Wallops' permanent facilities support NASA's Sounding Rocket and Balloon Programs. We also track the Mir space station and NASA's Space Shuttle missions using our communications, telemetry and radar facilities. Our launch range and research airport have access to virtually unrestricted airspace. An extended area can be coordinated with governing agencies to meet specific mission requirements. Because of our location, air traffic is minimal.
Wallops offers a wide array of launch vehicle trajectory options.
In general, we can accommodate launch azimuths between 90 and 160 degrees depending on impact ranges. For most orbital vehicles, this translates into orbital inclinations between 38 and approximately 60 degrees. We welcome researchers from academia, the private sector and government agencies. Two commercial launch pads provide support to commercial clients through the Virginia Space Flight Center that resides at Wallops and our research airport supports aircraft-launched rockets. We also support our many customers with on a variety of services and facilities during the planning, execution and data analysis phases of their projects.