Space Force bases are mostly located in three states: Florida, California, and Colorado. One base sits overseas in Greenland. The U.S. Space Force is the newest and smallest military branch, so it has far fewer bases than the Air Force. This guide lists every main installation and explains what each one does.
What is the Space Force?
The Space Force is the 6th branch of the U.S. military. It was created on December 20, 2019, under the Department of the Air Force. Its members are called Guardians.
The branch protects U.S. interests in space. It runs satellites, tracks objects in orbit, and warns of missile launches. To learn more, read what the Space Force does.
How many Space Force bases are there?
The Space Force has a small set of main installations because it is a small branch. Its core bases sit in Florida, California, and Colorado, with one base in Greenland. Some sites are called "bases" and others are called "stations," and the names mean slightly different things.
A Space Force Base (SFB) is a renamed permanent installation. A Space Force Station (SFS) is usually a launch range or operations site. Los Angeles Air Force Base kept its old name but still serves the Space Force.
Space Force base locations at a glance
The table below lists every main Space Force base and its primary mission. Use it as a quick map of where Guardians serve.
| Base | State / Location | Primary mission |
|---|---|---|
| Patrick Space Force Base | Florida | Supports the Eastern Range for East Coast launches |
| Cape Canaveral Space Force Station | Florida | Eastern Range launch site |
| Vandenberg Space Force Base | California | Western Range for polar and West Coast launches |
| Los Angeles Air Force Base | California | Home of Space Systems Command |
| Peterson Space Force Base | Colorado | Home of Space Operations Command (SpOC) |
| Schriever Space Force Base | Colorado | Satellite operations and missile warning |
| Buckley Space Force Base | Colorado | Missile warning and infrared (SBIRS) operations |
| Pituffik Space Base | Greenland | Missile warning and space surveillance |
Space Force bases in Florida
Florida is the heart of East Coast rocket launches. Two Space Force installations sit side by side on the Atlantic coast, near Cocoa Beach.
Patrick Space Force Base
Patrick Space Force Base is in Florida, near Cocoa Beach. It supports the Eastern Range, which manages East Coast rocket launches. The base was renamed from Patrick Air Force Base in 2021.
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is the Eastern Range launch site. It sits right next to Patrick Space Force Base. Many U.S. rockets lift off from this coastline.
Space Force bases in California
California holds two key installations. One handles launches, and the other builds the systems the branch relies on.
Vandenberg Space Force Base
Vandenberg Space Force Base is on California's central coast. It runs the Western Range, which supports polar and West Coast launches. Polar orbits are useful for weather and imaging satellites.
Los Angeles Air Force Base
Los Angeles Air Force Base is home to Space Systems Command. This command buys and develops the branch's space systems. The site still carries the "Air Force Base" name even though it serves the Space Force.
Space Force bases in Colorado
Colorado holds three Space Force bases, more than any other state. They cluster around Colorado Springs and Denver. Together they handle command, satellites, and missile warning.
Peterson Space Force Base
Peterson Space Force Base is in Colorado Springs. It is home to Space Operations Command, known as SpOC. This command runs the branch's day-to-day space missions.
Schriever Space Force Base
Schriever Space Force Base sits near Colorado Springs. It supports satellite operations, including GPS master control. It also hosts missile-warning and missile-defense units.
Buckley Space Force Base
Buckley Space Force Base is in Aurora, Colorado, near Denver. It runs missile-warning and space-based infrared (SBIRS) operations. These systems detect launches around the globe.
The overseas Space Force base
The Space Force also operates one base far from the mainland. It keeps watch over the northern sky.
Pituffik Space Base
Pituffik Space Base is in Greenland and was formerly called Thule Air Base. It is the U.S. military's northernmost installation. The base supports missile warning and space surveillance.
Where do Guardians serve?
Guardians serve at these main Space Force bases and at partner locations. Because the branch is small, many Guardians work alongside Air Force or joint units. Some also serve at allied and civilian space sites.
Space Force jobs cover fields like satellite operations, cyber, intelligence, and engineering. If you are curious about roles, explore Space Force jobs and the branch's rank structure.
Getting started with the Space Force
The Space Force may be small, but its bases play a huge role in national defense. From Florida launch pads to Greenland's Arctic post, Guardians keep U.S. space assets safe. Knowing the base locations helps you picture where a Space Force career could take you.
Ready to take the next step? Learn how to join the Space Force and see if this branch fits your goals.