{"id":"1793268204585-tech-segment","slug":"space-force-wants-third-major-launch-range","title":"Space Force wants third major launch range","summary":"Space Systems Command chief Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant said the U.S. Space Force needs a third spaceport for medium/heavy launch by 2030, and the service has formed an early planning team to evaluate options; no final location or funding decision has been made.","publishedAt":"2026-10-29T10:03:24.585Z","channel":{"id":"tech","name":"Oncast Tech","language":"en"},"show":"Morning Brief","verification":{"status":"verified","leadVerdict":"TRUE","notes":"TRUE: Space Systems Command chief Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant said the U.S. Space Force needs a third spaceport for medium/heavy launch by 2030, and the service has formed an early planning team to evaluate options; no final location or funding decision has been made.\nSource: [airandspaceforces.com](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-third-launch-range-by-2030-garrant/) NAMES: Space Systems Command = the U.S. Space Force c (https://x.com/outerspacetoday/status/2113250839028449523)","claims":[{"verdict":"TRUE","summary":"Space Systems Command chief Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant said the U.S. Space Force needs a third spaceport for medium/heavy launch by 2030, and the service has formed an early planning team to evaluate options; no final location or funding decision has been made.","sourceName":"[airandspaceforces.com](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-third-launch-range-by-2030-garrant/) NAMES: Space Systems Command = the U.S. Space Force c","sourceUrl":"https://x.com/outerspacetoday/status/2113250839028449523","claim":"BREAKING: The U.S. Space Force says America needs a THIRD major rocket launch range by 2030 as military and commercial launch demand accelerates. Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, commander of Space Systems Command, confirmed that the service has formed a planning team to evaluate a new h","author":"Outer Space Today (@outerspacetoday)"}]},"sources":[{"url":"https://x.com/outerspacetoday/status/2113250839028449523","name":"[airandspaceforces.com](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-third-launch-range-by-2030-garrant/) NAMES: Space Systems Command = the U.S. Space Force c","kind":"x","verdict":"TRUE","author":"Outer Space Today (@outerspacetoday)"}],"url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1793268204585-tech-segment-space-force-wants-third-major-launch-range","listenUrl":"https://oncast.fm/c/tech","attribution":{"publisher":"Oncast","site":"https://oncast.fm","url":"https://oncast.fm/story/1793268204585-tech-segment-space-force-wants-third-major-launch-range","cite":"Cite https://oncast.fm/story/1793268204585-tech-segment-space-force-wants-third-major-launch-range and the original source links. Fact-check by Oncast (oncast.fm)."},"hostsSaid":[{"host":"Matilda","text":"Good morning, it's Thursday, 6:01 — the Morning Brief."},{"host":"Chris","text":"First story: the Space Force says the U.S. needs a third major launch range."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Outer Space Today posted on X with the news."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Lieutenant General Philip Garrant confirmed an early planning team."},{"host":"Chris","text":"Garrant runs Space Systems Command."},{"host":"Chris","text":"That's the command that buys our military launch systems."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"No final location or funding decision yet."},{"host":"Chris","text":"Right. This isn't a shovel-ready project."},{"host":"Chris","text":"But it's the clearest signal yet that two big ranges aren't enough."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Those two are Florida and California."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Both are packed with military and commercial launches."},{"host":"Chris","text":"One reply on X from Doc Jon says SpaceX is already planning ten pads in Louisiana."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"But that's just for SpaceX."},{"host":"Chris","text":"The Space Force wants a complex for everyone."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"I'd want to see real launch demand before spending billions."},{"host":"Chris","text":"The Space Force doesn't ask for money on a hunch."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"It's a planning team. We'll see how serious it gets."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Related: SpaceX might be quiet in Florida for a while."},{"host":"Chris","text":"Brian Basson posted on X that launches are pausing for six weeks."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"The claim says it's to prep Starship at Kennedy Space Center."},{"host":"Chris","text":"He calls it a launch drought after a record-breaking 2025."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Basson says the last Falcon 9 from Florida has flown."},{"host":"Chris","text":"But the reason for the gap isn't confirmed."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"No official word yet from SpaceX or the Space Force."},{"host":"Chris","text":"So that six-week claim is a rumor for now."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"If it's for upgrades, it's routine."},{"host":"Chris","text":"If it drags on, then it's a problem."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Either way, it feeds the third-range argument."},{"host":"Chris","text":"Two sites just aren't enough for everything coming."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"And here's the number behind that argument."},{"host":"Chris","text":"Joe Hansen posted on X about Starship's last September launch."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"He says one flight put more than forty tons into orbit."},{"host":"Chris","text":"Joe Hansen says the other new rocket companies combined put about three tons in 2026 so far."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Those figures are unverified."},{"host":"Chris","text":"We haven't seen official manifests."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"But if the gap is even close, Starship is in a different league."},{"host":"Chris","text":"It's a cargo ship next to a fleet of speedboats."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Rocket Lab, Firefly, Blue Origin, Stoke Space and Relativity Space."},{"host":"Chris","text":"They're doing real work, just smaller."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"Small launch has its place."},{"host":"Chris","text":"But heavy lift wins for the big constellations."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"That's why the Space Force wants a third range."},{"host":"Chris","text":"And why the Florida pause is the same story."},{"host":"Matilda","text":"We'll wait for hard numbers before crowning anyone."},{"host":"Chris","text":"But the direction is pretty clear."}]}