White House sets goal of 1,000 annual U.S. rocket launches by 2030

The White House released a policy Thursday directing federal agencies to expand launch and reentry infrastructure so that the United States can conduct more than 1,000 rocket launches and spacecraft returns each year by 2030. The plan calls for additional launch pads, military ranges, air-space corridors and regulatory updates, with commercial firms expected to handle much of the increased workload.

In fiscal year 2024 the Federal Aviation Administration licensed 148 commercial launches and reentries, a record level. Officials say the expansion reflects the growing reliance on satellite-based services such as GPS, weather forecasting, internet access and military communications.

The policy cites competition with China, which has been building its own launch sites and satellite constellations. A Pentagon report noted that China launched 67 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance satellites in 2024, bringing its total to more than 500.

"The ability to quickly launch replacement satellites could help the United States restore those networks if a space attack disrupts operations on the ground, at sea or in the air," a Pentagon official said.

The directive also asks the Department of Defense, NASA and the Transportation Department to identify ways to launch high-priority payloads within 48 hours of a request, and to develop a plan within 180 days for integrating launch and reentry management with air-traffic-control modernization.

The administration acknowledges that a higher launch cadence could affect commercial and private aviation, and it will designate priority airspace corridors for critical missions.