New CSF Report Sees Up To 7,000+ Satellites Launched Annually By Mid 2030’s, Highlights The Challenges With US Launch Infrastructure

2026-05-18 · Source: SpaceNews · Field: Transportation & Mobility — Aviation & Aerospace, Transportation Infrastructure, Space Policy & Governance · Depth: Intermediate, short

Summary

The Commercial Space Federation (CSF), in partnership with Rational Futures (RF), released *SCRUBBED: America's Launch Capacity Challenge*, a data-driven report assessing U.S. launch demand and infrastructure challenges. With over 180 launches from U.S. soil in 2025 already straining capacity, the report projects a need for up to 7,000+ annual launches by the mid-2030s, supporting 6,000 to 230,000 satellites per year depending on constellation development. Key findings highlight insufficient licensed launches for some vehicle types and bottlenecks at current spaceports due to process, sharing, and security issues. The report proposes actions for traditional sites, like central management and reduced evacuation zones, and suggests federal support for non-traditional sites, estimating infrastructure costs of approximately \$200 million per site for 10-20 annual orbital launches, as market forces alone are insufficient.

Key takeaway

For policymakers considering national space transportation policy, your immediate focus should be on addressing the impending U.S. launch capacity crisis. You must prioritize federal support for infrastructure investments at both traditional and non-traditional spaceports, as market forces alone will not meet the projected demand of 7,000+ annual launches. Implement a central management authority for existing sites and provide direct capital funding or anchor tenancy for new sites to ensure America's leadership in space.

Key insights

U.S. launch infrastructure faces severe capacity strain, requiring coordinated government and industry action beyond market forces.

Principles

• Market forces alone cannot solve launch capacity issues.
• Coordination is key for traditional launch sites.
• Federal support is vital for new spaceport development.

Method

The report constructs three demand scenarios using FCC filings, government budget data, and orbital mechanics modeling to assess launch capacity.

In practice

• Implement central management for traditional spaceports.
• Invest in improved flight safety tools for new sites.
• Update overflight regulations for non-traditional launches.

Topics

• Space Launch Capacity
• Commercial Space Industry
• Spaceport Infrastructure
• Satellite Constellations
• Space Policy
• Federal Space Funding

Best for: Policy Maker, Executive, Consultant

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by SpaceNews.