Vandenberg Eyes New Launch Support Facilities, Possible On-Site Manufacturing

The Space Force is looking for launch provider’ feedback on its plans to create a new “Mission Development Zone” at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif.—a space for additional payload processing capacity, test and assembly facilities, and potentially rocket and spacecraft manufacturing infrastructure.

The need for more support services corresponds with a projected surge in launch demand over the next five to 10 years. Vandenberg, which hosts one of the service’s two coastal spaceports, expects its cadence could approach 200 launches per year by the end of the decade—a sharp increase from the 66 space launch missions it supported in 2025.

To meet that higher rate, the range not only needs to designate space for more launch pads and ensure its roads can handle heavier traffic, but it must also make room for the administrative offices, processing facilities, and assembly and test infrastructure that launch suppliers rely on. The Mission Development Zone is Vandenberg’s answer to that challenge. 

While officials at Space Launch Delta 30, which oversees the range there, have a vision for what that area could look like, they’re asking industry for input on how to finance, design, construct, and maintain that infrastructure. They also want to hear what types of facilities and layout companies are most interested in. 

“Ensuring that United States operators can efficiently process space systems, conduct missions in space, launch, and reenter United States airspace is critical to economic growth, national security, and accomplishing Federal space objectives,” the Delta said in a Sept. 30 notice. “Development and utilization of the MDZ will be in support of maximizing spaceport capability and assured access to space to achieve national security objectives.”

Launch Delta Commander Col. James Horne told Air & Space Forces Magazine during a visit to the base in July that the range is exploring options to lease the land to commercial providers who would then construct their own facilities. He expects they could start breaking ground on MDZ projects as soon as next year. 

Along with providing administrative and logistics support, Horne said if there’s industry demand for it, the Mission Development Zone could eventually host rocket factories or commodity plants. 

“We are hearing interest,” Horne said. “If you don’t build it here, you have to ship it here either by road or water, primarily. I think as companies look at what their future launch rates may be here, they’re looking at the trade space between, do we build it somewhere and ship it or do we invest capital here to start building that production capacity to enable increased throughput.” 

On-site production of both rocket components and key commodities like propellants and purge gases could also make range operations more efficient, potentially reducing chokepoints on base access roads or at Vandenberg’s harbor. Horne noted that a single launch can require as many as 50 commodities trucks moving on and off the base.

“We’ve got to start building the infrastructure to pipe the commodities out to the locations, and then produce them here, potentially,” he said.