SPACE INDEX COMPANIES INSIGHTS SECTORS PRODUCTS NEWS BLOG ANSWERS RESEARCH ABOUT FOR COMPANIES BUILD / 2026.06.04

Which countries have active spaceports?

Roughly fifteen countries operate active orbital-launch spaceports as of 2026: the United States, Russia, China, India, Japan, the European space agencies via French Guiana, Iran, Israel, North Korea, South Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (Cornwall, suborbital), and emerging facilities in the UAE, Sweden, and Norway. Many more host suborbital or sounding-rocket facilities.

A “spaceport” is the loose name for a launch facility. The orbital-launch club is small. Putting a payload into orbit requires a long-range range-safety zone, specialised infrastructure, and either a state actor or a heavily licensed commercial operator. The number of countries with active orbital pads as of 2026 sits in the low double digits.

Orbital-launch countries

The unambiguous list of states that have launched something to orbit from their own territory (or sovereign overseas territory):

  • United States: Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center, Vandenberg, Wallops, Kodiak (Pacific Spaceport Complex), Boca Chica (Starbase), Mojave (suborbital with orbital ambition)
  • Russia: Baikonur (leased in Kazakhstan), Plesetsk, Vostochny
  • China: Jiuquan, Taiyuan, Xichang, Wenchang
  • India: Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota
  • Japan: Tanegashima, Uchinoura
  • France / ESA: Guiana Space Centre at Kourou
  • Iran: Imam Khomeini Spaceport, Semnan
  • Israel: Palmachim
  • North Korea: Sohae
  • South Korea: Naro
  • New Zealand: Mahia (Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1)
  • United Kingdom: SaxaVord, Spaceport Cornwall (commercial, partially active)

The expanding map

The 2020s saw a surge of new orbital sites under construction:

  • Sweden: Esrange Space Center transitioned from sounding-rocket to small-orbital infrastructure
  • Norway: Andøya Spaceport
  • UAE: pursuing crewed launch via partnerships
  • Australia: Bowen, Whalers Way, Arnhem Space Centre in various stages
  • Brazil: Alcântara, hosting commercial launches under bilateral safeguard agreements

Why the count fluctuates

A site is sometimes called “active” if it has launched recently, sometimes only if it’s fully commercial, sometimes only if a launch is scheduled within twelve months. Sites can go dormant (Sea Launch and Kodiak both went years between flights) and re-activate. Suborbital sites (white sands, blue origin’s launch site one, various australian sounding-rocket ranges) outnumber orbital ones by an order of magnitude but rarely make news.

For the companies operating these sites and the launches they host, see the /insights/launches live rollup and the /sectors/launch-services directory.

COMPANIES MENTIONED44
  • Agnikul Cosmos Designs, manufactures, and launches small-lift orbital rockets powered by single-piece 3D-printed semi-cryogenic engines for dedicated small-satellite missions
  • Arianespace Operates Ariane 6 and Vega C launch vehicles from the Guiana Space Centre, serving European institutional and global commercial satellite customers
  • Astra Space Develops small-lift launch vehicles with mobile launch infrastructure and manufactures Hall-effect electric propulsion systems for satellite constellations
  • Avio Manufactures solid and liquid propulsion systems for European space launchers and produces the Vega family of small-lift launch vehicles
  • Blue Origin Develops reusable heavy-lift launch vehicles, rocket engines, lunar landers, in-space logistics platforms, and satellite communications constellations
  • CAS Space Develops solid and liquid-propellant launch vehicles for dedicated and rideshare satellite missions, suborbital scientific experimentation, and space tourism
  • China National Space Administration Governs China's civil space programs, oversees lunar and planetary exploration missions, and coordinates international space cooperation
  • Deep Blue Aerospace Develops reusable liquid-fueled launch vehicles and kerosene rocket engines for commercial orbital and suborbital launch services
  • European Space Agency Intergovernmental agency coordinating European space programs across science, Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications, and human spaceflight
  • ExPace Operates the Kuaizhou family of solid-fueled small-lift launch vehicles for commercial and government satellite delivery to low Earth orbit
  • Exolaunch Provides rideshare launch services, mission management, and satellite deployment hardware for smallsats and CubeSats across multiple launch vehicles worldwide
  • Firefly Aerospace Designs and operates small- and medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and in-space maneuvering vehicles for defense, civil, and commercial space missions
  • Galactic Energy Develops and operates solid-propellant orbital launch vehicles and liquid-fueled reusable rockets for commercial satellite constellation deployment
  • Gilmour Space Technologies Develops hybrid-propellant launch vehicles, a modular satellite bus, and operates Australia's first licensed orbital spaceport
  • HyImpulse Technologies Develops suborbital and orbital launch vehicles and an orbital transfer vehicle using paraffin-based hybrid rocket propulsion technology
  • ISRO India's national space agency developing launch vehicles, satellites, and interplanetary missions for societal benefit
  • Innospace Hybrid rocket-powered small satellite launch vehicles delivering low-cost, customized rapid access to sun-synchronous and low Earth orbit
  • Isar Aerospace Designs, manufactures, and operates the Spectrum launch vehicle for dedicated and rideshare small satellite missions from European spaceports
  • JAXA Japan's national space agency conducting launch operations, satellite development, Earth observation, asteroid exploration, and human spaceflight research
  • LandSpace Designs, manufactures, and operates liquid oxygen-methane launch vehicles for commercial satellite deployment and space station cargo missions
  • Long Wall Develops containerized missile defense systems, low-cost liquid boosters for flight testing, and rapidly deployable ground support equipment
  • MaiaSpace Develops a partially reusable methane-fueled mini-launcher for small satellite delivery to low Earth and sun-synchronous orbits
  • NASA Conducts civilian space exploration, aeronautics research, and space science across human spaceflight, robotic missions, and Earth observation programs
  • OneSpace Develops small solid-fuel launch vehicles and rocket propulsion systems, and provides rapid-response commercial launch services for microsatellite and nanosatellite customers
  • Orbex Developed the Prime micro-launch vehicle for dedicated small satellite missions to LEO, using bio-propane fuel and 3D-printed engines
  • Orienspace Designs and manufactures solid and liquid-fueled launch vehicles for commercial satellite deployment via sea and land launches
  • PLD Space Develops reusable launch vehicles for dedicated and rideshare small satellite missions, with in-house liquid propulsion and vertically integrated manufacturing
  • Perigee Aerospace Develops small-lift methane-fueled launch vehicles and manufactures liquid propulsion systems, composite tanks, and satellite thrusters
  • Phantom Space Develops mass-manufactured small-lift launch vehicles, modular satellite systems, and an orbital data center constellation for in-space computing
  • Relativity Space Manufactures reusable medium-to-heavy-lift launch vehicles using large-scale metal 3D printing and autonomous robotics
  • Rocket Factory Augsburg Designs small-lift orbital launch vehicles using oxygen-rich staged combustion engines and serial manufacturing techniques from commercial industries
  • Rocket Lab USA
  • Skyroot Aerospace Develops small-lift launch vehicles for the small satellite market using solid-fuel boosters, 3D-printed liquid engines, and cryogenic propulsion
  • Skyrora Designs and manufactures small-lift orbital launch vehicles and orbital transfer vehicles from Scotland, using 3D-printed engines and Ecosene fuel derived from waste plastic
  • Southern Launch Operates two spaceports in South Australia providing orbital launch, suborbital testing, orbital re-entry, and range services for domestic and international customers
  • Space One Develops and launches the solid-fuel KAIROS small satellite launch vehicle from its private Spaceport Kii facility in southern Japan
  • Space Pioneer Develops reusable kerosene-liquid oxygen launch vehicles and rocket engines for commercial and government satellite deployment missions
  • SpaceX
  • Spaceport Cornwall UK's first licensed spaceport enabling horizontal small satellite launches and hosting advanced aerospace testing from Cornwall Airport Newquay
  • SpinLaunch Builds kinetic launch systems using ground-based centrifuges and develops the Meridian LEO broadband constellation for enterprise communications
  • Stoke Space Develops fully and rapidly reusable medium-lift launch vehicles for orbital access, in-space mobility, and cargo return
  • Swedish Space Corporation Provides global ground station networks, satellite launch services, sounding rocket and balloon systems, and spacecraft engineering from Esrange Space Center and stations on six continents
  • United Launch Alliance Manufactures and operates the Vulcan Centaur and Atlas V launch vehicles for national security, NASA, and commercial customers
  • i-Space Develops solid and liquid-fueled launch vehicles including the Hyperbola series, with China's first privately-built orbital rocket and a reusable methane rocket in development
FREQUENTLY ASKED

Which countries have active spaceports?

Roughly fifteen countries operate active orbital-launch spaceports as of 2026: the United States, Russia, China, India, Japan, the European space agencies via French Guiana, Iran, Israel, North Korea, South Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (Cornwall, suborbital), and emerging facilities in the UAE, Sweden, and Norway. Many more host suborbital or sounding-rocket facilities.