Request for Information: Siting New Spaceports and Use of Priority Airspace for Critical Space Launch Corridors

Siting New Spaceports and Use of Priority Airspace for Critical Space Launch Corridors

DATES:

Written comments, including all supporting information and documents, are requested on or before October 26, 2026.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Purpose

The purpose of this RFI is to solicit information to support the Department's analysis in expanding opportunities for commercial space transportation and support the 2026 NSTP objectives.

In 2025, the United States was responsible for 217 of the 329 launches worldwide. This rapid increase cemented the United States as the premier launch country. Looking forward, this ever-increasing launch rate is expected to reach 10,000 FAA-licensed launches and reentries a year by 2035, driving the cadence from a few launches a week to several launches and reentries a day. As of today, over half of U.S. launches originated from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Including Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, these three Federal sites account for 83 percent of U.S. launches.

On December 18, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order (E.O.) 14369, Ensuring American Space Superiority, to emphasize the reach of human discovery, secure the Nation's vital economic and security interests, unleash commercial development, and lay the foundation for a new space age. ⁽¹⁾ New and upgraded facilities, improved efficiency, and policy reforms will facilitate the security and defense of vital U.S. national and economic commercial space equities. In addition, President Trump's new 2026 NSTP directs the Secretary of Transportation to identify "potential locations for additional launch facilities and targeted development or improvement of launch infrastructure." Consistent with the Administration's E.O. and the NSTP, the Department of Transportation (Department) is requesting input regarding potential locations for new spaceports. Such spaceports would ideally be viable locations to complement or augment many of the operations from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Kennedy Space Center, Vandenberg Space Force Base, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Wallops Flight Facility.

The 2026 NSTP also tasks the Department to "designate priority airspace for critical space launch corridors." The Department seeks input from the space and aviation industries and other interested stakeholders. Specifically, the Department is interested in considerations for developing priority airspace for critical space launch corridors, the ideal requisites for priority airspace, and concepts for differentiating standard airspace used for commercial space activities from priority airspace.

This RFI is an invitation to submit information in response to questions on the topics posed below in Section 4. Responses should be as detailed as possible to facilitate a comprehensive review.

2. Background

The United States is the unquestioned leader in space launch and reentry. Robust and varied commercial, civil, and national security space launch activities form the backbone of U.S. space-based power. Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Kennedy Space Center, and Vandenberg Space Force Base provide unprecedented access to space. Federal ranges are strained to support both governmental and commercial space launches, however. Even with enhanced efficiency at Federal launch and reentry sites, the United States may find availability of launch and reentry sites becoming a bottleneck to achieving the goals of E.O. 14369 and the 2026 NSTP. While enhanced efficiency at Federal launch sites will support the short-term increase in launch cadence and demand, with surges in military, commercial, and civil space activities, the United States must prepare for the rapid expansion of launch cadence by supporting increased spaceport capacity, additional launch sites, and support infrastructure to ensure continuous dominance in commercial space.

The fundamental requirements that drove site selection for the Eastern and Western Test Ranges in the 1950s remain unchanged. Geography allowing launch and reentry over open water, available infrastructure to support launch logistics ( e.g., roads and utilities), and accessibility to space with minimal overflight of foreign countries were, and remain, key metrics to spaceport success. In addition to the Federal launch and reentry ranges, NASA's Wallops Flight Facility adds capacity to U.S. space launch. However, although Wallops shares many of the attributes of the major Federal ranges, certain characteristics, including tight physical constraints and only four launch pads with no option for heavy spacelift, limit Wallops' ability to support future space technology or to accommodate the expected increase in orbital launch cadence.

The Department oversees FAA-licensed commercial spaceports and private single-use launch sites. A viable spaceport involves several tradeoffs. The Office of Commercial Space Transportation developed a brief Spaceport Licensing Primer: An Introduction to the Spaceport Licensing Process ⁽²⁾ to provide information for individuals not familiar with the development of commercial spaceports. The 2026 NSTP recognizes, as a national space transportation goal, that "by 2030, our space transportation ranges must grow to support more than 1,000 launches and reentries every year." To ensure the United States reaches this goal, it must add and modernize launch and reentry infrastructure.

A critical aspect of spaceport development will be funding. Secretary Duffy recently established the National Infrastructure Development Office (NIDO) in the Department to expand and encourage use of public-private partnerships in infrastructure development. Public-private partnerships could be a valuable and innovative tool for structuring spaceport development in particular. This RFI solicits information on funding mechanisms and the potential utility of public-private partnerships in spaceport development.

In addition, the 2026 NSTP directs the Department to "designate priority airspace for critical space launch corridors." Currently, U.S. launch operators work with the FAA Air Traffic Organization to establish Aircraft Hazard Areas (AHAs) for space launches to protect aircraft from space objects and falling debris. Because the same spaceports support the majority of U.S. space launches, the same or similar AHAs for safety are repeatedly used. FAA does not currently use the term `space launch corridor.' The questions below are intended to explore the relationship and assumptions related to the current AHAs and the new critical space launch corridor concept. The concept of airspace corridors, in general, is not new, and airspace corridors for aviation users may vary in definition and use from space launch corridors. For example, airspace corridors for aviation activities may look and operate differently from a potential space launch corridor, as the foundations for space launch safety account for collision and debris. In contrast, most aviation activities need only account for collision. From a space operator's perspective, request time and availability are important factors enabling rapid launch cadence. From an aviation perspective, advance notification of time, size, and duration of AHAs are integral to maintaining both aviation safety and airspace efficiency.

3. Nature of Information Request

The Department may use information obtained through this request to assist in, inform, and research potential locations for viable spaceport sites. The Department will also accept ideas for increasing launch cadence at existing U.S. commercial spaceport sites.

The Department requests that information be provided in a written statement. The Department may request additional information or presentations from responders depending upon the details of the responder's submission. Given the short timeframe for the Department's identification and characterization of potential sites, responders should assume that their written response is the best opportunity to provide input and not hold out for an in-person meeting with the Department.

4. Submittal Requests for RFI  ⁽³⁾

Interested members of the public, including aerospace industry stakeholders, are requested to submit information on the following:

Responder Information. Submit, as applicable:

• Name, address, and affiliation (company if appropriate);
• URL of company website (if applicable); and
• Point of contact, including telephone number and email address.

RFI Questions. Any interested member of the public, including any aerospace industry stakeholder, is invited to provide information responsive to the questions below. Responses will enable the Department to evaluate the best locations for new U.S. spaceports and assist the Department in establishing priority airspace for critical space launch corridors.

1. (Spaceport Location criteria) What strategic criteria should the Department use in evaluating new spaceport siting considerations?

• What geographic aspects matter most: proximity to the equator for prograde space launches, proximity to or separation from densely populated regions, or other factors?
• What logistical considerations should be evaluated, including ease of development and access, as well as impediments to be avoided?
• What unique considerations would there be with an island spaceport versus a site on the continental United States?

• What international equities should be considered with siting ( e.g., early overflight of foreign territory)?

• What should the primary safety considerations be for siting of any new spaceport, given the current public safety criteria of 1 × 10 ⁻⁴ casualties per operation?

2. (Existing Commercial Spaceports) Why are existing commercial spaceports underutilized?

• What Federal actions could be taken to increase orbital launches from existing commercial spaceports?
• Why haven't these underutilized spaceports developed into operational spaceports? Can the development of existing commercial spaceports be renewed?

3. (Previously Proposed Spaceports) Noting that the Department has not been involved in selecting or developing new spaceports in the past, several spaceport options have been previously considered. The Department would like input on these potential locations.

• Spaceport Shiloh, Florida. Space Florida proposed the construction and operation of the Shiloh Launch Complex on approximately 150 acres of undeveloped Federal land.
• Camden Spaceport, Georgia. Initially, a site considered by NASA for the Apollo program, planning progressed on Camden Spaceport until local stakeholders pushed back in 2022, ending site development. The County's current site license runs through December 2026.
• Puerto Rico Spaceport. Initially conceptualized in the 2012-2016 timeframe. Spaceport Puerto Rico was considered for light and medium launch vehicles.
• Space launch rigs. Space launch from converted oil rigs or custom-developed launch platforms.

4. (New Spaceport Location) The Department would like input on potential new locations and other options not identified specifically in this RFI.

• Where might a new U.S. vertical spaceport site be developed? Considering the factors identified in the Spaceport Licensing Primer and FAA regulations on launch sites in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 420, what changes might the Department make to encourage, facilitate, and promote development of a new spaceport site?
• Referring to the Spaceport Licensing Primer, what can the Department do to address the four challenging areas in spaceport development: (1) stakeholder engagement, (2) co-location with an airport, (3) environmental issues, and (4) airspace integration?
• Are there locations where the necessary infrastructure already exists for establishing a spaceport? For example, transport links such as wide-load highways or deep-water ports.
• What are the primary costs associated with developing a new spaceport?
• What strategies and technologies could be utilized to expedite construction?
• What are the supply chain constraints for construction, and how could they be addressed?
• What energy constraints exist, and how could they be addressed?
• What funding constraints exist, and how could they be addressed, to include alternative financing structures? How could public-private partnerships best be leveraged to finance spaceport development?

5. (Critical Space Launch Corridors) As the Department develops critical space launch corridors, what expectations do the space and aviation industries have regarding prioritization?

• How can the implementation of space launch corridors limit adverse impacts to airspace efficiency and the continued growth of the air transportation industry?
• What benefits to either or both industries would be granted when utilizing critical space launch corridors?
• What adjustments to operational and coordination timelines might be made when utilizing critical space launch corridors?
• Assuming standard existing procedures apply for activities that do not use critical space launch corridors, what activities would qualify for activation of the critical space launch corridors?
• How would the payload characterization (commercial, civil, or national security) impact the development or use of critical space launch corridors?
• What spaceports would most benefit from critical space launch corridors: all spaceports, major use spaceports, or only Federal spaceports?
• What governance structures would enhance the use of critical launch corridors, to include fees, operational restrictions, or other oversight methodologies?
• What limitations or emergency measures would need to be established to ensure public safety during commercial space activities and continued aviation safety for the flying public?
• What environmental concerns should be considered in determining where to locate, and when to activate, critical space launch corridors?
• How would the identification of a corridor as a "critical space launch corridor," which is not a current term in AHAs, increase awareness, streamline timing requirements, and enable greater launch cadence?

6. What questions are we not asking that are relevant to this effort? Please identify those questions and provide responses.

5. Timeline and Delivery of Submittal

See also the DATES section of this notice. Written comments, including all supporting information and documents, are requested on or before October 26, 2026.

Submittals: Interested parties must respond in writing. Responses to the RFI questions should be concise and reasonable in length.

The Department may request clarification of responses directly related to this RFI through direct contact with respondents. Respondents must identify and clearly mark any proprietary information contained in their submissions and must be prepared to provide justification for confidential treatment to the Department of such designations if requested. This proprietary information will be treated confidentially by the Department; however, nothing alters the Department's obligations under existing law, including any duties owed by the Department under the Freedom of Information Act. The Department may need the Respondent's justification of the proprietary designation to support withholding the documents or information from public disclosure upon request.

⁽¹⁾  90 FR 60537.

⁽²⁾ https://www.faa.gov/space/office_spaceports/Spaceport-Licensing-Primer.pdf.

⁽³⁾  This is not a Screening Information Request or Request for Offers. The Department is not seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals related to this activity. The Department will not pay for any information received or costs incurred in preparing a response to this request. Any costs associated with a submittal are solely at the interested vendor's expense. The Department reserves the right to communicate with any, some, or none of the respondents. Any submissions will remain with the Department for its use and will not be returned to the respondents.