NASA space centers prevented the risk of being overloaded
The largest space centers in the US could face serious overload by the end of the next decade. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
According to a new report from NASA's Office of Inspector General, the sharp increase in the number of rockets being launched into space is limiting existing infrastructure capabilities. This situation risks hindering the implementation of both government and private space programs.
Ixbt.com reports that the document emphasizes that the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia have begun to lag behind current development rates.
According to NASA specialists' forecasts, the Wallops spaceport will reach its maximum throughput capacity by 2028, and the Kennedy center by 2029. This implies that queues and delays will arise when planning space flights.
The number of flights will more than double. Looking at the figures, the number of flights served by the Kennedy Space Center is expected to increase from 109 in 2025 to 268 by 2030.
At the Wallops facility, the number of annual flights is predicted to increase from 17 to 44 over the same period. Such a growth rate will create unprecedented pressure on existing technical facilities and service personnel.
The main load is coming not only from government orders but also from the private sector. For example, Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin company plans to launch the New Glenn rocket more than 50 times a year by 2030.
After 2035, the goal is to increase this figure to up to 120 per year. Such massive plans are far beyond the capabilities of current launch pads.
According to Ixbt.com, industry leaders, including not only NASA but also leading companies like SpaceX and United Launch Alliance, have warned several times that the US space infrastructure is not ready for such rapid growth. While rocket technology is developing rapidly, the fact that launch pads and ground support systems remain at the technical level of the last century is worrying industry experts.
The NASA report outlines several ways to overcome the crisis. According to agency experts, the following measures are necessary to rectify the situation:
Large-scale modernization of existing spaceports. Construction of new launch pads and expansion of existing ones.
Investing in infrastructure development in cooperation with private companies. If these measures are not taken in time, the US leadership in the global market for space exploration and commercial flights could be at risk.
At a time when the space race has entered a new stage, ground infrastructure is becoming the weakest link.
