Overview
- Space Launch Delta 45 commander Col. Brian Chatman calls the cadence the new normal and projects roughly 100 to 115 launches next year.
- Congress approved $1.3 billion through 2028 for the Spaceport of the Future, and the Space Force selected Amentum for a 10-year, up-to-$4 billion contract spanning the Eastern and Western Ranges.
- Operational fixes are underway, including relocating offices out of active launch complexes and adding digital scanners at security checkpoints to speed inspections and commodity flows.
- Wider use of Automated Flight Termination Systems is shortening range reset times, yet cross-provider scheduling remains complex due to differing radio frequencies, propellants and ground support needs.
- The range and Kennedy Space Center are preparing for SpaceX Starship operations targeted for early to mid-2026, with build-outs and safety analyses progressing.