Limited US Spaceports Threaten to Delay Launches
According to a report by “The Wall Street Journal” published on Sunday, the limited number of spaceports in the United States threatens to cause congestion and delays in rocket launches.
As noted by the newspaper, nearly all American launches are executed from just three spaceports, located in Florida and California. This concentration of launch facilities could lead to significant bottlenecks, particularly as the demand for space access grows.
In 2023, the US achieved a record high of 145 rocket launches, with the vast majority (134) conducted by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The Wall Street Journal points out that such an intense volume of launches, potentially compounded by weather-related delays, might result in critical cargo not reaching orbit on time. In response, companies are now looking for alternatives to these primary spaceports.
Consequently, the spaceport on Kodiak Island, Alaska, is currently working to secure a license for up to 25 annual launches. This move is particularly aimed at accommodating smaller companies that are more affected by launch delays.
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