Space Launch Delta 45, headquartered at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, is a United States Space Force unit responsible for overseeing launch operations for Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, ensuring range safety and supporting space missions from the Eastern Range. Its primary mission is to ensure the safe and successful launch of both U.S government and commercial payloads into orbit.

Reporting to U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command, SLD 45 is responsible for the Eastern Range, a 15-million-square-mile area of the Atlantic coast essential for launching rockets on trajectories that avoid populated areas. The range spans from Cape Canaveral eastward into the ocean and provides tracking and telemetry for launches. SLD 45 coordinates the range to prevent conflicts with air and sea traffic, ensuring safe launch corridors.

SLD 45 plays a key role in national security by enabling rapid access to space, supporting intelligence, reconnaissance, and global communications – vital capabilities as the U.S. navigates an evolving space landscape where assured access to space is essential for both military and civilian interests.