The Department of the Air Force has approved SpaceX's plans to launch up to 100 missions per year from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This would continue the tectonic turnaround at the spaceport on California's Central Coast. Five years ago, Vandenberg hosted just a single orbital launch. This year's number stands at 51 orbital flights, or 53 launches if you count a pair of Minuteman missile tests, the most in a single calendar year at Vandenberg since the early 1970s. Vandenberg is used for missions launching into polar orbits, paths oriented north-south that, over time, cover most of the Earth's surface area. These orbits are popular for Earth observation satellites. The surge in rocket launches on the West Coast has been driven by SpaceX, primarily missions deploying satellites for the commercial Starlink broadband network and secret spy platforms for the US government. There's more of that to come. Military officials have now authorized SpaceX to double its annual launch rate at Vandenberg from 50 to 100, with up to 95 missions using the Falcon 9 rocket and up to five launches of the larger Falcon Heavy. A Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Space Launch Complex 4-East with 24 Starlink broadband satellites on September 19, 2025. Credit: SpaceX Go for 100 The Department of the Air Force released a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on SpaceX's plans, then signed a "Record of Decision" on October 10 to approve changes to the Falcon launch program at Vandenberg, a base next to the Pacific Ocean about 140 miles (225 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles. The Federal Aviation Administration will make a separate determination on increasing the number of commercial SpaceX launches from California. The California Coastal Commission, a state environmental protection agency, has already rejected SpaceX's proposal to double the number of launches at Vandenberg, citing concerns about noise disruptions to people, wildlife, and property. The commission has a long-running feud with SpaceX and its founder Elon Musk, but it's unclear what mechanism the agency has to enforce its restriction. The Department of the Air Force, which oversees the Space Force, has stated that the higher launch cadence will benefit US national security interests, and the launch pads are on federal property.