada: Churchill
* Hall Beach
* Resolute Bay
* China: Guangde
* Nanhui
* Nazi Germany: Blizna
* Greifswalder Oie
* Peenemünde
* Tuchola Forest
* Greece: Koroni
* India: Balasore
* Italy: Salto di Quirra
* Japan: Akita
* Nii-jima
* Obachi
* Ryori
* Kenya / Italy: Broglio, Malindi
* North Korea: Tonghae
* Soviet Union / Russia: Kheysa
* Okhotsk
* Svobodny
* Spain: El Arenosillo
* Sweden: Kronogård
* USA: Edwards
* WSSH

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Santa Barbara County, California, United States

County seat: Santa Barbara

Cities|

* Buellton
* Carpinteria
* Goleta
* Guadalupe
* Lompoc
* Santa Barbara
* Santa Maria
* Solvang

Santa Barbara County map

CDPs|

* Ballard
* Casmalia
* Cuyama
* Eastern Goleta Valley
* Garey
* Isla Vista
* Los Alamos
* Los Olivos
* Mission Canyon
* Mission Hills
* Montecito
* New Cuyama
* Orcutt
* Santa Ynez
* Sisquoc
* Summerland
* Toro Canyon
* UC Santa Barbara
* Vandenberg SFB
* Vandenberg Village

Unincorporated
communities|

* Gaviota
* Honda
* Hope Ranch
* Las Cruces
* Naples
* Painted Cave
* Surf
* Ventucopa

Indian
reservation|

* Santa Ynez Chumash Indian Reservation

Ghost towns|

* Betteravia
* La Patera
* Santa Rita

* California portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Santa Ynez River Watershed

Tributaries|

* Salsipuedes Creek

Communities|

* Ballard
* Buellton
* Lompoc
* Los Olivos
* Mission Hills
* Santa Ynez
* Solvang

Landmarks|

* Bradbury Dam
* Cold Spring Canyon Arch Bridge
* Espada Formation
* Figueroa Mountain
* Gibraltar Dam
* Jalama Formation
* Juncal Formation
* La Purísima Mission State Historic Park
* Lake Cachuma
* Los Padres National Forest
* Mission Santa Inés
* Neverland Ranch
* Nojoqui Falls
* Rancho Lompoc
* Rancho Mission Vieja de la Purisma
* Rancho San Carlos de Jonata
* San Rafael Mountains
* Santa Ynez Mountains
* Santa Ynez Valley
* United States Penitentiary, Lompoc
* Vandenberg Space Force Base

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

Other|

* Yale LUX

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