U.S. spaceports have a critical role in the growing global commercial space transportation industry. The Office of Spaceports was established by the 2018 FAA Authorization Act to be a centralized policy office within the FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation. The FAA Office of Spaceports is responsible for development of policies that promote infrastructure improvements and strengthen the competitiveness of US spaceports, supporting launch and reentry site licensing activities, providing technical assistance and guidance to existing and proposed new spaceports, and the domestic and global promotion of US spaceports.
Our Mission
To enable the safest, most efficient network of launch and reentry spaceports in the world.
Our Vision
To advance a robust, innovative national system of spaceports supporting the U.S. as a global leader in the commercial space transportation industry.
Our Strategic Goals
- Strengthen the competiveness of U.S. commercial space transportation infrastructure and launch services encouraging innovation and strategic partnerships for spaceport future planning and development
- Modernize the regulation of U.S. launch and reentry sites to promote increased public safety for the growing commercial space transportation industry.
- Collaborate with countries developing launch or reentry sites to promulgate U.S. commercial space transportation regulations and best practices for safety during launch and reentry activities to support the U.S. as a global leader in the commercial space transportation industry.
National Spaceport Intergovernmental Working Group (NSIWG)
Our nation’s welfare depends on our ability to access space, and the freedom to operate and explore beyond Earth. Regular access to space has been made possible through a rapidly growing space industry, supported by a number of federal launch ranges, state-owned spaceports and privately-owned launch sites.
Recognizing the importance of space for the economic strength and national security of the United States, there is a need for a comprehensive national spaceport strategy to both maximize our space transportation capabilities and ensure the resiliency of our space transportation network. Building this strategy will require a dedicated team of experts representing multiple federal government agencies, state governments, industry and academia.
To this end, the FAA is leading a federal government working group to develop a National Spaceport Strategy to leverage the full network of domestic spaceports to the benefit of the space transportation industry and the nation as a whole. The strategy will consist of three primary areas of interest: promote innovation and investment in spaceport infrastructure; establish consistency in operations and standards at the nation’s spaceports; and promote cooperation and partnerships between federal and commercial spaceports.
Other members of this group include the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, the U.S. Space Force and NASA.
Charter for the National Spaceport Interagency Working Group
U.S. Spaceports
Additional Spaceport Detail by State
Contact
Contact the Office of Spaceports
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