Vandenberg Space Force Base

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  SpaceX Launches 27 Starlink Satellites on Falcon 9 Rocket, Booster Lands Safely

  SpaceX launched another set of 27 Starlink satellites on April 3, 2025, using a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The booster, which had flown four previous missions, landed safely on the drone ship “Of Course I Still Love You” in the Pacific Ocean. The launch marked the 38th Falcon 9 mission of the year, with two-...

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  SpaceX Sets Falcon 9 Reuse Record with NROL-57 Launch from Vandenberg

  SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launched the classified NROL-57 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, marking the shortest turnaround between launches for a reused booster at just over nine days. The first stage had previously carried NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH probes. This mission is part of the National Reconnaissance Office’s proliferated architecture...

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  SpaceX Falcon 9 Successfully Deploys NASA’s SPHEREx Telescope and PUNCH Probes

  NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions have successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. SPHEREx will map the entire celestial sky in 102 infrared colours, while PUNCH will study the transition of the sun’s corona into the solar wind. The two-year missions aim to deepen our understanding of th...

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  X-37B Space Plane Returns After 434-Day Mission, Advancing Space Tech

  The U.S. military’s X-37B space plane has landed after a 434-day classified mission. Launched on December 29, 2023, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, the mission focused on testing orbital maneuvering, aerobraking, and space radiation experiments. The autonomous spacecraft successfully demonstrated reusable space technology, marking another st...

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  USA's Secretive X-37B Space Plane Returns To Earth After 434-Day Mission

  The 29-foot-long X-37B landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California last Friday (Mar 7) at 2:22 am local time.

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  NASA Delays SPHEREx and PUNCH Missions Due to SpaceX Vehicle Checks

  NASA’s planned launch of the SPHEREx and PUNCH missions aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has been postponed. Originally set for March 8 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, the launch was delayed as SpaceX conducts additional vehicle checkouts. SPHEREx will focus on mapping the universe using infrared light, while PUNCH will examine solar wind and coro...

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  NASA Reschedules SPHEREx and PUNCH Missions, Now Set for March 7 Launch

  NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions, originally set for February 27, have faced another delay. The launch, previously rescheduled for March 4, is now expected to take place on March 7 at 10:09 p.m. EST from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. NASA cited scheduling constraints at the Western Range as the reason for the latest postponement. The ...

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  NASA’s New Missions Will Map the Sun and the Cosmos

  NASA is set to launch two major missions, PUNCH and SPHEREx, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base on March 2. PUNCH, a four-satellite system, will study the sun’s corona and space weather, while SPHEREx will create infrared maps of the cosmos to study galaxy evolution and cosmic history. These missions will contribute to a de...

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  Video: SpaceX Rocket Carrying 23 Starlink Satellites Illuminates Night Sky Over California

  In a spectacular night-time spectacle, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket illuminated the skies over Southern California on Monday as it soared into low-Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County.

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  SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches 23 Starlink Satellites, Sets Booster Record

  SpaceX launched 23 Starlink satellites on January 24, 2025, from Vandenberg Space Force Base, marking its 11th Falcon 9 mission of the year. The booster achieved its record 23rd flight and successfully landed on the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Pacific Ocean, bringing SpaceX's total orbital-class booster recoveries to 401. The sat...

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  SpaceX Successfully Launches 131 Satellites on Transporter 12 Mission

  SpaceX’s Transporter 12 mission, launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, deployed 131 satellites into low Earth orbit on 14 January 2025. Among the payloads were 37 satellites from Planet Labs, including the AI-powered Pelican-2, designed for high-resolution imaging and real-time data analysis. The mission also saw the Falcon 9 booster success...

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  Pixxel to Launch India’s First Private Satellite Network, Eyes $19 Billion Market

  Pixxel is set to launch three of its six hyperspectral imaging satellites aboard a SpaceX rocket from California on Tuesday. The launch is scheduled to take place at the Vandenberg Space Force Base at around 10:45 a.m. Pacific Time (1845 GMT) on Tuesday - just after midnight the next day in India - subject to final approvals.

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  SpaceX Launches NROL-153 Mission, Deploying Next-Gen Spy Satellites

  SpaceX launched the NROL-153 mission on January 9 from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base. The mission marks the seventh launch under the US National Reconnaissance Office’s proliferated architecture programme. Designed to deploy smaller, resilient satellites, the initiative aims to enhance surveillance capabilities. The Falcon 9’s first ...

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  SpaceX Completes Starlink Direct-to-Cell Constellation with New Satellite Launch

  SpaceX has completed the first Starlink constellation for direct-to-cell connectivity, aiming to deliver mobile internet to remote areas without specialised equipment. This development follows the launch of 20 satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base, with 13 featuring direct-to-cell technology. The satellites integrate with the existing network...

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  SpaceX to Launch 20 Starlink Satellites from California on November 9

  On 9 November, SpaceX will launch 20 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, using its Falcon 9 rocket. Scheduled for 1:16 a.m. Eastern Time, the launch includes 13 satellites with direct-to-cell technology, aiming to boost mobile connectivity. After liftoff, Falcon 9’s first stage is set to land on SpaceX’s Pacific dr...