PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Space Launch Delta 45 would like to remind the public and media partners that photographing military installations, including Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Patrick Space Force Base, from off-base locations is prohibited under 18 United States Code 795.
The federal statute prohibits photographing, sketching, or making graphic representations of vital military installations or equipment without proper authorization. This applies to images captured from ground level, elevated positions, aircraft, or any other vantage point outside the installations.
SLD 45 installations support sensitive operations critical to national security. That some of these are highly visible – such as rocket launches and aircraft arriving for air shows – does not mean photography from off-base locations is authorized. This type of content capture poses security risks regardless of intent.
The restriction extends to all forms of image capture, including unofficial unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are never permitted to fly over Cape Canaveral SFS or Patrick SFB.
This does not mean there are no authorized means of capturing content related to SLD 45’s mission. In some cases, such as media events, permission to do so can be granted by Public Affairs.
"While the space launch mission of the United States is exciting, it is imperative we adhere to the laws that keep our National Security Space Launch missions safe from adversarial collections," said Christopher Cluckey, Space Launch Delta 45's Information Protection Operations Security Signature Manager. "Publicly posting photos and videos of DoD installations and operations without permission from the appropriate authorizing agency can reveal tactics, techniques and procedures critical to our mission success.”
"Adversaries to our national interests use various collection methods to gather valuable intelligence, even from seemingly unimportant sources," Cluckey said.
Social media platforms have become particularly concerning for operational security, as sensitive information can be inadvertently shared with global audiences.
"Social media is a free and easy way for our adversaries to collect critical mission-related information even though the poster may have no malicious intent," Cluckey noted. "Government employees and military members should follow approved policies and countermeasures in place and contact Public Affairs if they have questions or concerns before posting."
To view SLD 45’s Photography Policy, visit https://www.patrick.spaceforce.mil/News/Photos/Space-Launch-Delta-45-Photo-Policy/. For questions, please contact Public Affairs at sld45.pa.publicaffairs@spaceforce.mil or 321-494-5933.