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3-day K-index Plot

Image: NOAA

60-day Solar-terrestrial Plot

Image: www.solen.info

The next Vandenberg SFB rocket launch is probably a Falcon 9 in July.

For a list of past Vandenberg launches, go to Vandenberg SFB Launch History. To access launch photos, videos, and audio reports, visit the Vandenberg Rocket and Missile Launch Multimedia library.

SDA delivers first of 12 risk reduction satellites on orbit for experimentation and demonstration

(JUN 24) WASHINGTON, D.C.- The Space Development Agency today announced the successful launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, of the first prototype among 12 risk reduction satellites comprising the Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T1DES) constellation that will demonstrate tactical data delivery to warfighter platforms to support capabilities like targeting, and missile warning and tracking of advanced missile threats.

The prototype satellite will support integration with tactical satellite communication (TACSATCOM) system capabilities from low Earth orbit. The launch also serves as a pathfinder for York Space Systems' LX-CLASS satellite platform, which is slated for use in other existing award agreements between SDA and York.

"T1DES will demonstrate mission payloads and configurations for potential proliferation through future tranches of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture in an effort to lower latency of tactical data delivery and enhance beyond line-of-sight targeting capability," said SDA Director Derek Tournear. "We're very pleased to see this prototype space vehicle launch four months ahead of the original T1DES baseline schedule and before the first launch of Tranche 1's operational space vehicles."

The launch, which took place Monday, June 23, on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket under the Transporter 14 rideshare mission, carried to orbit SDA's single risk reduction space vehicle referred to as T1DES Proto or by the York Space Systems' name, Dragoon.

The remaining 11 T1DES satellite vehicles, planned for launch in fiscal year 2026, will conduct demonstrations and experimentation of TACSATCOM, advanced waveforms, and Integrated Broadcast Service (IBS) capabilities, which are key for future connectivity of joint warfighters around the globe.

Space Development Agency

A Falcon 9 rocket creates a light show over a wide area following liftoff from Vandenberg SFB, Calif. on the evening of June 16. In this image taken during the second stage burn, the vehicle's exhaust is illuminated by the Sun at high altitude while observers on the ground are in evening twilight. The white dot behind and below the tip of the exhaust plume is the jettisoned rocket first stage.

(JUN 16) EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, delivered two space vehicles for NASA's Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS) mission to Vandenberg Space Force Base Friday, marking a key milestone in preparation for launch later this year.

"Millennium is incredibly proud of our team and partners at the University of Iowa, Southwest Research Institute, and NASA, for reaching this milestone and getting TRACERS to the launch site," said Richard Prasad, TRACERS program manager, Millennium Space Systems. "Progressing to final integration at launch site showcases the confidence from all parties that both the TRACERS space vehicles and the Millennium Mission Operations Center (MOC) are ready for launch and the start of operations. We're all excited to see TRACERS on-orbit."

The TRACERS mission will measure the connection between solar wind and the magnetic field surrounding Earth. With the completion of rigorous tests, including environmental, mechanical and systems verification, the space vehicles are now prepared to travel through Earth's polar cusp region over the north and south magnetic poles. Ultimately, the mission will enhance our understanding of space weather and its potential impacts on critical technologies such as satellites, communications networks and power grids.

"Delivering TRACERS demonstrates how the same approach we use for national security missions can support cutting-edge science," said Tony Gingiss, CEO, Millennium Space Systems. "The ability to deliver high-performance spacecraft is critical, not just for advancing scientific understanding and enabling future space weather forecasting, but also, for strengthening space resilience and readiness in support of national defense objectives."

The launch window is set to open in Summer 2025, with specific timing dependent on mission readiness and other logistics.

Millennium Space Systems

(JUN 13) Stratolaunch LLC, Mojave, California, has been awarded a $9,900,000 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (P00003) to previously awarded (FA9300-23-C-6019) for changes to the flight specifications, requirements and deliverables being produced under the basic contract for the Talon-A campaign 2 contract. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $28,063,854. Work will be performed at Mojave, California, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 16, 2026. Fiscal 2024 research, development, test, and evaluation funds in the amount of $9,900,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity.

Department of Defense

(JUN 5) REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. - A U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command team played an important behind-the-scenes role in supporting the Air Force's Glory Trip-253. More

A Dragon cargo ship streaks across the sky on the evening of May 24 as it reenters the atmosphere moments before splashing down in the Pacific west of Oceanside, Calif. Rick Baldridge recorded the scene from Lick Observatory above San Jose, Calif. Image copyright 2025, Rick Baldridge. Used with permission.

(MAY 21) BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- A joint team of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a single Mark-21 High Fidelity Re-Entry Vehicle May 21 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. More

(MAY 16) Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. -- An operational test launch of an Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is scheduled between 12:01 to 5:01 a.m. Pacific Time, May 21, from north Vandenberg.

The purpose of the ICBM test launch program is to demonstrate the readiness of U.S. nuclear forces and provide confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation's nuclear deterrent, according to Air Force Global Strike Command.

This test is routine and was scheduled years in advance. Consistent with previous test launches, this ICBM test launch will validate and verify the effectiveness, readiness and accuracy of the weapon system.

Vandenberg SFB

(MAY 5) The U.S. Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center (TRMC), in partnership with Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division (NSWC Crane), conducted a second successful flight of a fully recoverable uncrewed hypersonic test vehicle in March 2025, within three months of the first test in December 2024. This test campaign marks the Nation's first return to reusable hypersonic flight testing since the manned X-15 program ended in 1968.

In both tests, the Stratolaunch Talon-A hypersonic vehicle launched from the Roc carrier aircraft, flew over the Pacific Ocean and achieved speeds greater than Mach 5 before landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base. The landmark tests supported the ongoing TRMC Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) project.

George Rumford, Director of the TRMC, stated, "Demonstrating the reuse of fully recoverable hypersonic test vehicles is an important milestone for MACH-TB. Lessons learned from this test campaign will help us reduce vehicle turnaround time from months down to weeks."

MACH-TB accelerates delivery of advanced hypersonic capabilities to the warfighter by providing DoD, other Federal agencies, industry, and academia the capability to affordably and rapidly conduct hypersonic experiments and test hypersonic system components.

NSWC Crane awarded the MACH-TB contract to Leidos through the Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S2MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) vehicle on behalf of the TRMC. As the prime contractor for MACH-TB, Leidos awarded Stratolaunch, LLC a competitive contract to provide flight test services for the program.

About TRMC

The U.S. Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) is a DoD Field Activity that reports directly to the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The mission of the TRMC is to ensure the readiness of DoD to experiment and test.

Defense Department

After weeks of preparation, the space observatory has begun its science mission, taking about 3,600 unique images per day to create a map of the cosmos like no other.

(MAY 1) Launched on March 11, NASA's SPHEREx space observatory has spent the last six weeks undergoing checkouts, calibrations, and other activities to ensure it is working as it should. More

A Falcon 9 rocket crosses the southern California sky following liftoff from Vandenberg SFB, Calif. on April 20. The vehicle left south base at 05:29 PDT and carried the NROL-145 mission into orbit. This photo was taken during the second stage burn when sunlight was illuminating the vehicle's exhaust.

NRO and Space Force partner through the Rocket Systems Launch Program to launch NROL-174

(APR 16) CHANTILLY, Va. - The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), in partnership with U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command's (SSC) Small Launch and Targets Division, Space Launch Delta 30, and Northrop Grumman, successfully launched multiple national security payloads with the NROL-174 mission aboard a Northrop Grumman Minotaur IV rocket from Space Launch Complex 8 (SLC-8) at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) April 16, 2025, at 3:33 p.m. EDT. More

(APR 12) CHANTILLY, Va. - The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), in partnership with U.S. Space Force Space Launch Delta 30 and SpaceX, successfully launched the NROL-192 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on April 12, 2025, at 8:25 a.m. EDT.

Today's mission is the ninth overall launch of the NRO's architecture and third proliferated launch of 2025. The rapid deployment of NRO's proliferated constellation directly supports the needs of the people NRO serves - intelligence analysts, warfighters, policymakers, and first responders. Having hundreds of NRO satellites on orbit will allow for critical data to be delivered to NRO's stakeholders faster than ever before.

Over the past two years, NRO has launched more than 150 satellites, creating the largest and most capable government constellation on orbit in our nation's history. Continuing with this momentum, 2025 is set to be another dynamic year, with approximately one dozen NRO launches scheduled. Approximately half of these launches will focus on advancing the NRO's proliferated architecture with additional proliferated launches planned through 2029, ensuring sustained growth and innovation.

For more than 60 years, the NRO has successfully met the needs of its U.S. intelligence, military, civil, and allied partners. It remains the world's leader in unique intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems. The NRO's next-generation systems will help ensure that the right data is delivered to the right user at the right time, faster than ever before.

Additional information on upcoming launches will be available at NRO.gov/launch.

National Reconnaissance Office

Award represents 40 percent of the country's critical satellite launches delivered to the most challenging and exotic orbits

(APR 4) Centennial, Colo. - The U.S. Space Force announced today that United Launch Alliance (ULA) was awarded a firm, fixed-price, indefinite-delivery requirements (IDR) contact to launch 40 percent of the missions to the country's most challenging and exotic orbits on its newest launch procurement contract. This contract resulted from a competitive award under the Space Force's National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 procurement.

"We are proud that we have launched 100 national security space missions and honored to continue serving the nation with our new Vulcan rocket," said Tory Bruno, ULA's president and CEO. "We are very pleased to be awarded 40 percent of the Phase 3 procurement. Vulcan is the right choice for critical national security space missions and is the only rocket today designed to meet all the requirements of our nation's space launch needs."

The competitive process ensures the U.S. has continued assured access to space and supports a robust domestic national security industrial base. The award represents missions ordered in fiscal years 2025 through 2029 with launches occurring through 2034. The missions will launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, and from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

"This award constitutes the most complex missions required for national security space," said Bruno. "Vulcan continues to use the world's highest energy upper stage; the Centaur V. Centaur V's unmatched flexibility and extreme endurance enables the most complex orbital insertions continuing to advance our nation's capabilities in space."

United Launch Alliance

2d Space Launch Squadron members simulate usage of the newly innovated Vehicle Operations Room (VOR) at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., March 5, 2025. The VOR is a newly remodeled facility designed to support the evolving needs of a diverse range of spaceport users, and signifies a significant leap forward in the base's ability to facilitate complex space missions. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Kadielle Shaw)

World's only high energy architecture rocket delivers to the country's most exotic orbits

(MAR 26) Centennial, Colo. - Following years of development and completing a comprehensive certification plan including two successful certification missions, the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket has been certified by the United States Space Force to fly National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions. More

(MAR 21) CHANTILLY, Va. - The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), in partnership with U.S. Space Force Space Launch Delta 30 and SpaceX, successfully launched the NROL-57 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on March 21, 2025, at 2:49 a.m. EDT.

Today's mission is the eighth overall launch of the NRO's proliferated architecture and second proliferated launch of 2025. The steady deployment of this program is quickly growing the U.S. government's largest and most resilient intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance constellation. This latest proliferated NRO mission continues to increase our space-based intelligence capabilities to address strategic national security needs.

Over the past two years, NRO has launched more than 150 satellites, creating the largest and most capable government constellation on orbit in our nation's history. Continuing with this momentum, 2025 is set to be another dynamic year, with approximately one dozen NRO launches scheduled. Approximately half of these launches will focus on advancing the NRO's proliferated architecture with additional proliferated launches planned through 2029, ensuring sustained growth and innovation.

For more than 60 years, the NRO has successfully met the needs of its U.S. intelligence, military, civil, and allied partners. It remains the world's leader in unique intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems. The NRO's next-generation systems will help ensure that the right data is delivered to the right user at the right time, faster than ever before.

Additional information on upcoming launches will be available at NRO.gov/launch.

National Reconnaissance Office

(MAR 7) VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) -- The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-7 (OTV-7), the U.S. Space Force's dynamic unmanned spaceplane, successfully deorbited and landed at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, March 7, 2025 at 02:22 a.m. EST. More

All three spacecraft carry an instrument called the Microwave Electrojet Magnetogram, built by NASA JPL, that will map electrojets to help uncover their structure and evolution.

(FEB 25) High above Earth's poles, intense electrical currents called electrojets flow through the upper atmosphere when auroras glow in the sky. More

(FEB 19) VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A joint team of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen and Vandenberg Space Force Base Guardians launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a single telemetered joint test assembly re-entry vehicle Feb. 19 at 1:00 a.m. Pacific Time from Vandenberg Space Force Base. More

(FEB 12) Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif. -- An operational test launch of an Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is scheduled between 11:01 p.m. Pacific Time on Feb. 18 to 5:01 a.m. Pacific Time, Feb. 19, from north Vandenberg.

The purpose of the ICBM test launch program is to demonstrate the readiness of U.S. nuclear forces and provide confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation's nuclear deterrent, according to Air Force Global Strike Command.

This test is routine and was scheduled years in advance. Consistent with previous test launches, this ICBM test launch will validate and verify the effectiveness, readiness and accuracy of the weapon system.

In accordance with standard procedures, the United States will transmit a pre-launch notification pursuant to the Hague Code of Conduct, and notified the Russian government in advance, per our existing bi-lateral obligations.

Vandenberg SFB

The winter sky (click to enlarge) arcs over the WIYN 3.5-meter Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) in Arizona. Visible in the upper left is the constellation Orion. The concentration of stars in the right is the Pleaides star cluster. Image Credit KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/T. Matsopoulos

Milestone positions LizzieSat™-3 for operational deployment in early 2025, bringing AI- powered advanced data services to critical industries

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.-- Sidus Space (NASDAQ: SIDU) (the "Company" or "Sidus"), an innovative, agile space mission enabler, today announced that LizzieSat™-3 has arrived at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California to begin spacecraft integration in preparation for its scheduled launch and deployment into low Earth orbit no earlier than the first quarter of 2025 as part of the Transporter-13 rideshare mission with SpaceX.

"With LizzieSat™-3 ready for launch, we are taking another significant step in expanding our on-orbit capabilities and delivering critical, near real-time data solutions to our customers," said Carol Craig, founder and CEO of Sidus Space. "This milestone demonstrates our commitment to providing scalable, cost-effective solutions tailored to diverse mission needs while showcasing the adaptability of our modular satellite platform."

Equipped with an advanced payload suite, LizzieSat™-3 features an AIS sensor, a high-resolution visual spectrum sensor and the HEO Holmes Imager, which powers HEO Inspect for non-Earth imaging and space object characterization. The satellite also features the next generation of Sidus' proprietary artificial intelligence system, enabling on-orbit data processing that combines multiple sources of data to provide timely, actionable insights for applications such as environmental monitoring, border security and disaster response. Through use of its space-to-space data relay module, Sidus expects to be able to provide rapid direct-to-user data transfer capability and significantly reduce data latency.

Following the successful launch of LizzieSat™-2 on December 21, 2024, which is currently in its commissioning phase, LizzieSat™-3 represents the next step in Sidus Space's commitment to delivering rapid response, flexible and cost-effective solutions tailored to the unique needs of government, defense, intelligence and commercial customers.

Sidus Space

The Advanced Light Source and Molecular Foundry provided powerful tools to study asteroid samples returned by NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission. Researchers found a telltale set of salts formed by evaporation that illuminate Bennu's watery past.

(JAN 29) During the past year, there's been an unusual set of samples at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab): material gathered from the 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid Bennu when it was roughly 200 million miles from Earth. More

A Falcon 9 rocket creates an impressive display as it climbs into orbit at dawn on Friday. Sue Wessler recorded the event from Claremont, Calif. Image copyright 2025, Sue Wessler. Used with permission

(JAN 26) A dawn rocket from California on Friday created a light show for skywatchers over a wide area.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4-East (SLC-4E) at south Vandenberg Space Force Base at 06:07 PST. After rising vertically for several seconds, the vehicle turned towards the south-southeast and roughly paralleled the coast as it carried 23 Starlink satellites into orbit

During the second stage burn, at approximately T+3 minutes 30 seconds, the rocket climbed high enough for sunlight to begin illumiating the exhaust plume, resulting in an impressive display. The jettisoned first stage and payload shroud halves appeared as orange dots as they fell away from the rocket. Later, a tenuous trail from the first stage was visible as it descended for landing on a drone ship down range.

Brian Webb

(JAN 16) NASA's SPHEREx spacecraft arrived Tuesday, Jan. 14, at Astrotech Space Operations located inside Vandenberg Space Force Base in California for final processing before launching on its two-year mission.

The SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) observatory is targeted to launch at the end of February on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E.

Following launch, SPHEREx will support NASA's goals of discovering the secrets of the universe and searching for the ingredients for life elsewhere. The telescope will scan the sky in the infrared spectrum from a position in Earth orbit and complete four all-sky maps. These will allow scientists to learn about a variety of topics, including the origins of water on planets like Earth, to the physics that governed the universe less than one second after its birth.

After final tests and checkouts, teams will mate SPHEREx and its rideshare PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) in preparation for encapsulation in the payload fairings of the Falcon 9 rocket.

NASA

Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully completed assembly and testing of its Protected Tactical Satcom Rapid Prototype (PTS-P) payload and delivered it to the company's facility in Gilbert, Arizona, where it will be integrated with an ESPAStar-HP bus and next-generation digital processing subsystem. Built in partnership with the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command, the company's PTS rapid prototype delivers a modular, flexible and scalable system that offers a path toward fielding a next-generation anti-jam, protected tactical satellite communications architecture. Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman

(JAN 9) CHANTILLY, Va. - The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), in partnership with U.S. Space Force Space Launch Delta 30 and SpaceX, successfully launched the NROL-153 mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Jan. 9, 2025, at 10:53 p.m. EST.

This mission is the seventh launch of the NRO's proliferated architecture and marks the first NRO launch of 2025. Building on the success of the NROL-149 launch on Dec. 17, today's mission demonstrates the ongoing launch cadence that is strengthening the NRO's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.

NRO achieved significant success in the past year with the deployment of nearly 100 satellites on orbit. Continuing with this momentum, 2025 is set to be another dynamic year, with approximately a dozen NRO launches scheduled. Half of these launches will focus on advancing the NRO's proliferated architecture with additional proliferated launches planned through 2028, ensuring sustained growth and innovation.

For more than 60 years, the NRO has successfully met the needs of its U.S. intelligence, military, civil, and allied partners. It remains the world's leader in unique intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems. The NRO's next-generation systems will help ensure that the right data is delivered to the right user at the right time, faster than ever before.

Additional information on upcoming launches will be available at NRO.gov/launch.

National Reconnaissance Office

Past News