Call to action will advance America’s space dominance in the race against China
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is launching two new initiatives to ensure continued American dominance in the global commercial space transportation industry.
What we’re doing: The FAA is asking the public and industry for ideas on two big issues: where the U.S. should build new spaceports, and how it should set aside “priority airspace” for important space-launch routes. These initiatives support President Trump’s Executive Order Ensuring American Space Superiority and his 2026 National Space Transportation Policy.
Why it matters: The U.S. was responsible for 217 of the 329 commercial space launches worldwide in 2025 and we expect to see that number will soar to 10,000 FAA-licensed launches and reentries a year by 2035. Right now, 83 percent of launches come from just three sites: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Increased launch and reentry demand will require more sites to provide more capacity.
“America’s commercial space industry is driving innovation, strengthening our national security, creating high-paying jobs, and expanding economic opportunity across the country,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we will ensure the next era of space transportation is powered by American workers, American companies, and American ingenuity.”
“The United States is the undisputed leader in launch capacity, but we can push our edge even further with more space launch infrastructure,” said Under Secretary for Policy Ryan McCormack. “To reach 10,000 launches and reentries annually by 2035, we must modernize our approach to spaceports. This RFI is our call to action to industry partners to weigh in with their expertise and help us build a resilient, efficient, and secure foundation for the next great era of American space dominance.”
“Public input is essential as we plan for the future of commercial space transportation,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “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.”
We’re asking for feedback on:
- What makes a good new viable spaceport site. Key factors include safety, geography, access to roads and utilities, ability to launch over open water, limited overflight of other countries, and room for future growth.
- Why some existing commercial spaceports are underused and what the government could do to make them more useful.
- Previously discussed locations, including sites in Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, and offshore launch platforms, as well as any other possible locations.
- How “critical space launch corridors” in airspace should work. The goal is to support faster, more frequent launches while minimizing disruption to regular air travel and maintaining safety.
Comments: Must be submitted electronically or by mail referencing to docket FAA-2026-9736 within 60 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register.