Vandenberg Space Force Base is prepping for the final launch of the Delta IV rocket

VANDENBERG, Calif. -- The final launch of the Delta IV rocket launched this Saturday at 3:35 pm for the last time at the Vandenberg Space Force Base after 63 years -- the end of the Delta IV rocket era.

This launch was highly anticipated because the Delta IV rocket is being retired after they have been launched in Vandenberg since 1959.

“I think everybody's excited. I mean, the community is buzzing about the launch. You see the cars driving into Vandenberg", said Tim Bergholz from Monterey.

Some spectators say modernized, lightweight rockets are now replacing the Delta rockets -- closing the end of an era.

“It’s exciting to see a Delta IV Heavy. I hear it's loud. I hear there's a lot of vibration and the weather looks perfect today", said Bergholz.

Delta rockets are one of the heaviest and largest rockets in the world.

“U-L-A’s latest path forward is they’re, moving away from some of their older legacy rockets and moving into the future. So it's really cool to see, you know, the space industry kind of like step up and push harder into the future", said Torrance Terzian from Los Angeles.

People that traveled across California for the launch say, having one of the largest rockets in the world launch out of Vandenberg is a big deal.

“I don't think a lot of people know that rockets take off from, you know, not too far away from Southern California. So I think it's cool when people are interested in space and interested in coming up and seeing how the launch goes off", said Terzian.

The Delta IV rocket was launched into space to carry out top-secret surveillance for the National Reconnaissance Office to enforce national security.