FAA Seeks Input on New Spaceports and Launch Airspace

The Federal Aviation Administration is seeking stakeholder input on where additional US launch capacity should be located and how “priority airspace” for critical space launch corridors should operate. The Request for Information is an early step in implementing the White House’s new National Space Transportation Policy.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The FAA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify new US spaceport locations and develop priority airspace for critical space launch corridors. Comments are due by October 26, 2026.
• These initiatives support the objectives of Executive Order 14369 and the 2026 National Space Transportation Policy, aiming to dramatically increase US launch capacity.

BACKGROUND

In December 2025, Executive Order 14369 set forth a comprehensive strategy for ensuring American space superiority by promoting space exploration, securing national security interests, and fostering a vibrant commercial space economy.

On August 20, the White House published its 2026 National Space Transportation Policy, which directs federal agencies to expand and modernize US space launch infrastructure, including through the identification of additional launch facilities and development of improved launch corridors. These measures respond to the rapid growth in US commercial space activity, which saw 217 of the 329 worldwide commercial launches in 2025.

The policy calls for US space transportation ranges to support more than 1,000 launches and reentries annually by 2030, while the Department of Transportation has said it expects FAA-licensed launches and reentries to reach 10,000 annually by 2035.

OVERVIEW OF THE FAA’S NEW INITIATIVES

The FAA’s RFI invites public and industry input on two principal issues: the criteria and possible locations for new US spaceports and the designation and management of priority airspace for critical space launch corridors.  

These initiatives seek to alleviate capacity constraints at existing federal launch sites, accommodate projected increases in launch cadence, and maintain US leadership in global space transportation.

Currently, three federal sites—Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Kennedy Space Center (both in Florida), and Vandenberg Space Force Base (California)—account for 83% of US launches.

Due to increasing launch demand straining these facilities and the risk of bottlenecks, the FAA is seeking information on strategic criteria for spaceport siting, including geographic, logistical, safety, and overflight of foreign countries, as well as feedback on underutilized commercial spaceports and previously discussed locations such as Spaceport Shiloh (Florida), Camden Spaceport (Georgia), Puerto Rico, and offshore launch platforms.

In parallel, the FAA is soliciting input on the creation of “priority airspace” to facilitate critical space launch corridors, which are intended to support faster, more frequent launches while minimizing disruptions to commercial aviation and maintaining safety standards.

The agency is especially interested in how critical launch corridors should be designed, governed, and activated and the operational and environmental implications of such designations.

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY IMPLICATIONS

The FAA’s RFI signals significant near-term opportunities and challenges for commercial space operators, infrastructure developers, aviation stakeholders, and investors. With the anticipated surge in launch cadence, existing federal launch ranges may soon be strained to accommodate demand, creating additional need for new spaceports and support infrastructure.

The FAA’s solicitation of input on funding mechanisms, particularly public-private partnerships, is consistent with the administration’s broader policy directing federal agencies to incentivize co-development of launch and reentry infrastructure, including through leases, commercial investment, and public-private partnerships.

The introduction of priority airspace for critical space launch corridors is expected to require further coordination between space and aviation industries to balance launch frequency with airspace efficiency and safety. The RFI invites stakeholders to help shape governance structures, operational protocols, and environmental safeguards for these corridors.

WHAT TO CONSIDER

Stakeholders in the commercial space and aviation sectors should timely review the FAA’s RFI and consider submitting input on both spaceport siting and airspace management. Those with interests in launch operations, infrastructure development, or airspace management may find new opportunities as federal policy shifts toward expanding capacity and modernizing processes.

Aviation and commercial space stakeholders may want to engage proactively with the FAA in connection with this process to further enhance air traffic efficiency and safety.

HOW WE CAN HELP

Morgan Lewis’s multidisciplinary aviation and space teams are well positioned to assist companies considering submitting comments, taking into account the complex regulatory, technology, and commercial environment for commercial space.