One of the nation’s behemoth rockets could find a home at Vandenberg Space Force Base as the military asks aerospace companies for their interest in developing a brand-new facility so that the biggest class of rockets can blast off from the West Coast.

In the waning days of 2025, the U.S. Space Force, which falls under the Department of the Air Force, released a request for information to solicit interest from U.S. rocket manufacturers regarding developing heavy or super-heavy vertical space launch vehicle capabilities at Vandenberg.

The proposal identified the potential site as Space Launch Complex-14, located near the southernmost point for Vandenberg, which encompasses 118,000 acres and 46 miles of coastline.

Maps refer to the area south of Vandenberg’s harbor as Sudden Flats after being part of the military’s 1966 acquisition of 14,900 acres from Sudden Ranch to expand the buffer zone for launches.

“The nation benefits from diverse launch systems at VSFB to mitigate the impact of vehicle/infrastructure anomalies, work stoppages and supply chain disruptions,” the request for information stated in justifying the solicitation.

With a goal of enhancing national security resilience and readiness Vandenberg’s primary unit, Space Launch Delta 30, would allocate SLC-14 “for the development and operation of a launch vehicle not currently operational at VSFB.”

The U.S. Space Force solicitation is likely to be cheered by those who enjoy launches and irritate others already annoyed Vandenberg’s increased activity.

“A heavy/super-heavy launch capability at VSFB offers a strategic advantage to the USSF, enabling the deployment of larger, more capable military satellites and facilitating rapid response missions during national security emergencies. Adding heavy/super-heavy launch capabilities at VSFB enhances resilience, diversifies the government’s portfolio, and accelerates satellite constellation reconstitution due to increased lift capacity,” according to the solicitation.

Rocket manufacturers should respond if they are interested in obtaining a real property use agreement, or lease, at SLC-14 “to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain space launch infrastructure.”

The solicitation doesn’t mention any specific vehicles, but possibilities include the SpaceX Super Heavy rocket and Starship craft. That vehicle, typically referred to as Starship, has already lifted off from Texas with a new Florida launch facility in the works.

SpaceX already flies Falcon 9 rockets from SLC-4 at Vandenberg and intends to convert SLC-6, also on the South Base, for both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. 

Blue Origin touts its New Glenn 9X4 rocket as a super-heavy vehicle. 

In addition, NASA has created the Space Launch System, a super-heavy rocket developed for the Artemis moon program. However, the NASA program has received heavy criticism over rising costs and development delays, putting the long-term future in doubt.

The request for information is the first of many steps before any super-heavy rocket launches would occur from the Santa Barbara County installation. That includes preparing an environmental impact analysis and other reports for the new facility, with future public meetings as part of the process.

A selected launch service provider, or LSP, would pay all costs associated with developing the property and operating capabilities on the Vandenberg land, according to the notice.

The chosen firm must prove “sufficient financial maturity,” likely narrowing the field of potential companies expected to respond. Both SpaceX with Elon Musk and Blue Origin with Jeff Bezos boast billionaire owners.

“SLC-14 represents a unique strategic asset for the USSF, as it is one of the few locations at VSFB suitable and available for heavy/super-heavy launch operations,” according to the solicitation.

“It is imperative that SLC-14 be actively developed; a well-funded LSP offers the greatest assurance of successful vehicle and site operations, safeguarding against potential setbacks due to financial constraints.” 

Respondents should provide documentation of current financial resources and funding status and provide inputs on developing SLC-14 infrastructure to support heavy/super-heavy launch and/or recovery operations at SLC-14.

To determine whether a rocket is compatible for the site, the military would conduct a launch safety analysis, or LSA.

“The purpose of the LSA is to protect people and resources, where practical, by identifying the hazards from debris, toxics or blast distant overpressure associated with normal and malfunctioning launch, reentry, or test operations, containing and/or minimizing launch or test hazards, and mitigating the remaining risks,” the notice stated.

A final real property use agreement for the site would require a favorable launch safety analysis completed by Vandenberg range safety personnel.

The Space Force announcement gave companies 30 days to respond to the request for information, suggesting that in addition to providing company information, they include details about launch site operations, marketing, schedule and in-kind consideration.