The US Air Force Department has approved SpaceX's proposal to double the number of launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base (Vandenberg Space Force Base) and allowed to start using the second launch complex on the territory of the base.
The agency reported, which completed the environmental impact assessment (Environmental Impact Statement, EIS), which related to the expansion of the company's launch activities and the use of the Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6).
According to the approved plan, The ministry allows the company to modify the SLC-6 to operate Falcon rockets 9 і Falcon Heavy. This provides an opportunity to increase the total number of launches from Vandenberg with 50 to 100 per year, including up to five Falcon Heavy launches. Project changes also provide for the arrangement of two sites for landing accelerators (booster recovery pads).
It is stated in the decision of the Ministry of the Air Force, that the option is approved, marked as "Alternative 1", which involves the construction of a new hangar on SLC-6 for the preparation of Falcon missiles. The original plan involved the conversion of the existing horizontal integration case; there were no other differences between the options.
Back in December, the agency announced plans to conduct an EIS to evaluate expanding Falcon operations and retooling SLC-6. The explanation emphasized, that these changes are necessary to meet the current and near-term space launch needs of the US government, as well as to restore the capabilities of the heavy class of launches at the Western test site (Western Range).
The study ruled out other options, in particular, the modification of SLC-4 under Falcon Heavy, as this would cause long site stoppages, which would make it impossible to carry out government and commercial missions. According to the assessment, SLC-4 will be able to support up to 70 Falcon launches 9 annually.
As of the current year, Vandenberg has already been implemented 49 Falcon launches 9. Expected, that SLC-6 will reach an annual level of 25 Falcon launches 9 and five Falcon Heavy launches from about 2027 year.
The forecasts also indicate the possibility 11 Falcon launches 9 and one Falcon Heavy with SLC-6 in 2026 year. At the same time, the assessment assumes, that the modification of the SLC-6 will continue close 18 months, Objective and subjective reasons led to this 2025 or beginning 2026 year, therefore, the first launches from the updated complex are not expected before the start 2027 year.
Federal approval overrides state decisions: California Coastal Commission in August (California Coastal Commission) voted against increasing the number of Falcon launches 9 from 50 to 95 per year, посилаючись на нестачу даних про рівень шуму та звукові удари (sonic booms).
У звіті комісії зазначалося, що орган не має достатньої інформації для визначення відповідності проєкту екологічній політиці Каліфорнійської програми управління узбережжям (California Coastal Management Program), which are aimed at protecting marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Despite this, the opposition was mostly symbolic in nature, as the Department of the Air Force insists, що запуски з Ванденберга є федеральною діяльністю, яка не підпадає під юрисдикцію штатних регуляторів. Представники штату, втім, зазначають, що більшість запусків Falcon із Ванденберга мають комерційний характер, зокрема розгортання супутників Starlink.
Оцінка EIS дійшла висновку, що шум від запусків і звукових ударів може викликати тимчасовий дискомфорт у мешканців міста Ломпок (Lompoc, California), розташованого найближче до бази. Водночас дослідження встановило, that these effects will not have a significant impact on the environment or the population.
The decision regarding Vandenberg follows a September decision by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), яке дозволило збільшити кількість запусків Falcon 9 із комплексу SLC-40 на базі Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, піднявши річний ліміт із 50 to 120 launches.
Source: https://spacenews.com