Trump Orders 1,000 Rocket Launches Per Year by 2030, Fivefold Increase From Current Levels

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum Thursday directing federal agencies to significantly expand commercial rocket activity, with a goal of at least 1,000 launches and returns per year by 2030, according to Reuters.

Last year's total was 178 launches—already 10 times the 2013 figure. Reaching 1,000 would represent roughly a fivefold increase from current levels.

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The memorandum directs agencies to consider establishing new launch and return sites on federal land and requires identifying a new federal return site within 90 days. Officials were also instructed to expedite permitting approvals, accelerate environmental reviews, and secure adequate wireless spectrum for launches, according to Reuters.

SpaceX Still Dominates the Market

Space Exploration Technologies dominates the current launch cadence and is most likely to benefit from any near-term surge.

SpaceX conducted 170 launches in 2025, deploying approximately 2,500 satellites. Its ambitions far exceed government targets—the company said in January it ultimately wants to build a constellation of 1 million satellites to help power AI data centers from orbit, and the FAA administrator said in May that SpaceX's goal is to reach 10,000 launches per year within five years.

Rocket Lab Seeks Larger Share

Rocket Lab offers a smaller but growing alternative. The company is known for frequent small-payload missions and could see incremental launch volume as agencies push for diversification beyond a single dominant supplier.

Faster permitting approvals and newly designated government sites would remove some barriers that have historically hindered new entrants.

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios framed the memorandum as a "commercial-first approach," tying launch targets to broader lunar and Mars programs.

Moon Landing by 2028, Mars in Sight

Trump wants U.S. astronauts to return to the Moon by 2028 and establish initial lunar base elements by 2030. NASA has been directed to support commercial lunar transportation and commercial robotic Mars missions, while exploring pathways to eventually send humans there.

The memorandum also directs agencies to avoid competing with private launch providers unless national security or public safety requires it. Congress has pushed NASA to stay committed to the Artemis lunar program amid Trump officials floating a greater Mars focus earlier in their term.

Investors in SPCX and RKLB may watch closely for follow-through—the pace of permitting approvals and site announcements over the next 90 days could be the first real signal of whether this goal moves from memorandum to launchpad.