Wallops Flight Facility
ActiveNo launches are currently scheduled from Wallops Flight Facility in the published manifest, which was last confirmed on 9 August 2026. Dates may have moved since.
Wallops Flight Facility is one of the oldest US launch sites, now primarily serving ISS cargo resupply via Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft. Rocket Lab opened a second Electron launch complex here in 2023, adding dedicated smallsat capability.
Site history
Orbital mechanics from 37.9402°N
A launch site's latitude determines which orbits are achievable and at what fuel cost. Wallops Island at 37.9402°N sets the following constraints:
Satellite train visibility from Wallops Island
From 37.9402°N, Wallops Island can reach 4 Starlink inclination shells: 43°, 53°, 70°, 97.6° SSO (polar).
Trains launched to higher inclinations are visible from more of the world. A 97° SSO train from Wallops Island would be visible at virtually every latitude; a 53° train is visible from latitudes up to ±57° (primarily) — much of the populated world. In the hours after launch — before satellites raise their orbits — a tight train of 20–60 bright dots crosses the sky roughly every 90 minutes. Use OrbitalNodes' Starlink tracker for exact train pass times.
Wallops: NASA's Atlantic range
NASA's Virginia flight facility is best known today for Antares rockets carrying Cygnus cargo freighters to the ISS, on top of decades of sounding-rocket and small-launch research.
A mid-Atlantic coastal site, it fires east over the ocean to reach mid-inclination orbits, complementing the larger Florida ranges to the south.
Wallops Island — Launch Site FAQ
Where is Wallops Island and who operates it?
Wallops Flight Facility is located at 37.9402°N, 75.4664°W in Virginia, USA. It is owned and operated by NASA / Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport. The site has conducted approximately 35 orbital launches since its first in 1961.
What rockets launch from Wallops Island?
Current vehicles operating from Wallops Flight Facility include Antares/Cygnus, Rocket Lab Electron (LC-2), suborbital. Primary customers are Northrop Grumman, Rocket Lab, NASA, launching ISS Cygnus cargo, smallsats, suborbital research.
What orbits can Wallops Island reach?
At 37.9402°N, Wallops Island's minimum achievable inclination is 37.9° (due-east launch). The ISS at 51.6° is reachable with a dogleg manoeuvre. The site can reach orbits between roughly 38° and 98° inclination.
Can I watch launches from Wallops Island?
Yes — Wallops Flight Facility hosts a moderate cadence of approximately 5 orbital launches per year. Viewing areas are open to the public for many launches. Rockets are often visible for several hundred kilometres after liftoff.
What satellites can I see that were launched from Wallops Island?
Satellites regularly launched from Wallops Island include ISS Cygnus cargo, smallsats, suborbital research. The ISS was supplied or crew-launched from sites at similar latitudes. Use OrbitalNodes to track any visible satellite in real time.
Why was Wallops Island built at this latitude?
Wallops Island at 37.9402°N was positioned to access the full range of low-Earth orbits including the ISS corridor. The site has been operational since 1961.
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