WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Transportation formed an internal task force last week to coordinate commercial space transportation policy as the federal government moves to expand launch infrastructure, streamline regulation and integrate launch and reentry operations more closely with U.S. airspace management.
The Space Policy Administration, Coordination, and Execution Task Force will lead the department’s implementation of the National Space Transportation Policy and develop a unified commercial space transportation strategy.
The task force will coordinate work across the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of General Counsel, Office of Research and Technology, Office of Transportation Policy, Office of Multimodal Freight Policy and Office of Aviation and International Affairs.
Under Secretary Ryan McCormack will chair the group.
The initiative comes as the Transportation Department prepares for significantly higher commercial launch activity. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy cited 217 U.S. commercial space launches out of 329 worldwide in 2025 and projected as many as 10,000 FAA-licensed launches and reentries annually by 2035.
“This SPACE Task Force is going to ensure this next era of space transportation is led by America — not China,” Duffy stated.
The administration’s National Space Transportation Policy directs federal agencies to increase launch and reentry capacity, encourage development of additional infrastructure and improve access to federal launch facilities. It also calls for integrating launch and reentry management into air traffic control modernization.
The policy gives the Transportation Department a direct role in identifying potential locations for additional launch facilities and targeted infrastructure improvements. It also calls for priority airspace for critical space launch corridors.
The SPACE Task Force will coordinate the department’s work on those directives while focusing on commercial space transportation, economic competitiveness and national security.
“Keeping America’s edge in commercial space is key to advancing the economic and national security of the United States,” McCormack stated. “The SPACE Task Force will develop and coordinate space policy to achieve the aims of the National Space Transportation Policy and strengthen American leadership in this vital sector.”
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