SpaceX Heavy-Lift Rocket Will Launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base

July 15th, 2011

Via: space.com:

The company Space Exploration Technologies, better known as SpaceX, broke ground Wednesday (July 13) on a new launch site for its massive heavy-lift rocket.

SpaceX is upgrading a site called Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base near Santa Barbara, Calif. The refurbished launch complex will host SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, which the company says will be more powerful than any launch vehicle currently in service.

…

According to the Los Angeles Times, SpaceX is pouring about $30 million into the new launch site, with the aim of securing large launch contracts with the Air Force. Currently, the United Launch Alliance — a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin — launches all payloads for the United States Department of Defense.

Musk made it clear that SpaceX wants a piece of the military satellite market.

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