The #Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County announced plans for a new launch site that would offer launch providers the ability to develop and fly #heavy or
#super-#heavy lift spacecraft.
That's aerospace industry parlance for larger vehicles capable of carrying massive payloads into orbit,
which are likely to be visible to spectators far beyond the launch pad in California and even neighboring states.
Because it's so early in the process,
the U.S. Space Force is only seeking responses from launch service providers that would be interested in leasing space at the yet-undeveloped area.
But because #SpaceX is the most active tenant at Vandenberg,
the space community is already abuzz with the idea that the expansion plans could give billionaire Elon Musk's commercial rocket company the option of bringing its #Starship operations to the West Coast.
So far, though, it's unclear what interest SpaceX or any other major spaceflight competitors would have in Vandenberg's new site.
https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/news/local/california/2026/01/05/vandenberg-spacex-california-rocket-launch-elon-musk/87992977007/