MGood morning, it's Thursday, 6:01 — the Morning Brief.
CFirst story: the Space Force says the U.S. needs a third major launch range.
MOuter Space Today posted on X with the news.
MLieutenant General Philip Garrant confirmed an early planning team.
CGarrant runs Space Systems Command.
CThat's the command that buys our military launch systems.
MNo final location or funding decision yet.
CRight. This isn't a shovel-ready project.
CBut it's the clearest signal yet that two big ranges aren't enough.
MThose two are Florida and California.
MBoth are packed with military and commercial launches.
COne reply on X from Doc Jon says SpaceX is already planning ten pads in Louisiana.
MBut that's just for SpaceX.
CThe Space Force wants a complex for everyone.
MI'd want to see real launch demand before spending billions.
CThe Space Force doesn't ask for money on a hunch.
MIt's a planning team. We'll see how serious it gets.
MRelated: SpaceX might be quiet in Florida for a while.
CBrian Basson posted on X that launches are pausing for six weeks.
MThe claim says it's to prep Starship at Kennedy Space Center.
CHe calls it a launch drought after a record-breaking 2025.
MBasson says the last Falcon 9 from Florida has flown.
CBut the reason for the gap isn't confirmed.
MNo official word yet from SpaceX or the Space Force.
CSo that six-week claim is a rumor for now.
MIf it's for upgrades, it's routine.
CIf it drags on, then it's a problem.
MEither way, it feeds the third-range argument.
CTwo sites just aren't enough for everything coming.
MAnd here's the number behind that argument.
CJoe Hansen posted on X about Starship's last September launch.
MHe says one flight put more than forty tons into orbit.
CJoe Hansen says the other new rocket companies combined put about three tons in 2026 so far.
MThose figures are unverified.
CWe haven't seen official manifests.
MBut if the gap is even close, Starship is in a different league.
CIt's a cargo ship next to a fleet of speedboats.
MRocket Lab, Firefly, Blue Origin, Stoke Space and Relativity Space.
CThey're doing real work, just smaller.
MSmall launch has its place.
CBut heavy lift wins for the big constellations.
MThat's why the Space Force wants a third range.
CAnd why the Florida pause is the same story.
MWe'll wait for hard numbers before crowning anyone.
CBut the direction is pretty clear.