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California missions
Trends
- 1SpaceX Falcon 9 Sets Vandenberg Launch Record at 72●SpaceX Falcon 9 Sets Vandenberg Launch Record at 72 in 2026
SpaceX's Falcon 9 has completed 72 launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California in 2026, setting a new record for the site. The milestone highlights SpaceX's growing dominance of West Coast launches, driven largely by Starlink missions. Space enthusiasts are sharing the figure and debating how far launch cadence can go.
- 2Readers Revisit French Explorer's 1786 California Mission Diary●I just finished re-reading the book _Life in a California Mission_, which is the diary of Jean François de la Pérouse wh
A reader's recommendation has drawn attention to Life in a California Mission, the diary of French naval officer Jean François de la Pérouse, who visited the Spanish mission at Monterey, California in 1786. The book, introduced by California publishing figure Malcolm Margolin, offers a rare firsthand European account of mission-era life. Readers are discussing its historical value and what it reveals about colonial California.
- 3SpaceX Falcon 9 launches Starlink mission from California▼SpaceX Falcon 9 launches early morning Starlink mission from California (video)
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket on a Starlink mission in the early morning hours from California, adding more satellites to its growing internet constellation. The company routinely stages these West Coast flights, and footage of the pre-dawn liftoff circulated widely. Spaceflight followers tracked the launch and booster recovery as part of SpaceX's accelerating launch cadence this year.
- 4SpaceX plans back-to-back Vandenberg launches as California sets annual record▼SpaceX Plans Back-to-Back Vandenberg Launches as California Sets New Annual Record
SpaceX is preparing two launches in quick succession from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The state is on track to set a new annual record for orbital launches, driven largely by the company's growing launch cadence from the Central Coast site. The dual missions underline how launch activity from the West Coast has expanded sharply in recent years.
- 5JPL and California Science Center Partner on New Space Gallery●JPL, California Science Center Team Up for New Space Gallery
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Science Center in Los Angeles are teaming up to create a new space gallery, according to Pasadena Now. The collaboration is expected to bring JPL's robotic exploration work—such as Mars rovers and deep-space missions—to a public audience through exhibits at the science museum. Details about the gallery's opening date, size, and featured artifacts have not yet been announced.
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Vandenberg Space Force Base in California has supported its 72nd orbital launch of 2026, underlining the base's role as a major West Coast launch site for military, commercial and scientific missions. The milestone highlights the rapid pace of launches from the facility, which handles rockets for the Space Force and private providers.
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Engineers at the University of Southern California's Viterbi School of Engineering have announced a soft robot designed with space applications in mind. Soft robotics, which uses flexible materials rather than rigid parts, is seen as promising for exploration because it can adapt to unpredictable terrain and survive harsh conditions. The announcement is drawing attention to how soft robotic systems could support future space missions.
- 8Starlink shift pushes California past Florida in launches▼SpaceX Starlink shift sends California past Florida in launches
A shift in SpaceX's Starlink launch operations has made California the busier launch site, overtaking Florida in the number of launches. The change means more missions are now flying from the company's West Coast facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base rather than Florida's Space Coast. Florida's space industry is watching closely, as the state has long been the center of US launch activity.
- 9SpaceX launches Starlink satellites from California as Falcon 9 pace slows▼SpaceX launches Starlink satellites from California as Falcon 9 cadence slows (video)
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from California carrying a batch of Starlink internet satellites, with the mission captured on video. The launch comes as the company's overall Falcon 9 flight cadence shows signs of slowing, drawing attention from space watchers tracking whether SpaceX can sustain its record launch rate. Details on the cause of the slowdown were not provided.
- 10Voyager Technologies' Griffin-1 completes environmental testing at NASA JPL●Voyager Technologies' Griffin-1 Completes Environmental Testing at NASA JPL https://science.nasa.gov/photojournal/voyage
Voyager Technologies' Griffin-1 spacecraft has completed environmental testing at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, a key milestone clearing it for upcoming mission preparations. NASA's photo journal published imagery of the testing. The announcement is drawing attention from space and technology observers following the spacecraft's development progress.
- 11SpaceX to Launch Falcon 9 with Starlink Satellites from Vandenberg●SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Scheduled for Monday Night Starlink Launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base
SpaceX has scheduled a Falcon 9 rocket launch for Monday night from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying another batch of Starlink internet satellites. The mission is part of the company's ongoing campaign to expand its satellite broadband constellation. Liftoff is planned for the evening, and local observers may be able to see the rocket ascent from the Central Coast.
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A Vandenberg museum is showcasing the space history of California's Central Coast, highlighting the region's long role in rocket launches and aerospace missions from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Local coverage in the Lompoc Record and Santa Maria Times points to community interest in the exhibits, which commemorate decades of launch activity on the coast.
- 13Starlink mission set to launch today from Vandenberg▼Starlink mission set to launch today from Vandenberg SFB
SpaceX is scheduled to launch another Starlink mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California today. The Falcon 9 launch will add satellites to the Starlink broadband constellation and may be visible across parts of the state shortly after liftoff. Local outlets are alerting residents to the launch window, and spaceflight watchers are sharing viewing and streaming details ahead of the attempt.
- 14California state workers strike over stalled contract talks in Mission Hills▼California state workers strike over stalled contract talks and low wages in Mission Hills
California state workers launched a strike in Mission Hills after contract negotiations stalled, with low pay at the center of the dispute. The job action disrupts state services in the area and adds to a broader wave of labor actions over wages and working conditions. Union representatives are pushing for better compensation, while negotiations with the state remain unresolved.
- 15SpaceX scrubs Starlink launch from Vandenberg●SpaceX scrubs launch of 27 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB
SpaceX called off the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 27 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission was aborted before liftoff, with no new launch date immediately confirmed. Delays of this kind are routine, as launches are often halted for technical checks or poor weather, and a new attempt is typically scheduled once issues are resolved.