From Coast to Coast

The physical location of the launch facility is another important consideration in space science. The decision on the proper launch site location is based on the type of science, and what orbital destination the satellite needs to reach to gather the science. The primary launch sites for NASA are Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Missions requiring equatorial orbits are typically launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station & Kennedy Space Center in Florida due to its closer proximity to the equator. These sites are also ideal for a west-east orbit. The launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California is preferred for spacecraft requiring a north-south orbit and is also best for missions with a polar orbit destination.

Additional, launch sites for LSP include Wallops Island Facility in Virginia, Reagan Test Site in Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Kodiak Island in Alaska.