Vandenberg Stuff

[Yazata]

SpaceX already launches and lands Falcon 9's from Launch Complex 4 (near the top in the photo below)

The plan is to adapt Launch Complex 6 (red marker towards the bottom) to launch Falcon 9's and Falcon Heavy's, including two new landing pads for returning boosters.

The plan is to have the new pad ready by the start of 2027.

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SpaceX and the Space Force recently demolished the existing structures at Launch Complex 6 at Vandenberg. It was a sad moment, because this pad was originally intended to become a west coast Space Shuttle launch pad, and the huge structures were built to accomodate and service shuttles.

Then the Shuttle Challenger blew up during launch and the plans to launch shuttles from Vandenberg were scrapped.

Since then, ULA used Launch Complex 6 to launch their strikingly beautiful but now-retired Delta IV Heavy rockets, another iconic part of space lore.

Well, the Space Force aren't known for sentiment, so down it all came.

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