US President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on Thursday aimed at dramatically boosting the number of commercial space launches in the country, which includes directing government agencies to evaluate potential new launch and re-entry sites on federal land. The White House is targeting at least 1,000 launches and re-entries per year by 2030, compared to 178 last year — a figure already ten times higher than in 2013 and driven largely by Elon Musk's SpaceX (SPCX.US).
The memorandum, which focuses on advancing the commercial space industry, calls on agencies to encourage joint development of space transportation infrastructure with private sector partners, accelerate licensing and environmental review processes, and ensure adequate radio frequency spectrum for space launches. Trump also aims to return US astronauts to the moon before 2028.
The directive instructs NASA to promote commercial transportation to the moon and commercial robotic exploration of Mars, while exploring commercial pathways for sending humans to the Red Planet. Michael Kratios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, stated that this new national space transportation policy "seizes this moment of explosive growth and positions America to lead the next space era." He added that the policy calls for a "commercial-first approach to ensure Americans reach the moon by 2028, establish initial lunar base elements by 2030, and provide rapid and resilient launch capabilities for national security."
Trump wants a new federal re-entry site selected within 90 days. He also wants agencies to avoid conducting US government space transportation activities that "exclude, hinder, or compete with American commercial space transportation activities," unless required for public safety or national security.
In May, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration noted that SpaceX aims to reach 10,000 launches per year within five years. SpaceX conducted 170 launches in 2025, deploying approximately 2,500 satellites. In January, SpaceX expressed interest in launching a constellation of 1 million satellites to power AI data centers with solar energy while orbiting the Earth.
Trump wants multiple cabinet departments to quickly identify future space launch and re-entry sites on government land and designate priority airspace for critical launch corridors. He also wants space transportation activities incorporated into the modernization of air traffic management.
Early in his second term, Trump has repeatedly mentioned sending missions to Mars. Musk, a major Trump donor who has made sending humans to Mars a priority for SpaceX, has previously served as a close advisor and influential "efficiency czar" in the administration. However, lawmakers have gradually shifted focus back to the moon, pressuring NASA to stick with its Artemis lunar program, which has already cost billions of dollars.
Trump's memorandum also directs federal agencies to consider, on a case-by-case basis, applications for launching commercial foreign space vehicles from US soil.
Comments