U.S. Department of Transportation forms SPACE Task Force

The U.S. Department of Transportation has established the Space Policy Administration, Coordination, and Execution (SPACE) Task Force to implement the National Space Transportation Policy. Chaired by Under Secretary Ryan McCormack, the task force will coordinate efforts across various agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, to streamline commercial space transportation, expand launch infrastructure, and integrate reentry operations with U.S. airspace management.

The initiative responds to a projected surge in commercial activity. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy noted that in 2025, the U.S. accounted for 217 of the 329 commercial space launches worldwide, with projections suggesting up to 10,000 FAA-licensed launches and reentries annually by 2035. The policy aims to increase launch capacity, improve access to federal facilities, and modernize air traffic control to include space launch corridors.

Additionally, the Office of Space Commerce has launched a Space Commerce Certification pilot. This program invites U.S. companies to submit novel mission concepts to work through integrated regulatory and commercial frameworks. The broader National Space Transportation Policy also sets a goal for U.S. ranges to support more than 1,000 launches and reentries annually by 2030.