- FAA is seeking ideas for new spaceport locations and dedicated airspace corridors
- The agency wants to understand why some existing spaceports see limited use
- It also aims to determine factors that could make a spaceport site viable
The Federal Aviation Administration is seeking industry and public input on potential new spaceport locations and dedicated airspace corridors as the agency prepares for higher commercial launch and reentry demand, the Department of Transportation announced Friday.
What Is the FAA Seeking?
The FAA is asking stakeholders to identify factors that could make a spaceport site viable, including safety, geography, road and utility access, launch paths over open water, minimal need to fly over other nations and capacity for future expansion.
The agency is also seeking feedback on why several commercial spaceports currently see limited use and what steps could boost their usefulness. Sites in Florida, Georgia and Puerto Rico have come up in earlier discussions as candidates, along with the possibility of offshore launch platforms.
Both efforts, announced by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, align with President Donald Trump’s Executive Order Ensuring American Space Superiority. They also follow the 2026 National Space Transportation Policy, which directs Duffy to identify potential new launch sites and calls for additional launch and reentry infrastructure to support commercial users.
“America’s commercial space industry is driving innovation, strengthening our national security, creating high-paying jobs, and expanding economic opportunity across the country,” Duffy said.
Why Are the Initiatives Needed?
The U.S. conducted 217 of the 329 commercial space launches recorded worldwide in 2025. The FAA expects annual licensed launches and reentries to reach 10,000 by 2035. Currently, 83 percent of launches originate from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center in Florida and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
