WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Aviation Administration is seeking potential locations for new commercial spaceports and dedicated launch corridors as it prepares for as many as 10,000 licensed rocket launches and reentries annually by 2035, a projected expansion that could strain existing infrastructure and disrupt commercial aviation.
The United States accounted for 217 of 329 commercial space launches worldwide in 2025, or approximately two-thirds of the global total, according to the Transportation Department.
However, 83% of U.S. launches originated from just three federal sites: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The concentration of activity has created concerns that limited launch capacity could become a bottleneck for commercial space companies, national security missions and government programs.
Federal policy calls for U.S. space transportation facilities to support more than 1,000 launches and reentries annually by 2030, with activity potentially increasing tenfold by 2035.
“To reach 10,000 launches and reentries annually by 2035, we must modernize our approach to spaceports,” stated Ryan McCormack, under secretary of transportation for policy.
The FAA is requesting public and industry feedback on possible spaceport locations, including previously discussed sites in Florida, Georgia and Puerto Rico, along with offshore launch platforms.
Suitable locations would need to support launches over open water, limit flights over foreign countries and provide access to roads, utilities, deep-water ports or other infrastructure required to transport large equipment.
Officials are also seeking information about underused commercial spaceports and changes that could increase activity at existing facilities.
NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia provides additional launch capacity, but the FAA identified physical constraints, a limited number of launch pads and an inability to support heavy-launch operations as barriers to significant expansion.
The request also seeks information about construction costs, energy availability, supply chain constraints and potential financing models for new launch infrastructure.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently established the National Infrastructure Development Office to encourage public-private partnerships, which the FAA identified as a potential funding mechanism for spaceport projects.
A separate component of the initiative would establish priority airspace for critical space launch corridors, potentially changing how rocket operations are coordinated with passenger and cargo flights.
Launch operators currently work with the FAA to establish temporary Aircraft Hazard Areas, which protect aircraft from rocket operations and falling debris.
Because many launches originate from the same locations, those restricted airspace areas are repeatedly activated, creating potential conflicts with airline schedules and broader aviation traffic.
The FAA is asking whether designated launch corridors could accelerate approvals and increase launch frequency while limiting disruptions to conventional air travel.
Additional questions address whether corridor access should vary based on commercial, civilian or national security payloads and whether fees, operational restrictions or other governance requirements should apply.
Officials are also seeking feedback on emergency procedures, environmental considerations and whether priority corridors should serve all spaceports or only major federal facilities.
“By hearing from industry, local communities, aviation stakeholders, and the broader public, we can better identify viable spaceport locations and develop airspace routes that support more frequent launches while maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated.
The initiatives support the administration’s 2026 National Space Transportation Policy and Executive Order 14369, “Ensuring American Space Superiority.”
Public comments must reference docket FAA-2026-9736 and be submitted within 60 days after the notice appears in the Federal Register.
Comments may be filed electronically through http://www.regulations.gov or mailed to Docket Operations, M-30, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
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