With SpaceX planning to use a second launch site and boost the number of West Coast liftoffs to 100 annually, Vandenberg Space Force Base has kicked off the environmental assessment of the increased activity.
Four public meetings — three in person — are set for January in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The fourth and final session is expected to be held virtually.
The Department of the Air Force and a contractor recently launched the public scoping process to gather comments about areas to evaluate during the environmental impact statement preparation.
Under the Proposed Action, the Air Force would authorize Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch and landing operations at Space Launch Complex-6, including modifications to SLC-6 required to support those operations and construction of landing zones.
While the Falcon 9 vehicles use one first-stage booster, the Falcon Heavy employs three first-stage boosters strapped side by side to provide more thrust so the rocket can carry larger satellites into orbit.
SLC-6 on the South Base most recently has been used to launch the now-retired Delta IV rocket family from United Launch Alliance.
However, the site remains best known for the launches that didn’t happen — the Manned Orbiting Laboratory in the late 1960s and the West Coast Space Shuttle in the 1980s. Both were canceled before any blastoffs occurred from the base.
In April 2023, Vandenberg officials said SpaceX had signed an agreement to lease SLC-6.
The environmental study also will consider an increase in Falcon lunches from SLC-4 and an increase in downrange landings on a droneship in the Pacific Ocean.
“The overall launch cadence for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy at both SLCs, combined, would be 100 launches per year. No modification of SLC-4 infrastructure is proposed,” the notice stated.
The Federal Aviation Administration would issue or modify a vehicle operator license for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations and approve corresponding temporary airspace closures for operations.
Under the proposed action, the existing horizontal integration facility (HIF) located north of SLC-6 would be modified into a hangar for use by SpaceX to support Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations.
Under Alternative 1, instead of modifying the existing HIF, the military would authorize SpaceX to construct a new hangar south of the HIF and north of the launch pad at SLC-6.
For the No Action Alternative, the Air Force would not authorize any Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy activity at SLC-6, or additional Falcon 9 launches from SLC-4.
Additionally, that means SpaceX would not apply for an FAA vehicle operator license for Falcon operations at SLC-6 or increased launches from SLC-4.
The three in-person scoping meetings next month are scheduled from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the following dates:
- Jan. 14: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1679, 3801 Market St., Ventura
- Jan. 15: Westside Neighborhood Center, 423 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara
- Jan. 16: Dick DeWees Community Center, 1120 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc
The lone virtual public scoping meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Jan. 23 with the link available by clicking here: VSFBFalconLaunchEIS.com.
The schedule calls for the release of a draft environmental impact statement this spring followed by another 45-day public comment period. A final EIS will be released in the fall along with an identification of a preferred alternative.
Comments must be submitted by Jan. 27. Public scoping comments can be submitted in English or Spanish at the three in-person meetings.
Other ways are a comment form on the project website at VSFBFalconLaunchEIS.com or by email to info@VSFBFalconLaunchEIS.com with the subject line “Falcon EIS.”
Comments also may be mailed to: ATTN: VSFB Falcon Launch EIS c/o ManTech International Corp., 420 Stevens Ave., Suite 100, Solana Beach, CA 92075.