Space Force Archives - Eastern Range

August 8, 2025

Rocket Lab Posts Strong Financial Results

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. reported another record quarter yesterday, posting $144.5 million in Q2 2025 revenue — up 36% year-over-year and above guidance. CEO Peter Beck credited strong demand for Electron launches, with five completed in the quarter, and new contracts with agencies including NASA and the European Space Agency.

This is of interest to more than investors, as it shows that there is a robust market for space services and hardware, something that’s surely good news to Space Coast residents. The engine of the local economy in the area is space, and if space is healthy, it stands to reason that the local economy will be the same.

Rocket Lab also has two satellites bound for Mars in processing at The Cape currently as they await their launch aboard Blue Origin’s second flight of New Glenn scheduled for sometime soon — Blue stated their target was August 15th, but that’s out the window as there is currently no sign of the rocket being placed on the company’s site at LC-36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. More than likely the launch will be in September, if not October or later.

By The Numbers

The company advanced its Neutron heavy-lift program, with Launch Complex 3 at Wallops Island now operational and Neutron’s first components en route to Virginia. Beck also confirmed plans to acquire Geost, positioning Rocket Lab as a “one-stop shop for national security,” and flagged readiness to compete for the U.S. Department of Defense’s $175 billion “Golden Dome” program. The company has already secured over $500 million in contracts from the Space Development Agency (SDA).

CFO Adam Spice reported GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Prnciples) gross margin at 32.1%, exceeding guidance, with a growing launch backlog and a healthy pipeline of multi-launch and satellite contracts. Space Systems delivered $97.9 million in revenue, while Launch Services rose 31% sequentially to $6.6 million.

Looking ahead, Rocket Lab projects Q3 revenue between $145 million and $155 million, with margins expected to improve further. However, operating expenses will remain high — $104 million to $109 million — as Neutron development ramps up, contributing to continued negative free cash flow. Management targets positive cash flow in 2026.

Analysts pressed for updates on Neutron’s customer commitments and SDA contract timing. Beck cautioned that many customers want to see Neutron fly before signing, and emphasized a no-rush approach: “We’re not going to take stupid risks to get a launch before it’s ready.”

Rocket Lab ended Q2 with $754 million in liquidity, bolstered by a $303.8 million equity raise. While risks remain in Neutron propulsion and integration testing, management remains confident in execution and market positioning, citing expanding international contracts, national security opportunities, and continued revenue growth.

These are the sorts of numbers that investors like to see, and Rocket Lab’s share price reflects just that: RKLB (Rocket Lab’s stock symbol on NASDAQ) is up 800% in the past year, and the share price climbed a bit after yesterday’s earnings call.

July 11, 2025

Drone Operator Pleads Guilty “Unlawful Photography” At Cape Canaveral SFS

A DJI Mavic drone.
Photo: Mark Stone, Florida Media Now

By Mark Stone, Florida Media Now: A 71-year-old Chinese-born Canadian citizen, Xiao Guang Pan, has entered a guilty plea in a federal case involving unauthorized drone flights over Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

According to court documents, Pan traveled to the U.S. on a tourist visa in early January and used a DJI Mavic Pro 3 drone to capture nearly 2,000 photos and videos—more than 250 of which showed military infrastructure including submarine docks, munitions bunkers, payload processing buildings and security checkpoints on federal defense property. A naval base located on the Cape Canaveral station frequently sees the comings and goings of US Nuclear submarines via the main channel of Port Canaveral.

A criminal information filed February 13, 2025, by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida charges Pan with three counts of “using an aircraft for the unlawful photographing of a defense installation without authorization.” Each count carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.

Federal investigators reviewed flight logs showing Pan launched the drone on nine separate occasions between January 5 and 7. On January 5, from several miles away, he recorded two videos and 21 photos of launch complexes and contractor facilities using a telephoto lens. The following day, he moved closer, capturing an additional nine videos and 166 photographs from different angles—a day later, on January 7, Pan launched the drone from Class D controlled airspace outside the CCSFS restricted zone without FAA authorization, seizing images of roads, power lines, mission control buildings, fuel and munitions storage, and submarine infrastructure.

Pan maintained that he was unaware the drone was near a military installation, claiming it sent no alerts. But screenshots from his phone showed satellite images pinpointing “Cape Canaveral Space Force Station” at his takeoff point, and the drone’s flight data confirmed he did in fact receive violation warnings as he flew the drone. Pan maintains an Instagram account with dozens of photos of architecture and landscapes taken with his drone.

The investigation involved agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the FBI, FAA, CBP, Federal Air Marshals, NASA’s OIG, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. In his plea agreement, Pan acknowledged these details and agreed to the terms; prosecutors noted the document “does not include … all the events, persons involved, or other information relating to this case”.

Pan was released from custody to return to Ontario for medical treatment, citing concerns related to his coronary artery disease and diabetes.

His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 1, 2025, in Orlando. If sentenced to the maximum for all counts, Pan could face up to three years in prison and fines totaling $300,000.

Concerns about drones spying on sensitive US facilities have heightened in the last year following a wave of suspicious drone sightings across the country. Even though most of those sightings have turned out to be hobbyists legally flying their drones, authorities remain concerned about spying by the Chinese. DJI, who makes the type of drone used by Pan, has been said by some to relay information to Chinese intelligence sources. That concern led to a ban on the use of DJI products by US agencies. Even so, DJI remains one of the most popular drone manufacturers in the world among hobbyists.

Talk of Titusville is republishing this story with permission from Florida Media Now, who is responsible for the content.

March 26, 2025

United Launch Alliance Vulcan Rocket Receives NSSL Certification

The United States Space Force has officially certified United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket for National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions. This certification follows an extensive evaluation process, including two successful certification flights.

With this approval, ULA is now authorized to conduct NSSL missions, enhancing the nation’s assured access to space by having multiple unique launch service vehicles across multiple vendors. The government seeks this not for operational convenience but instead for tactical agility.

NSSL certification encompasses 52 criteria, involving over 180 specific tasks. These tasks included two certification flight demonstrations, 60 verifications of payload interface requirements, 18 subsystem design and test reviews, and 114 hardware and software audits. This rigorous assessment established the technical foundation for future flightworthiness evaluations.

“The SSC and ULA teams have worked together extremely closely, and certification of this launch system is a direct result of their focus, dedication, and teamwork,” said Gen Panzenhagen, Program Executive Officer for Assured Access to Space.

The Vulcan Centaur rocket features the Centaur V upper stage, measuring 5.4 meters in diameter and 11.7 meters in length, with a propellant capacity of 120,000 pounds. Constructed from pressure-stabilized, corrosion-resistant stainless steel, the Centaur V utilizes two RL10C engines fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. This design aims to provide enhanced performance and flexibility for complex orbital insertions.

“Thank you to all our customer partners who have worked hand-in-hand with us throughout this comprehensive certification process. We are grateful for the collaboration and excited to reach this critical milestone in Vulcan development,” said Tory Bruno, ULA’s president and CEO.“Vulcan is uniquely designed to meet the challenging requirements demanded by an expanding spectrum of missions for U.S. national security space launches. Moreover, this next-generation rocket provides high performance and extreme accuracy while continuing to deliver to our customer’s most challenging and exotic orbits.”

Flown Twice Successfully, With One Issue

In its inaugural launch on January 8, 2024, the Vulcan Centaur successfully deployed the Peregrine lunar lander. Despite a propulsion issue with the lander that prevented a lunar landing, the Vulcan Centaur performed as intended. A subsequent certification flight on October 4, 2024, experienced a nozzle anomaly on one of the solid rocket boosters but still achieved the mission’s objectives.

With the Vulcan Centaur’s certification, ULA plans to support multiple NSSL missions in the coming years.

January 10, 2025

SpaceX Planning To Build A Landing Zone Near Their Launch Pad At SLC-40

In a long expected move, documents showing that SpaceX is planning to shift operations away from Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral’s Space Force Station’s old LC-13 to an area just east of the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 40 have been filed.

LZ-1 and LZ-2 (as they are colloquially known in the spaceflight community) are on the site of the former Launch Complex 13 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

LC-13 was constructed in 1956 used for test launches and operational Atlas launches from 1958 to 1978, when it was shuttered. The Mobile Service Tower was demolished by a controlled explosion in 2005 for safety reasons, and the blockhouse there was demolished in 2012.

Two New Landing Pads?

Also in the works, SpaceX is planning to build a landing zone aside its launch pad at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, but current conventional wisdom assumes this will be for SpaceX’s future Starship operations.

LC-13 History

LC-13 was originally used for operational and test launches of the Atlas ICBM, and Atlas B, D, E and F missiles were also test launched from there. It was the most-used and longest-serving of the original four Atlas pads.

April 1956 – LC-13 construction started
14 April 1958 – Air Force accepted the launch complex
2 August 1958 – First of two Atlas B launches
14 April 1959 – 11 March 1960 – Thirteen Atlas D launches
15 February 1960 – Atlas Able exploded during static firing
11 October 1960 – 13 February 1962 – Fourteen Atlas E launches
10 November 1961 – Monkey “Goliath” launched on Atlas E; mission failed
9 August 1961 – One Atlas F launched
1962-1963 – Pad converted into an Atlas Agena D complex for space launches. The A-frame Mobile Service Tower was demolished and a new larger, square-shaped structure was built.
17 October 1963 – 20 July 1965 – Three VELA launches (two satellites each)
5 November 1964 – NASA Mariner 3 mission launched by an Atlas Agena
1966 – Launch complex turned over to NASA for civilian Atlas Agena D launches
6 November 1966 – 4 March 1968 – Six NASA Atlas Agena D launched; five Lunar Orbiter and one Orbiting Geophysical Observatory E
March 1968 – Returned to Air Force
6 August 1968 – 7 April 1978 – Eleven classified Atlas Agena D launches for the Air Force
7 April 1978 – Launch complex deactivated after the last launch. Supported 51 Atlas and Atlas Agena launches
6 August 2005 – Mobile Service Tower came down by a controlled explosion
June 2012 – Blockhouse demolished
February 2015 – Site leased by SpaceX to be used as a landing platform for the Falcon9 1st stage
Site renamed Landing Zone One (LZ-1)
21 December 2015 B1019 touched down during Falcon 9 flight 20
6 February 2018 Two booster touch down at LZ-1 and LZ-2 during Falcon Heavy Flight Test

Source: Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum

Atlas Agena D with Mariner 3 on the launchpad, at Cape Canaveral.
Photo: NASA — Atlas Agena D with Mariner 3 on the launchpad, at Cape Canaveral’s LC-13
Photo: NASA

August 2005 – Mobile Service Tower was demolished by a controlled explosion.
US Air Force ID 050809-F-0000X-012 — August 2005 – Mobile Service Tower was demolished by a controlled explosion at LC-13
US Air Force ID 050809-F-0000X-012

Two booster touch down at LZ-1 and LZ-2 during Falcon Heavy Flight Test on 6 February 2018.
Photo: SpaceX

LC-13’s Future

In 2023, the 2-pad launch site has been allocated to Cocoa, Florida based Vaya Space and also Phantom Space through the Department of the Air Force’s Launch Pad Allocation Strategy (LPAS), a program designed to support the commercial space market and demand at the Eastern Range.

At the time, Kevin Lowdermilk, CEO of Vaya Space said, “We are proud to be selected as one of the four companies in the first round of the Launch Pad Allocation Strategy by the Space Force and we truly appreciate their support of commercial space launch. We are pleased to call SLC-13 home.”

Rendering of the Vaya Dauntless rocket.
Graphic: Vaya Space

“Launching from SLC-13 gives Vaya Space a long-term home on the Eastern Range to support our customers’ launch needs,” added Rob Fabian, COO of Vaya Space. “We’re looking forward to many launches from there alongside our friends from Phantom Space. It’s encouraging to see a new generation of commercial space launch vehicles rise up in the footprints of the old Atlas launch vehicles the site was built to launch.”

Vaya is producing the Dauntless rocket, which is propelled by solid rocket fuel. That fuel is produced from 99% recycled post-industrial thermoplastic, and the Dauntless rocket will utilize more than 7.8 metric tons per launch. Vaya states that the spent fuel exhaust will safely break it down into non-toxic byproducts.

Timing

At this point in time, the dates for the approval, construction and eventual move of SpaceX landing operations to the new landing pad are not known.

May 2, 2024

2015 Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Map

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

There are actually two facilities that are collectively known as “The Cape” by locals: NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and the US Space Force’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. While they share many services and activities, there are gates at the border between the two, and they are managed by separate government entities.

The most detailed map I’ve found online is the one below: a 2015 Facilities Map that details where everything is on the two facilities. Some changes have been made since the release of this map, but it is quite accurate, even in 2024.

February 13, 2024

Valentine’s Day Doubleheader Will Bring Booms To The Space Coast

SpaceX Falcon 9 lifts off from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

SpaceX, NASA and Intuitive Machines are planning to launch the NASA CLPS IM-1 lunar lander Odysseus tonight at Kennedy Space Center from Pad LC-39A at 12:57 AM EST. The launch, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, aims to be the first successful American soft-landing on the lunar surface since Apollo 17 in 1972.

Following the launch, the booster being used for the mission will return to land at LZ-1 in Cape Canaveral, and will herald its return with a sonic boom that will be heard across the Space Coast region.

That’s the first of two launches scheduled for Valentine’s Day. The second is USSF-124, launching from SpaceX’s pad SLC-40 Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This mission’s launch window extends from 5:30 PM until 10:00 PM EST and is also an RTLS mission.

Launch Weather Outlook: NASA CLPS IM-1

First, the early launch, NASA CLPS/IM-1: the 45th Weather Squadron of the US Space Force is predicting a low Probability of Violation for the planned liftoff at 12:57 AM EST: only 5%. That means they are expecting a 95% chance of acceptable conditions for liftoff.

NASA CLPS IM-1 Trajectory

As is customary for most missions beyond Earth orbit, NASA CLPS IM-1 will take an easterly path from KSC after liftoff. People watching the launch in person should be able to see the reentry burn and if in the right place, the landing burn of Falcon 9 as it returns to land.

A Falcon 9 Booster landing at LZ-1 in 2023
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

Launch Weather Outlook: USSF-124

The weather gets even better for the second planned launch of the day, according to the 45th Weather Wing: less than a 5% Probability of Violation, meaning a 95+% chance of acceptable weather conditions at liftoff.

USSF-124 Trajectory

Also eastward. Again, in-person launch viewers should be able to see the reentry burn and if in the right place, the landing burn of Falcon 9 as it returns to land.

SpaceX has not announced which landing pad they will utilize for this launch — either LZ-2, or perhaps the Falcon 9 used for LM-1 will be removed in time for USSF-124. Either way, to launch viewers off of the base itself, the landing will be in the same general direction.

Falcon 9 lifting off from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in 2023.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville

February 8, 2024

PACE Roars To Space; Booster Lands Successfully

After two delays due to high winds, SpaceX launched the PACE Earth-observing satellite to orbit from Cape Canaveral this morning. Seven and one half minutes later, Booster 1081 announced its return to the Space Coast with a sonic boom moments after safely touching down, completing its fourth flight.

The launch was the eighth for the Eastern Range this year, the 223rd orbital attempt from SLC-40, and the 923rd from Cape Canaveral.

According the Tim Dunn of NASA’s Launch Services Program, and the launch director for tonight’s flight, “PACE is the eighth NASA LSP mission to launch on a SpaceX rocket, and the first government mission to fly a polar trajectory from the Cape since November of 1960.”

SpaceX has flown polar missions commercially 11 times, Dunn added. Today’s launch was the twelfth such mission.

From the Kennedy Space Center Press Site, photographer Ed Cordero caught this incredibly detailed B&W photo of SpaceX’s launch of PACE last night. You can see the engine nozzles on Falcon 9 as it ascends from the launch pad.
Photo: Ed Cordero, Florida Media Now

In a press release from NASA issued early this morning, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said, “Congratulations to the PACE team on a successful launch. With this new addition to NASA’s fleet of Earth-observing satellites, PACE will help us learn, like never before, how particles in our atmosphere and our oceans can identify key factors impacting global warming.”

Next Up For PACE

Following the successful launch, according to NASA , next up for PACE is a PLAR, or Post-Launch Assessment review. “The PLAR is conducted following the launch, typically after the early flight operations and initial checkout.”

“At the PLAR, the PACE project demonstrates to the review panel, the readiness of the spacecraft systems to proceed with full, routine operations; status, performance, and capabilities of the project as evidenced from the flight operations experience since launch; readiness to transfer responsibility from the development organization to the operations organization; project plans and the capability to conduct the mission with emphasis on near-term operations and mission-critical events.”

Assuming a healthy spacecraft, after the PLAR, PACE is expected to begin operations later this coming spring.

PACE Mission

According to NASA, “PACE’s data will help us better understand how the ocean and atmosphere exchange carbon dioxide. In addition, it will reveal how aerosols might fuel phytoplankton growth in the surface ocean. Novel uses of PACE data will benefit our economy and society. For example, it will help identify the extent and duration of harmful algal blooms. PACE will extend and expand NASA’s long-term observations of our living planet. By doing so, it will take Earth’s pulse in new ways for decades to come.”

Dr. Karen St. Germain, Director of NASA’s Earth Sciences Division

Prior to the launch, Dr. Karen St. Germain, the director of NASA’s Earth Science Division said, “The surface of the Earth is covered 70% by oceans and yet in many ways we know more about the surface of the Moon than we do about our own oceans. PACE will be the most advanced mission we’ve ever launched to study ocean biology.”

She added that PACE “will join SWOT [that] we launched a little over a year ago that’s giving us the most detailed view we’ve ever had of the physical oceanography, [of] how water is moving in our oceans and that is very closely related to what PACE will tell about what’s living in our oceans.”

Booster

SpaceX used Booster 1081 for this mission, its fourth mission.

Flight	Date	Mission	Launch Pad	Result
1	26 August 2023	Crew-7	LC-39A	Success
2	10 November 2023	CRS-29	LC-39A	Success
3	19 December 2023	Starlink 6-34	SLC-40	Success
4	08 February 2024	NASA PACE	SLC-40	Success

Booster 1081 launch record as of 2/8/2024

After post-landing checkouts, the booster will be returned to Hangar X at Kennedy Space Center for inspection and ostensibly for needed refurbishment and preparations needed to ready it for its next launch.

Next Launch

On February 14th NASA CLPS / Intuitive Machines IM-1 is scheduled to launch from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center aboard a Falcon 9 booster. The listed launch time is 12:57 AM EST.

December 28, 2023

Falcon Heavy Roars to Orbit Thursday Night from KSC

Falcon Heavy Carrying USSF-52 Lifts Off At Kennedy Space Center, December 28, 2023
Photo: Richard Gallagher / Florida Media Now

SpaceX and the US Space Force launched Falcon Heavy carrying the USSF-52 mission from Kennedy Space Center at 8:07pm Eastern Standard Time under partly-cloudy skies and huge crowds gathered in Titusville and Cape Canaveral. After separating from the core first stage of the rocket, the two side boosters arced across the sky and returned to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station safely some eight and a half minutes later.

December 27, 2023

SpaceX Falcon Heavy Set For Launch Tomorrow at 8:07pm

Falcon Heavy after staging its side boosters in January, 2023.
Photo: Charles Boyer, Talk of Titusville

SpaceX and the US Space Force have set a liftoff time for the planned Falcon Heavy Launch from Kennedy Space Center tomorrow, December 28, 2023: 8:07pm Eastern Standard Time.

Note: this article was updated at 4:45pm to reflect new weather forecasts.

December 13, 2023

Another Night, Another Two Scrubs For SpaceX

Space Talk

They say if you don’t like the weather here in Florida, wait half an hour and it will change. SpaceX tried that this evening with the planned launch of a Falcon 9 carrying the Starlink 6-34 group of Internet connectivity satellites, but luck was not on their side: with roughly seventy seconds left in the countdown to liftoff, an abort and scrub was called by mission controllers, due to high-level ground winds.