The Department of the Air Force has issued a record of decision approving changes to the Falcon Launch Program at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The U.S. Space Force said Friday the decision follows the completion of a final environmental impact statement, or EIS, made in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, which evaluated the possible environmental effects of several proposed actions.
DAF Allows Falcon Launch Expansion
Under the approved plan, DAF has permitted the redevelopment of Space Launch Complex-6 to accommodate Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy operations, including launches and landings at the site. This involves SpaceX building a new hangar south of the horizontal integration facility and north of SLC-6.
The plan also allows an increase in the annual Falcon launch rate at Vandenberg, from 50 Falcon 9 launches at SLC-4 to as many as 100 combined Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches from both SLC complexes. Furthermore, Falcon Heavy, which has not previously operated from Vandenberg, will be cleared for up to five launches and landings per year.
Related Articles
The Senate Armed Services Committee has advanced the nomination of Kirsten Davies, a cybersecurity and technology leader, to serve as the Department of Defense’s chief information officer. According to a congressional notice, the Senate panel on Thursday placed her nomination on the Senate executive calendar for consideration by the upper chamber. President Trump nominated Davies for the position in May. Katie Arrington, former South Carolina state lawmaker and a previous Wash100 awardee, currently performs the duties of the DOD CIO. Who Is Kirsten Davies? According to her LinkedIn profile, Davies served as chief information security officer, or CISO, at Unilever.
Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said the military branch plans to adopt a “Silicon Valley” model to speed up the delivery of new weapons systems and technologies to soldiers as part of an upcoming “organizational acquisition reform,” Breaking Defense reported Monday. “After seeing the power of combining venture capital money and mentorship with startup culture, I can say unequivocally that the Silicon Valley approach is absolutely ideal for the Army,” Driscoll said in his prepared remarks at the AUSA 2025 conference Monday. “It will identify promising startups, quickly fund them and get minimally viable products to soldiers in weeks,” he added.
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health is soliciting proposals for two major contracting opportunities aimed at advancing scalable health innovations and building more resilient health systems. Through its Scalable Solutions Office and Resilient Systems Office market opportunities, the agency is inviting submissions to tackle pressing health challenges with novel approaches. As ARPA-H advances its mission to drive scalable innovation and build resilient health systems, Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Healthcare Summit will convene federal leaders, industry experts and innovators on Dec. 4 to examine how emerging technologies and strategic partnerships are shaping the future of U.S. healthcare. Register now to