SpaceX began reshaping Vandenberg’s historic launch pad after demolishing the old Fixed Umbilical Tower on June 16, 2026. The structure, once part of the shuttle‑era complex that housed the prototype Enterprise, had stood idle for decades following the 2022 launch of a Delta IV Heavy. The blast cleared the way for a significant modern future launch footprint.

Originally built for the 1980s shuttle program, SLC‑6 later hosted Lockheed Martin’s LMLV‑1 in 1995 and a series of Athena rockets before ULA converted the site for ten Delta IV missions serving the National Reconnaissance Office. The final flight from the complex occurred September 24, 2022, marking the end of an era and prompting the Air Force to lease the pad to commercial operators.

Under the 2025 environmental impact study, SpaceX plans an 18‑month refurbishment that adds two concrete landing pads for reusable Falcon 9 boosters and readies the pad for future Falcon Heavy launches as early as 2030, pending NRO requirements. The company’s acquisition of the Orbiter Transporter System in 2016 already streamlines stage recovery, positioning SLC‑6 as a dual‑launch hub for the West Coast.