NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia is preparing for a major increase in the number of launches in the coming years, as Firefly Aerospace and Rocket Lab expand their operations at the site. During an industry day organized by NASA on August 12, officials and company representatives said it was time to invest in the infrastructure that will support launch operations and their workers.
Coleman McCord, director of launch site development at Firefly Aerospace, said the site could move from conducting a few orbital launches annually to one launch per week if plans proceed as hoped. Firefly intends to launch its small Alpha rocket and medium-class Eclipse vehicle from Wallops, beginning as early as 2027.
Expected Increase in Launch Frequency
A report issued by NASA’s Office of Inspector General in June projected that the number of launches from Wallops, including operations conducted from platforms operated by the Virginia Spaceport Authority, would rise from 17 operations in 2025 to 44 in 2030. This includes launches of suborbital rockets and Rocket Lab’s HASTE rocket, a suborbital version of the small Electron vehicle.
According to the report, Wallops does not face the same infrastructure challenges that emerged at Kennedy Space Center, where higher launch rates put pressure on roads, electrical grids and supplies of consumables, including propellants, at the center and the adjacent Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Congestion at Cape Canaveral was one reason Firefly and Rocket Lab chose Wallops.
But McCord said Firefly does not view Wallops merely as an outlet for easing pressure on Cape Canaveral, but as a primary launch site on the East Coast. Scott Bisset, deputy program manager for the MACH-TB 2.0 hypersonic testing program at Kratos Defense and Security, noted that Wallops has extensive experience in testing and launch operations, as well as the ability to handle a recurring operational tempo.
Updating Site Operations
The pressures resulting from increased launches will extend beyond launch pads and test-range components to include roads, wastewater treatment, backup power and the movement of equipment within the site. David Pierce, director of Wallops Flight Facility, said the facility is working to prepare for higher rates, including conducting “Lean Six Sigma” exercises with Rocket Lab to improve the efficiency of range operations. According to Pierce, these efforts helped halve the cost of supporting Rocket Lab.
Many platforms at Wallops are located very close together, increasing the importance of efficiently scheduling operations. Pierce said the distances between some platforms are measured in feet rather than miles, while a recent NASA restructuring that moved Wallops launch operations under the authority of Kennedy Space Center instead of Goddard Space Flight Center could help increase asset utilization, although the new relationship is still in its early stages.
Needs of the Surrounding Area
Growth requirements are not limited to the facility’s boundaries. Local officials warned that housing and social services represent a bottleneck to attracting and retaining workers in the area. Needs include child care, health care and everyday services, as well as more hotels and restaurants capable of serving teams working late shifts.
Officials also called for improved roads and transportation to connect Wallops with ports and airports and to handle increased traffic. These efforts require coordination among local governments in Virginia, where the facility is located, and Maryland, where a large portion of its workforce lives. Pierce believes that building a regional space ecosystem requires moving beyond the boundaries of the two states, while McCord said the availability of a workforce was an important factor in Firefly’s decision to choose Wallops.