Trump orders push to expand US space launches to more than 1,000 a year by 2030

US President Donald Trump signed a new executive memorandum on Thursday designed to overhaul America's space transportation framework and significantly increase launch activity. The directive replaces the existing National Space Transportation Policy with a modernised strategy focused on enhancing access to space, encouraging private sector involvement, and reinforcing the domestic aerospace industrial base, according to a White House fact sheet.

Streamlining infrastructure and regulation

The order mandates federal agencies to collaborate closely with commercial space companies to develop transportation infrastructure, expedite permitting processes and environmental assessments, and optimise launch range scheduling. It also requires the identification of additional launch and reentry sites, alongside the designation of priority airspace corridors dedicated to space missions. These measures are intended to remove bureaucratic hurdles and accelerate the pace of US space operations.

Expanding horizons: Moon, Mars and beyond

The memorandum specifically directs NASA to facilitate commercial transportation services to the Moon, support robotic missions to Mars, and evaluate commercial options for human transport to the Red Planet. This ambitious vision signals a shift toward greater public-private partnership in deep-space exploration, potentially opening new frontiers for commercial enterprise beyond Earth's orbit.

National security and economic implications

The White House emphasised that expanding launch capacity is crucial for reinforcing both national and economic security. Increased access to space will enhance military readiness, improve satellite communications, navigation and timing services, and advance weather forecasting capabilities. By fostering a robust commercial space sector, the administration aims to secure American leadership in space while creating jobs and stimulating growth in aerospace manufacturing across the country.