All Points Logistics wins $250M Space Force contract for Vandenberg spacecraft processing center

All Points Logistics has landed a $250 million U.S. Space Force contract to build a new spacecraft processing center at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The project is meant to expand national security launch capacity on the West Coast and add commercially owned, operated processing infrastructure for military and nonmilitary missions.

Why it matters: - The new facility is meant to increase spacecraft processing capacity for National Security Space missions at Vandenberg Space Force Base, the nation’s primary launch site for polar-orbit, reconnaissance and other national security missions. - The project is designed to improve launch throughput, reduce scheduling bottlenecks and support tactically responsive space operations. - The commercially owned and operated model is intended to reduce reliance on military construction funding and add redundancy to the U.S. space launch industrial base.

What happened: - All Points Logistics won a $250 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to design and construct a Spacecraft Processing Center at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. - The facility will be built in Vandenberg’s Mission Development Zone and will augment All Points Logistics’ existing operation at Space Launch Complex 2. - The award expands All Points Logistics’ Space Prep business line on the West Coast. - All Points Logistics also operates a Space Prep project at Kennedy Space Center in Florida under a 65-acre, 50-year NASA land lease.

The details: - The new center is intended to expand the Space Force’s ability to process, integrate, fuel, encapsulate and prepare space vehicles for launch. - The facility is planned with multiple high- and low-bay processing areas, dual encapsulation bays, blast-rated hazardous processing capability, secure mission areas, conditioned storage and advanced communications and monitoring systems. - The design is meant to support parallel mission flows, multiple spacecraft classes and multiple launch service providers. - The multi-bay layout and concurrent hazardous operations capability are intended to reduce delays linked to facility clearances, transfers and limited processing space. - The facility is also meant to support civil and commercial mission demand. - All Points says the effort brings private capital through an Infrastructure-as-a-Service model that keeps the facility commercially owned and operated while serving Space Force mission needs. - Space Prep is developing more than 540,000 square feet of processing and logistics space at Kennedy Space Center. - Space Prep says it provides commercial and government customers flexible access to cleanroom processing, fueling, storage and mission support services at major launch bases in Florida and California.

Between the lines: - The contract shows the Space Force continuing to lean on commercial providers for mission infrastructure rather than relying only on government-owned facilities. - The model could give the Space Force priority access while also keeping the facility available to other customers, which may help keep the site busy and financially sustainable. - The West Coast buildout complements All Points Logistics’ Florida footprint and suggests the company is positioning Space Prep as a multi-site launch support network.

What's next: - All Points Logistics will move forward with design and construction planning for the Vandenberg facility. - The company says the project will deliver a scalable capability that strengthens assured access to space and improves mission throughput. - The Space Force will gain an additional processing option for spacecraft launched from Vandenberg as the facility comes online. - All Points Logistics is also continuing development of its Kennedy Space Center processing and logistics campus.

The bottom line: - The $250 million award gives All Points Logistics a major role in building the next generation of spacecraft processing infrastructure for the Space Force on the West Coast.