White House sets goal of 1,000 annual space launches by 2030

The White House has set a goal of conducting 1,000 space launches annually by 2030, according to a new National Space Transportation Policy memorandum. This policy, issued by the administration, aims to bolster U.S. launch infrastructure and streamline operations to accommodate the increased launch frequency.

Key responsibilities include developing federal range scheduling criteria within 180 days to optimize the use of range resources for commercial users. The Secretary of Transportation is tasked with identifying potential locations for additional launch facilities and integrating space launch management into airspace modernization efforts. Simultaneously, the Secretary of the Interior must pinpoint federal lands suitable for a designated federal land reentry site within 90 days.

The Secretary of Commerce must subsequently develop a comprehensive site development plan within 240 days, taking into account commercial access and infrastructure requirements. A crucial aspect of this policy is mandating that U.S. government payloads be launched on domestically manufactured vehicles, with exceptions for specific international agreements and certain scientific missions where no equivalent U.S. service exists.

The policy also prioritizes the use of commercial space transportation services, ensuring multiple avenues for deploying government payloads across various orbital regimes. It supersedes a previous directive from November 21, 2013, known as Presidential Policy Directive 26. The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology is tasked with coordinating with agencies to draft a space transportation industrial base strategy, promoting a competitive industry and enhancing workforce development programs.