OPINION: US should invest in inland launch sites for space operations

As U.S. space operations grow, we face a bottleneck: the limited capacity of coastal spaceports. These launch sites, such as Cape Canaveral and Vandenburg, are becoming congested as their federally-funded infrastructure struggles to keep pace. Nearby communities face noise, sonic booms, environmental effects and airspace and ocean access concerns. Though over 90% of launches at these sites are reported as commercial, it’s the federal government that supports their operation.

It’s time to expand our national launch infrastructure. Inland orbital spaceports offer the capacity, resilience and strategic security that the future of U.S. space operations demands.

First, inland spaceports add needed launch capacity. As the number of orbital launches in the U.S. is expected to surpass 338 per year by 2028 (according to the Federal Aviation Administration), we cannot rely solely on traditional sites.

Second, inland launch boosts national resilience. Weather events, seismic activity, adversarial threats or a single catastrophic mishap could shut down a coastal range. Inland sites provide essential redundancy.

Third, inland launch enhances security. Remote inland sites can facilitate discreet, timely and varied launch schedules, making them well-suited for defense needs in an increasingly contested space domain.

Fourth, states, counties, cities and private companies are making significant investments in inland launch sites. The federal government and launch providers can build on this important progress.

At Spaceport America in New Mexico, we have demonstrated that inland spaceports are important for space development and operations. We currently provide access for vertical and horizontal launch capabilities (with reentry capabilities in progress) in a remote, sparsely-populated area. Nonetheless, like other inland sites, we remain underused due to lack of federal parity in funding and policy support.

However, unlocking inland launch capability will require advances in launch system design to meet the safety and risk standards necessary for public overflight. These could include increased redundancy, intelligent fail-safe abort systems, fuel dump capabilities, clean staging and support for developing horizontal launch systems.

But this possibility requires investment.

Today, safe, inland orbital launch development remains trapped in a “flight-proven paradox,” as launch providers prefer coastal infrastructure due to the near-total share of government and private investments. Instead of fostering inland launch development, the Department of Defense is considering foreign locations, which may cause costly security and logistical challenges as our tax dollars and technical expertise go overseas.

We've encountered this challenge before and know how to fix it.

In 1918, the U.S. government accelerated the aviation industry with airmail contracts and other support. It boosted commercial orbital capacity through funding with NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program and backed tactical launch experiments. When America needed strategic mobility in the air or in orbit, it invested accordingly.

We urge federal stakeholders to apply the same foresight for inland launches.

We need infrastructure investments, including some of the funding that coastal sites have long received. We require support for standardization and especially vehicle safety innovation, ensuring safe inland operations across diverse providers. We need DOD anchor missions: Regular payloads to establish cadence and demonstrate inland feasibility.

Additionally, we need a clear, national spaceport policy that recognizes inland sites as vital infrastructure.

This is a critical opportunity. Without investing in inland launch capabilities, we risk losing agility and encouraging U.S. launches overseas. With such investment, we can enhance national resilience, encourage innovation, foster multi-state economic growth and create a more secure, sovereign and sustainable space future.

Inland orbital launches are no longer a distant dream. Federal leadership now will decide whether the next chapter of U.S. space leadership is written only on our coasts or across the entire nation.