NAVAREA XII - 719/26

PAN PANArchived

Issued: 5 Oct 2026, 01:35Archived: 16 Oct 2026, 23:00Last modified: 5 Nov 2026, 17:42

analysisNotable

No longer in force

Hazardous rocket launching areas off California on multiple nights 15-22 Oct

Hazardous rocket launching operations will take place in two defined sea areas off the coast of California on multiple nights between 15 October and 22 October. Specific nightly windows are listed for Area A and Area B. Mariners should avoid the named areas during the stated periods. Message cancels itself at 220433Z OCT 26.

Avoid the named areas during the stated times and maintain a safe distance. Keep a sharp lookout and comply with any instructions from authorities.

Background

These notices typically relate to launches from a West Coast launch site (likely Vandenberg Space Force Base or nearby facilities) where trajectories pass over the Pacific. Launch hazard areas are established to protect mariners from falling debris or stages jettisoned during ascent. The polygonal shapes and repeated nightly windows reflect planned launch attempts or a multi-day launch campaign with alternate launch opportunities. Mariners should be especially cautious during these times because ranges may be enforced and search-and-rescue resources may be active.

General background from general knowledge, not from the official warning. It can be wrong; the warning text is authoritative.

Type: Missile / rocket launch · severity high
Feed: Rocket launches and space debrisAll warnings of this kind on the map (contributors), or as an API feed: /api/v2/feeds/space/
Location: North Pacific, off California (two defined polygonal areas)
Validity: From 15 Oct 2026, 23:44 UTC
Until 22 Oct 2026, 04:33 UTCA. 152344Z TO 160407Z OCT ... 212250Z TO 220313Z OCT; B. 152344Z TO 160427Z OCT ... 212250Z TO 220333Z OCT. CANCEL THIS MSG 220433Z OCT 26.
Activity periods: 15 Oct 2026, 23:44 UTC - 16 Oct 2026, 04:07 UTC (Area A nightly window 15-16 Oct)
16 Oct 2026, 23:35 UTC - 17 Oct 2026, 03:58 UTC (Area A nightly window 16-17 Oct)
17 Oct 2026, 23:26 UTC - 18 Oct 2026, 03:49 UTC (Area A nightly window 17-18 Oct)
18 Oct 2026, 23:17 UTC - 19 Oct 2026, 03:40 UTC (Area A nightly window 18-19 Oct)
19 Oct 2026, 23:08 UTC - 20 Oct 2026, 03:31 UTC (Area A nightly window 19-20 Oct)
20 Oct 2026, 22:59 UTC - 21 Oct 2026, 03:22 UTC (Area A nightly window 20-21 Oct)
21 Oct 2026, 22:50 UTC - 22 Oct 2026, 03:13 UTC (Area A nightly window 21-22 Oct)
15 Oct 2026, 23:44 UTC - 16 Oct 2026, 04:27 UTC (Area B nightly window 15-16 Oct)
16 Oct 2026, 23:35 UTC - 17 Oct 2026, 04:18 UTC (Area B nightly window 16-17 Oct)
17 Oct 2026, 23:26 UTC - 18 Oct 2026, 04:09 UTC (Area B nightly window 17-18 Oct)
18 Oct 2026, 23:17 UTC - 19 Oct 2026, 04:00 UTC (Area B nightly window 18-19 Oct)
19 Oct 2026, 23:08 UTC - 20 Oct 2026, 03:51 UTC (Area B nightly window 19-20 Oct)
20 Oct 2026, 22:59 UTC - 21 Oct 2026, 03:42 UTC (Area B nightly window 20-21 Oct)
21 Oct 2026, 22:50 UTC - 22 Oct 2026, 03:33 UTC (Area B nightly window 21-22 Oct)
Hazards: rocket launching operations, launch debris hazard, hazardous operations area

Coast stations for this area

RCCMRCC EnsenadaMexico176 NM from the area
RCCRCC AlamedaUnited States363 NM from the area
DSCDSC Station EnsenadaMRCC EnsenadaMexicoMMSI 003450210VHF 80, MF 150range 150 NM175 NM from the area
DSCDSC Station San FranciscoRCC AlamedaUnited StatesMMSI 003669990HF379 NM from the area

Generated automatically from the warning text on 11 Oct 2026, 04:07 UTC. It can be wrong: the original warning below is the authoritative text.

Keywords

Space Debrisrocket launch
Geometry refsbounded
Dangerous Areahazardous operations
Geometry phrasesbound by

Message content

NORTH PACIFIC. CALIFORNIA. 1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING: A. 152344Z TO 160407Z OCT, ALTERNATE 162335Z TO 170358Z, 172326Z TO 180349Z, 182317Z TO 190340Z, 192308Z TO 200331Z, 202259Z TO 210322Z AND 212250Z TO 220313Z OCT IN AREA BOUND BY 32-01.00N 120-03.00W, 32-01.00N 120-00.00W, 33-22.00N 120-12.00W, 34-27.00N 120-23.00W, 34-40.00N 120-36.00W, 34-39.00N 120-40.00W, 34-20.00N 120-39.00W, 33-04.00N 120-20.00W. B. 152344Z TO 160427Z OCT, ALTERNATE 162335Z TO 170418Z, 172326Z TO 180409Z, 182317Z TO 190400Z, 192308Z TO 200351Z, 202259Z TO 210342Z AND 212250Z TO 220333Z OCT IN AREA BOUND BY 27-40.00N 119-16.00W, 28-46.00N 119-53.00W, 29-01.00N 119-54.00W, 30-45.00N 119-47.00W, 28-55.00N 118-46.00W, 28-39.00N 118-44.00W. 2. CANCEL THIS MSG 220433Z OCT 26.

Location map

Open on the full map

Related messages

776/26
NORTH PACIFIC 1. HF AND MF TRANSMIT CAPABILITIES OFF AIR AND RECEIVE CAPABILITIES UNRELIABLE 061200Z TO 061600Z NOV AT USCG REMOTE COMMUNICATION FACILITIES: A. PT REYES 37-55.00N 122-44.00W. B. HONOLULU 21-22.00N 158-09.00W. C. KODIAK 57-46.00N 152-34.00W. 2. CANCEL THIS MSG 061700Z NOV 26.
775/26
NORTH PACIFIC. CALIFORNIA. BUOY, YELLOW, FL W 2 SEC, 5 METER HEIGHT, WITH AIS, TEMPORARILY ESTABLISHED IN 37-29.07N 128-04.86W.
772/26
NORTH PACIFIC. CALIFORNIA. 1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING: A. 070046Z TO 070509Z NOV, ALTERNATE 080032Z TO 080455Z, 090019Z TO 090442Z, 100005Z TO 100428Z, 102351Z TO 110414Z, 112337Z TO 120400Z AND 122323Z TO 130346Z NOV IN AREA BOUND BY 32-05.00N 119-08.00W, 32-30.00N 119-18.00W, 33-15.00N 119-38.00W, 34-12.00N 120-06.00W, 34-31.00N 120-18.00W, 34-40.00N 120-38.00W, 34-36.00N 120-39.00W, 34-27.00N 120-37.00W, 34-19.00N 120-34.
763/26(archived)
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC. CALIFORNIA. 1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 041400Z TO 041900Z NOV IN AREA BOUND BY 33-07.00N 121-07.00W, 33-42.00N 121-21.00W, 33-45.00N 120-06.00W, 33-32.00N 119-51.00W, 33-16.00N 119-44.00W, 32-27.00N 120-26.00W. 2. CANCEL THIS MSG 042000Z NOV 26.
758/26(archived)
NORTH PACIFIC. CALIFORNIA. 1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING: A. 020156Z TO 020619Z NOV, ALTERNATE 030142Z TO 030605Z, 040128Z TO 040551Z, 050114Z TO 050537Z, 060100Z TO 060523Z, 070046Z TO 070509Z, AND 080032Z TO 080455Z NOV IN AREA BOUND BY 32-05.00N 119-08.00W, 32-30.00N 119-18.00W, 33-15.00N 119-38.00W, 34-12.00N 120-06.00W, 34-31.00N 120-18.00W, 34-40.00N 120-38.00W, 34-36.00N 120-39.00W, 34-27.00N 120-37.00W, 34-19.00N 120-