Marketplace®
Every story is an economic story
Aug 18, 2026

As space launches increase, there aren't enough spaceports

The FAA has proposed waiving some environmental requirements for space launch.

Download
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and satellite payload launch in Florida in 2023.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and satellite payload launch in Florida in 2023.
Robert Michaud/Getty Images

Subscribe:

More than 100 rockets took off into orbit from Florida’s Space Coast last year — a new record. And with more rockets taking flight each year, the availability of launch sites is becoming a bottleneck for the growing space industry.

The Federal Aviation Administration wants to make it easier for space companies to build new spaceports to make way for the increasing number of rocket launches. The agency has proposed waiving some environmental requirements for space launch. Daniel Ackerman has been reporting on the space industry as part of the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT.

More on this

“Space Environment Statistics” from Space Debris User Portal

“Artemis II and the rapid rise of a global space economy” from the Brookings Institution

“SpaceX plan for vast rocket launch site on Louisiana coast sparks backlash” from The Guardian

“US agency proposes accelerated approval for commercial space missions” from Reuters

The Team