Illustration of a Seagate Space offshore launch platform that would support uncrewed launches of liquid-fueled orbital rockets. Credit: Seagate Space
TOKYO — An office of the U.S. Department of the Interior is seeking information on concepts for performing offshore orbital launches, part of a broader effort by the federal government to reduce congestion at existing spaceports.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM, published a request for information July 7 seeking details from companies and organizations interested in conducting space launch activity from the outer continental shelf, offshore regions within the exclusive economic zone of the United States.
That region extends up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) offshore and is managed by the Interior Department for use in oil and gas drilling and for wind farms. The department also issues leases for “other authorized marine-related purposes” that could extend to offshore launch facilities.
“BOEM is considering whether these concepts may encompass the repurposing of existing offshore infrastructure,” such as former oil and gas rigs, the agency stated in the RFI, “as well as the potential development of new, purpose-built offshore facilities dedicated to commercial space launches, space reentry, and related activities.”
