The US government is asking the space community to weigh in on bringing launch and recovery operations offshore.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published an RFI on Wednesday seeking information, to consider building or repurposing infrastructure on the Outer Continental Shelf, for space launch and reentry.
Zoom out: The RFI is in response to a December 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump that ordered federal agencies to find ways to support the US commercial space sector.
Add to that growing congestion at the nation’s launch pads as the number of rockets taking off increases dramatically—and the strategic vulnerability of having only a few access points to space—and it’s no surprise the government is looking for unconventional solutions.
“Offshore launch, reentry, and recovery infrastructure could expand operational flexibility, increase capacity, reduce constraints on growing launch demand, and strengthen the nation’s commercial and national security space capabilities,” Matt Giacona, the acting director of BOEM, said in a statement.
More details: The government is considering whether it could repurpose existing offshore oil- and gas-drilling structures for space operations, or build new hardware, according to the RFI.
The bureau is transparent that there’s a lot it doesn’t know here, especially when it comes to legal restrictions and what other agencies would be part of the decision=making and execution. That’s why it’s asking for input from industry, academia, local and federal government offices, and the public.
It’s looking to learn more about:
- Technical and environmental considerations;
- US and international guidelines;
- Potential overlap with other offshore entities.
On the clock: Comments are due back to the bureau by Aug. 7.
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