US President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum aimed at significantly expanding commercial space activities within the country. The key objective of the document is to ensure at least 1,000 space launches and atmospheric re-entries annually by 2030. For comparison: according to Reuters, 178 launches were carried out last year, already a tenfold increase over 2013 figures, with Elon Musk’s SpaceX dominating the sector. Thus, the stated goal implies a multiple acceleration of the pace the US has been building over the past decade.
Federal lands for launch sites
Aside from the quantitative growth in flight numbers, the memorandum directs government agencies to consider using federal lands as new launch sites. This should alleviate infrastructure constraints and expand the geography of launch complexes beyond traditional spaceports, which is critical for achieving the target launch frequency.
Moon program and course to Mars
A separate section of the document is dedicated to deep space missions. Trump wants to return American astronauts to the Moon by 2028. NASA is instructed to facilitate commercial delivery to the Moon and commercial robotic access to Mars, as well as explore commercial pathways for sending humans to Mars. White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios explained that the new policy assumes “an approach primarily focused on commercial activity, enabling Americans to land on the Moon by 2028 and establish the first elements of a lunar base by 2030”.
Commercial priority and agency roles
The memorandum enshrines the principle that federal agencies must refrain from conducting government space transportation operations that “impede, inhibit, or compete with US commercial space activities,” except where required for public or national security purposes. Kratsios called the new policy appropriate for a “moment of explosive growth” and positioning America “as the leader of the next space era,” ensuring “rapid and reliable launch capabilities in the interest of national security”.
Context: from Artemis II to personal ambitions
The signing of the document occurs against the backdrop of an active phase of the lunar program. In early April, ahead of the Artemis II mission launch, Trump stated that America “dominates everywhere,” emphasizing the absolute leadership of the US in the economy, military power, and space exploration. After this mission, the President welcomed the crew at the White House, noting not only their courage but also his own chances for a space trip, adding both public and personal resonance to the memorandum.
