Overview

• President Trump signed a decree on August 14 directing agencies to ease administrative and environmental rules to ramp up private space launches.
• The decree tasks agencies with boosting U.S. private launch cadence to reinforce American market dominance by 2030.
• SpaceX, which carried out more than 130 launches in 2024, is poised to be a principal beneficiary in light of Elon Musk’s rapid-prototype Starship approach.
• Environmental and safety advocates warn the deregulatory push could endanger local communities, wildlife and ecosystems at U.S. launch sites.
• Critics cite conflict-of-interest risks following recent tensions between Trump and Musk and call for stronger oversight of private space contracts.