Trump signs memorandum to boost space transport capabilities

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (20/8) signed a memorandum on enhancing US space transport capabilities, with the goal of enabling more than 1,000 launches and re-entries per year within US territory by 2030.

The White House stated in a fact sheet that the memorandum aims to provide reliable, affordable and modern access to space transport services.

The memorandum directs federal agencies to encourage joint development of space transport infrastructure with private sector partners, facilitate commercial access to federal launch and re-entry sites, and accelerate facility permitting and environmental review processes.

The memorandum also calls for fair and transparent cost recovery policies for public services, commodities and infrastructure.

The memorandum directs the US Department of Transportation and the Department of the Interior, in cooperation with the Department of Defense and NASA, to identify locations for additional space transport infrastructure, including new launch and re-entry sites.

The document also calls for prioritising airspace for critical space launch corridors and integrating space transport activities into air traffic control modernisation efforts.

The memorandum directs the NASA administrator to facilitate commercial transport to and from the Moon, as well as commercial robotic access to Mars, and to explore commercial options for sending humans to Mars and returning them to Earth.