Operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base

Larry Hill joined the Anacapa School for the March First Thursday Breakfast Club to discuss the past, present and future of Vandenberg Air Force Base. After an overview of Vandenberg’s history, starting as Camp Cooke in 1941, Hill outlined the varied present-day roles of Vandenberg, including over 1900 satellite and missile launches to date. Aside from boasting an ideal location for launching into polar orbits, Vandenberg is also home to 9,000 acres of protected dunes, 16 endangered species and 1,600 archeological sites, making it an environmental treasure along with its utility in military and space endeavors. In the future, the base hopes to expand its relationship with private companies, like SpaceX, which Larry predicts will expand and revolutionize space exploration. Larry’s advice to Anacapans in the upcoming age of space: “Get a window seat.”