The Trump administration is exploring the possibility of allowing space launches and re-entry operations off the coasts of the United States. On July 7, 2026, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued a notice indicating it is considering the use of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf—submerged lands along U.S. coastlines—for offshore space activities.

These offshore areas have traditionally been used for oil and gas drilling and offshore wind development. BOEM's notice states it will evaluate whether existing infrastructure, such as oil and gas drilling platforms, could be repurposed for space launches and re-entry, or if new platforms might be constructed specifically for these purposes.

This initiative is linked to the executive order titled “Ensuring American Space Superiority,” which aims to expand the United States' presence in space. However, the notice issued by BOEM was a Request for Information and does not constitute the formal start of any rocket launch program.

Environmental concerns have been raised in response to the proposal. Miyoko Sakashita, oceans program director at the Center for Biological Diversity, stated, “Space junk and rocket explosions have already been trashing our coastal wildlife refuges and now Trump wants to expand that destruction farther into our oceans.” She further criticized the plan as potentially enabling the oil industry to leave outdated infrastructure in the ocean, adding that marine wildlife deserves better protection.

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