A memorandum signed by U.S. President Donald Trump sets a target of increasing the number of space launches and reentries from U.S. territory to more than 1,000 a year by 2030.
The White House said in a fact sheet that the measure offers a more comprehensive approach to replace the outdated National Space Transportation Policy. The new policy seeks to expand access to space, increase private-sector participation and strengthen the infrastructure of the U.S. space transportation industry.
The private sector’s role in launch infrastructure
The memorandum directs federal agencies to work with private companies to develop space transportation infrastructure. It calls for speeding up permitting and environmental reviews, planning launch sites and improving the use of existing sites.
The document also calls for identifying new launch and reentry sites and establishing priority airspace for space launch corridors.
Commercial transportation to the Moon and Mars
The memorandum directs the NASA administrator to facilitate commercial transportation to and from the Moon. Supporting commercial robotic missions to Mars is also among the measure’s objectives.
The document also calls for exploring commercial options to transport people to Mars and bring them back.
Security and economic goals of increasing capacity
The White House aims to strengthen U.S. national and economic security through greater launch capacity. The measure is intended to create new opportunities for commercial space companies and aerospace manufacturers.
The increased capacity is expected to support military readiness, satellite communications, navigation and timing services, weather forecasting and other space-based technologies.
Ridvan Sezer | Editor-in-Chief
