Editing Spaceport

{{short description|Location used to launch and receive spacecraft}}
{{redirect-several|dab=no|Spaceport (museum)|List of launch complexes|Missile launch facility|List of rocket launch sites}}
{{Not to be confused with|Cosmodome}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
[[File:Baikonur Cosmodrome Soyuz launch pad.jpg|thumb|The [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]] ([[Gagarin's Start]] launch pad)]]
{{Spaceflight sidebar}}

A '''spaceport''' or '''cosmodrome''' is a site for launching or receiving [[spacecraft]], by analogy to a [[seaport]] for ships or an [[airport]] for aircraft. The word ''spaceport''—and even more so ''cosmodrome''—has traditionally referred to sites capable of launching spacecraft into [[Earth's orbit|Earth orbit]] or on interplanetary trajectories.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Roberts|first=Thomas G.|date=2019|title=Spaceports of the World|url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/spaceports-world|access-date=1 Jul 2020|website=Center for Strategic and International Studies|archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807113653/https://www.csis.org/analysis/spaceports-world|url-status=live}}</ref> However, rocket launch sites for [[Sub-orbital spaceflight|sub-orbital]] [[Sub-orbital spaceflight|spaceflights]] are also sometimes called spaceports, especially as new and proposed facilities for suborbital [[commercial spaceflight]] are often branded as "spaceports." [[Space station|Space stations]] and proposed future lunar bases are also sometimes referred to as spaceports, particularly when envisioned as nodes for further interplanetary travel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mars.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Moon-as-a-Spaceport/144266-19222|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141224105648/http://mars.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Moon-as-a-Spaceport/144266-19222|archive-date = 24 December 2014|title = Moon as a Spaceport - NASA's Mars Forum - by IdeaScale}}</ref>

Spaceports are evolving beyond traditional government-run complexes into multi-functional aerospace hubs, increasingly driven by [[private companies]] such as [[SpaceX]], [[Blue Origin]], and [[Virgin Galactic]]. A prominent example is [[SpaceX Starbase|Starbase]], a private spaceport operated by SpaceX in [[Boca Chica (Texas)|Boca Chica, Texas]]. Starbase serves as the primary development and launch site for [[SpaceX Starship|Starship]], a fully reusable spacecraft designed for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The facility includes rocket production, launch, and landing infrastructure, and in May 2025, it was officially incorporated as a [[municipality]] in Texas—marking the first time a spaceport has become its own city. Starbase is now both a spaceport and a small residential and industrial community, primarily supporting SpaceX operations.

The term [[rocket launch site]] refers more broadly to any facility from which rockets are launched. Such facilities typically include one or more [[Launch pad|launch pads]], often surrounded by a safety buffer called a rocket range or missile range, which includes the area rockets are expected to fly over and where components may land. These sites may also include [[Tracking station|tracking stations]] to monitor launch progress.<ref>[[Merritt Island Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network station]]</ref>

Major spaceports often feature multiple launch complexes, adapted for different [[launch vehicle]] types. For rockets using [[Liquid-propellant rocket|liquid propellants]], storage and sometimes production facilities are necessary, while [[Solid-propellant rocket|solid propellant]] operations often include on-site processing. Some spaceports also incorporate [[Runway|runways]] to support '''[[Horizontal Take-Off and Landing|horizontal takeoff and landing (HTHL)]]''' or '''horizontal takeoff and vertical landing (HTVL)''' vehicles.

In January 2025, traffic congestion was reported at U.S. rocket-launch sites due to the rising number of launches, primarily from companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic. Three sites in [[Florida]] and [[California]] currently handle most U.S. rocket launches.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maidenberg |first=Roshan Fernandez and Micah |title=There’s a Traffic Jam Forming at U.S. Rocket Launchpads |url=https://www.wsj.com/science/space-astronomy/rocket-launch-pads-texas-california-c180c7e5?mod=science_feat3_space-astronomy_pos1 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 141-1880, Peenemünde, Start einer V2.jpg|thumb|[[Peenemünde]], Germany, where the [[V-2 rocket|V-2]], the first rocket to reach space in June 1944, was launched]]
The first [[rocket]]s to reach space were [[V-2 rocket]]s launched from [[Peenemünde]], [[Germany]] in 1944 during [[World War II]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Space and astronomy: decade by decade |first=Marianne J. |last=Dyson |publisher=Infobase Publishing |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-8160-5536-4 |page=95}}</ref> After the war, 70 complete V-2 rockets were brought to [[White Sands Missile Range|White Sands]] for test launches, with 47 of them reaching altitudes between 100&nbsp;km and 213&nbsp;km.<ref>Ernst Stuhlinger, Enabling technology for space transportation (The Century of Space Science, page 66, Kluwer, {{ISBN|0-7923-7196-8}})</ref>

The world's first spaceport for orbital and human launches, the [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]] in southern [[Kazakhstan]], started as a Soviet military rocket range in 1955. It achieved the first orbital flight ([[Sputnik 1]]) in October 1957.  The exact location of the cosmodrome was initially held secret. Guesses to its location were misdirected by a name in common with a mining town 320&nbsp;km away. The position became known in 1957 outside the Soviet Union only after [[Lockheed U-2|U-2]] planes had identified the site by following railway lines in the [[Kazakh SSR]], although Soviet authorities did not confirm the location for decades.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.russianspaceweb.com/baikonur.html|title=Baikonur Cosmodrome (NIIP-5/GIK-5)|website=www.russianspaceweb.com|access-date=24 December 2010|archive-date=8 February 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030208011330/http://www.russianspaceweb.com/baikonur.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Baikonur Cosmodrome achieved the first launch of a human into space ([[Yuri Gagarin]]) in 1961. The launch complex used, Site 1, has reached a special symbolic significance and is commonly called [[Gagarin's Start]]. Baikonur was the primary Soviet cosmodrome, and is still frequently used by Russia under a lease arrangement with Kazakhstan.

In response to the early Soviet successes, the United States built up a major spaceport complex at Cape Canaveral in Florida. A large number of uncrewed flights, as well as the early human flights, were carried out at [[Cape Canaveral Space Force Station]]. For the Apollo programme, an adjacent spaceport, [[Kennedy Space Center]], was constructed, and achieved the first crewed mission to the lunar surface ([[Apollo 11]]) in July 1969. It was the base for all [[Space Shuttle]] launches and most of their runway landings. For details on the launch complexes of the two spaceports, see [[List of Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island launch sites]].

The [[Guiana Space Centre]] in Kourou, French Guiana, is France's spaceport, with satellite launches that benefit from the location 5 degrees north of the equator.

In October 2003 the [[Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center]] achieved the first Chinese human spaceflight.

Breaking with tradition, in June 2004 on a runway at [[Mojave Air and Space Port]], California, a human was for the first time launched to space in a [[Private spaceflight|privately]] funded, suborbital spaceflight, that was intended to pave the way for future commercial spaceflights. The spacecraft, [[SpaceShipOne]], was launched by a carrier airplane taking off horizontally.

At Cape Canaveral, [[SpaceX]] in 2015 made the first successful landing and recovery of a first stage used in a vertical satellite launch.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/12/21/10640306/spacex-elon-musk-rocket-landing-success |title=SpaceX successfully landed its Falcon 9 rocket after launching it to space |work=[[The Verge]] |first=Loren |last=Grush |date=December 21, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2016 |archive-date=28 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628014841/https://www.theverge.com/2015/12/21/10640306/spacex-elon-musk-rocket-landing-success |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Location ==
Rockets can most easily reach satellite orbits if launched near the [[equator]] in an easterly direction, as this maximizes use of the [[Earth's rotation]]al speed (465&nbsp;m/s at the equator). Such launches also provide a desirable orientation for arriving at a [[geostationary orbit]]. For [[polar orbit]]s and [[Molniya orbit]]s this does not apply.

In principle, advantages of high altitude launch are reduced vertical distance to travel and a thinner atmosphere for the rocket to penetrate. However, altitude of the launch site is not a driving factor in spaceport placement because most of the [[delta-v]] for a launch is spent on achieving the required horizontal [[orbital speed]]. The small gain from a few kilometers of extra altitude does not usually off-set the logistical costs of ground transport in mountainous terrain.

Many spaceports have been placed at existing military installations, such as [[intercontinental ballistic missile]] ranges, which are not always physically ideal sites for launch.

A rocket launch site is built as far as possible away from major population centers in order to not inconvenience their inhabitants with [[noise pollution]] and other undesired industrial activity, as well as mitigate risk to bystanders should a rocket experience a catastrophic failure. In many cases a launch site is built close to major bodies of water to ensure that no components are shed over populated areas, be it by staging or an in-flight failure. Typically a spaceport site is large enough that, should a vehicle explode, it will not endanger human lives or adjacent launch pads.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.overlookpress.com/categories/spaceport-earth-the-reinvention-of-spaceflight.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113150228/http://www.overlookpress.com/categories/spaceport-earth-the-reinvention-of-spaceflight.html |url-status=dead |title=Overlookpress.com|archive-date=13 January 2018|website=www.overlookpress.com}}</ref>

Planned sites of spaceports for [[Sub-orbital spaceflight|sub-orbital]] tourist spaceflight often make use of existing ground infrastructure, including runways. The nature of the local view from {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}} altitude is also a factor to consider.

== Space tourism ==

The [[space tourism]] industry (see [[List of private spaceflight companies]]) is being targeted by spaceports in numerous locations worldwide. e.g. [[Spaceport America]], New Mexico.

The establishment of spaceports for tourist trips raises legal issues, which are only beginning to be addressed.<ref name = "Virginia Spaceport">{{cite news |url=http://spacelawprobe.blogspot.com/2007/02/virginia-leads-way.html |author=Londin, Jesse |title=Space Law Probe: Virginia Leads The Way |publisher=blogspot.com |date=9 February 2007 |access-date=28 April 2007 |archive-date=22 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822125221/http://spacelawprobe.blogspot.com/2007/02/virginia-leads-way.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="MSN">{{cite news |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/13304491 |author=Boyle, Alan |title=Regulators OK Oklahoma spaceport - Suborbital test flights could begin in 2007, setting stage for tourists |publisher=NBC News |date=13 June 2006 |access-date=26 June 2006 |archive-date=30 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430194818/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/13304491 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==With achieved vertical launches of humans==
The following is a table of spaceports and launch complexes for vertical launchers with documented achieved launches of humans to space (more than {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}} altitude). The sorting order is spaceport by spaceport according to the time of the first human launch.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Spaceport
! Launch<br>complex
! Launcher
! Spacecraft
! Flights
! Years
|-
| rowspan="10" | {{flagicon|Kazakhstan}} {{flagicon|Russia}} {{flagicon|USSR}} [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]]{{Efn|The Baikonur Cosmodrome is located in Kazakhstan, but it is operated by [[Roscosmos]], and previously by the [[Soviet space program]].|name=Baikonur}}
| [[Gagarin's Start|Site 1]]
| [[Vostok (rocket family)|Vostok]]
| [[Vostok spacecraft|Vostok]] 1–6
| style="text-align:right;"| 6 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 1961–1963
|-
| [[Gagarin's Start|Site 1]]
| [[Voskhod (rocket)|Voskhod]]
| [[Voskhod spacecraft|Voskhod]] 1–2
| style="text-align:right;"| 2 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 1964–1965
|-
| [[Gagarin's Start|Site 1]], [[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|31]]
| [[Soyuz (rocket)|Soyuz]], [[Soyuz-U]]
| [[Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz]] 1–40 †
| style="text-align:right;"| 37 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 1967–1981
|-
| [[Gagarin's Start|Site 1]], [[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|31]]
| [[Soyuz (rocket)|Soyuz]]
| [[Soyuz 7K-T No.39|Soyuz]] 18a
| style="text-align:right;"| 1 [[Sub-orbital spaceflight|Sub-O]]
| 1975
|-
| [[Gagarin's Start|Site 1]], [[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|31]]
| [[Soyuz-U]], [[Soyuz-U2]]
| [[Soyuz-T]] 2–15
| style="text-align:right;"| 14 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 1980–1986
|-
| [[Gagarin's Start|Site 1]]
| [[Soyuz-U]], [[Soyuz-U2]]
| [[Soyuz-TM]] 2–34
| style="text-align:right;"| 33 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 1987–2002
|-
| [[Gagarin's Start|Site 1]]
| [[Soyuz-FG]]
| [[Soyuz-TMA]] 1–22
| style="text-align:right;"| 22 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 2002–2011
|-
| [[Gagarin's Start|Site 1]], [[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|31]]
| [[Soyuz-FG]]
| [[Soyuz TMA-M]] 1–20
| style="text-align:right;"| 20 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 2010–2016
|-
| [[Gagarin's Start|Site 1]], [[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|31]]
| [[Soyuz-FG]]
| [[Soyuz MS]] 1–9, 11–13, 15
| style="text-align:right;"| 13 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 2016–2019
|-
| [[Gagarin's Start|Site 1]], [[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|31]]
| [[Soyuz-2]]
| [[Soyuz MS]] 16–22, 24
| style="text-align:right;"| 8 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 2020–
|-
| rowspan="6" | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Cape Canaveral Space Force Station]]
| [[Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 5|LC-5]]
| [[Redstone (rocket family)|Redstone]]
| [[Project Mercury|Mercury]] 3–4
| style="text-align:right;"| 2 [[Sub-orbital spaceflight|Sub-O]]
| 1961
|-
| [[Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 14|LC-14]]
| [[Atlas (rocket family)|Atlas]]
| [[Project Mercury|Mercury]] 6–9
| style="text-align:right;"| 4 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 1962–1963
|-
| [[Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 19|LC-19]]
| [[Titan II GLV|Titan II]]
| [[Project Gemini|Gemini]] 3–12
| style="text-align:right;"| 10 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 1965–1966
|-
| [[Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 34|LC-34]]
| [[Saturn IB]]
| [[Apollo Program|Apollo]] 7
| style="text-align:right;"| 1 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 1968
|-
| [[Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41|LC-41]]
| [[Atlas V]]
| [[Boeing Starliner]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 1 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 2024–
|-
| [[Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40|LC-40]]
| [[Falcon 9]]
| [[Crew Dragon]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 1 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 2024-
|-
| rowspan=4 | {{flagicon|USA}} [[Kennedy Space Center]]
| rowspan=4 | [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39|LC-39]]
| [[Saturn V]]
| [[Apollo Program|Apollo]] 8–17
| style="text-align:right;"| 10 [[moon|Lun]]/[[Orbital spaceflight|Or]]
| 1968–1972
|-
| [[Saturn IB]]
| [[Skylab]] 2–4, [[Apollo–Soyuz]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 4 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 1973–1975
|-
| [[Space Shuttle]]
| [[Space Shuttle program|STS]] 1-135‡
| style="text-align:right;"| 134 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 1981–2011
|-
| [[Falcon 9]]
| [[Crew Dragon]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 11 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 2020–
|- 
| {{flagicon|China}} [[Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center]]
| [[Jiuquan Launch Area 4|Area 4]]
| [[Long March 2F]]
| [[Shenzhou spacecraft|Shenzhou]] 5–7, 9–17
| style="text-align:right;"| 12 [[Orbital spaceflight|Orbital]]
| 2003–
|-
| {{flagicon|United States}} [[Corn Ranch]]
| Launch Site One
| [[New Shepard]]
| [[New Shepard Crew Capsule|New Shepard]]
| style="text-align:right;"| 6 [[Sub-orbital spaceflight|Sub-O]]
| 2021–
|}

† Three of the Soyuz missions were uncrewed and are not counted ([[Soyuz 2]], [[Soyuz 20]], [[Soyuz 34]]).

‡ [[STS-51-L]] (''[[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|Challenger]]'') failed to reach orbit and is not counted. [[STS-107]] (''[[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|Columbia]]'') reached orbit and is therefore included in the count (disaster struck on re-entry).

'''Crewed Missions failed to reach''' '''Kármán line:'''

[[Soyuz 7K-ST No.16L|Soyuz T-10a]] (1983)

[[STS-51-L]] (1986)

[[Soyuz MS-10]] (2018)

==With achieved satellite launches==
The following is a table of spaceports with a documented achieved launch to orbit. The table is sorted according to the time of the first launch that achieved satellite orbit insertion. The first column gives the geographical location. Operations from a different country are indicated in the fourth column. A launch is counted as one also in cases where the payload consists of multiple satellites.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Spaceport
! Location
! Years<br />(orbital)
! Launches<br />to orbit<br /> or inter-<br />planetary
! Launch vehicles<br />(operators)
! Sources
|-
| {{flagicon|Kazakhstan}} {{flagicon|Russia}} {{flagicon|USSR}} [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]]{{Efn|name=Baikonur}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/baikonur.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020207133756/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/baikonur.htm |url-status=dead |title=Baikonur|archive-date=7 February 2002|website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref>
| Kazakhstan
| 1957–
| {{nts|1000|prefix=>}}
| [[R-7 (rocket family)|R-7]]/[[Soyuz (rocket)|Soyuz]], [[Kosmos (rocket family)|Kosmos]], [[Proton (rocket)|Proton]], [[Tsyklon]], [[Zenit (rocket family)|Zenit]], [[Energia (rocket)|Energia]], [[Dnepr (rocket)|Dnepr]], [[N1 (rocket)|N1]], [[Rokot]], [[Strela (rocket)|Strela]]
| {{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Cape Canaveral Space Force Station]]<ref name="Cape Canaveral - astronautix.com">{{Cite web|url=http://astronautix.com/sites/capveral.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031031090517/http://astronautix.com/sites/capveral.htm |url-status=dead |title=Cape Canaveral|archive-date=31 October 2003|website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref>
| United States
| 1958–
| {{nts|400|prefix=>}}
| [[Delta (rocket family)|Delta]], [[Scout (rocket family)|Scout]], [[Atlas (rocket family)|Atlas]], [[Titan (rocket family)|Titan]], [[Saturn (rocket family)|Saturn]], [[Athena (rocket family)|Athena]], [[Falcon 9]], [[Minotaur IV]], [[Vanguard (rocket)|Vanguard]], [[Juno I|Juno]], [[Thor (rocket family)|Thor]]
| {{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Vandenberg Space Force Base]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/vannberg.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020208200346/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/vannberg.htm |url-status=dead |title=Vandenberg|archive-date=8 February 2002|website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref>
| United States
| 1959–
| {{nts|700|prefix=>}}
| [[Delta (rocket family)|Delta]], [[Scout (rocket family)|Scout]], [[Atlas (rocket family)|Atlas]], [[Titan (rocket family)|Titan]], [[Taurus (rocket)|Taurus]], [[Athena (rocket family)|Athena]], [[Minotaur (rocket family)|Minotaur]], [[Falcon 9]], [[Thor (rocket family)|Thor]], [[Firefly Alpha]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.space.com/34147-vandenberg-air-force-base.html|title=Vandenberg: West Coast Launch Site|first=Elizabeth|last=Howell|date=22 September 2016|website=Space.com|access-date=1 October 2021|archive-date=15 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615232930/https://www.space.com/34147-vandenberg-air-force-base.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Wallops Flight Facility]]{{Efn|The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport is co-located with the Wallops Flight Facility.|name=Virginia}}<ref name="astronautix.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/w/wallopsisland.html|title=Wallops Island|website=www.astronautix.com|access-date=23 April 2022|archive-date=3 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303081308/http://www.astronautix.com/w/wallopsisland.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| United States
| 1961–1985
| {{nts|19}}
| [[Scout (rocket family)|Scout]]
| 6<ref name="astronautix.com"/>+13<ref name="astronautix.com"/>
|-
| {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Kapustin Yar|Kapustin Yar Cosmodrome]]<ref name="Kapustin Yar – astronautix.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/kapinyar.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104074853/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/kapinyar.htm |url-status=dead |title=Kapustin Yar|archive-date=4 November 2007|website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref>
| Russia
| 1962–2008
| {{nts|85}}
| [[Kosmos (rocket family)|Kosmos]]
|<ref name="Kapustin Yar – astronautix.com"/>{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}
|-
| {{flagicon|France}} [[Centre interarmées d'essais d'engins spéciaux|CIEES]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/hamguira.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020505192536/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/hamguira.htm |url-status=dead |title=Hammaguira|archive-date=5 May 2002|website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref>
| French Algeria<!-- During the time CIEES operated, it was French Algeria, not Algeria -->
| 1965–1967
| {{nts|4}}
| [[Diamant]] A (France)
| [[Diamant]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Plesetsk Cosmodrome]]<ref name="Plesetsk - astronautix.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/plesetsk.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229175958/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/plesetsk.htm |url-status=dead |title=Plesetsk|archive-date=29 December 2007|website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref>
| Russia
| 1966–
| {{nts|1500|prefix=>}}
| [[R-7 (rocket family)|R-7]]/[[Soyuz (rocket)|Soyuz]], [[Kosmos (rocket family)|Kosmos]], [[Tsyklon-3]], [[Rokot]], [[Angara (rocket family)|Angara]], [[Start-1|Start]]
|<ref name="Plesetsk - astronautix.com"/>
|-
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Broglio Space Centre]]<ref name="astronautix.com"/>
| Kenya
| 1967–1988
| {{nts|9}}
| [[Scout (rocket family)|Scout]] ([[Italian Space Agency|ASI]] and [[Sapienza University of Rome|Sapienza]], Italy)
| [[Broglio Space Centre|Broglio]]
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Kennedy Space Center]]<ref name="Cape Canaveral - astronautix.com"/>
| United States
| 1967–
| {{nts|187}}
| 17 [[Saturn (rocket family)|Saturn]], 135 [[Space Shuttle]], 63 [[Falcon 9]], {{Falcon rocket statistics|FHsuccess}} [[Falcon Heavy]], 1 [[SLS Block 1|SLS]]
| [[Saturn (rocket family)|Saturn]], [[Space Shuttle|STS]], [[List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches|F9]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Woomera Prohibited Area]]<ref name="astronautix.com"/>
| Australia
| 1967, 1971
| {{nts|2}}
| [[Redstone (rocket)|Redstone]] ([[WRESAT]]), [[Black Arrow]] (UK [[Prospero X-3]]), [[Europa (rocket)|Europa]]
| [[WRESAT]], [[Prospero X-3|X-3]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Uchinoura Space Center]]<ref name="astronautix.com"/>
| Japan
| 1970–
| {{nts|31}}
| 27 [[Mu (rocket family)|Mu]], 3 [[Epsilon (rocket)|Epsilon]], 1 [[S-Series (rocket family)|SS-520-5]]
|<ref name="astronautix.com"/> [[Mu (rocket family)|M]], [[Epsilon (rocket)|ε]], [[S-Series (rocket family)|S]]
|-
| {{flagicon|France}} {{flagicon|EU}} [[Guiana Space Centre]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.arianespace.com/news/mission-status.asp |title=Arianespace - Launch program activity |access-date=26 May 2009 |archive-date=9 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209054822/http://www.arianespace.com/news/mission-status.asp |url-status=live }}</ref>
| French Guiana
| 1970–
| {{nts|318}}
| 7 [[Diamant]], 227 [[Ariane (rocket family)|Ariane]], 16 [[Soyuz-2 (rocket)|Soyuz-2]], 11 [[Vega (rocket)|Vega]]
| see 4 rockets
|-
| {{flagicon|China}} [[Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center]]<ref name="astronautix.com"/>
| China
| 1970–
| {{nts|121}}
| 2 [[Long March 1|LM1]], 3 [[Long March 2A|LM2A]], 20 [[Long March 2C|LM2C]], 36 [[Long March 2D|LM2D]], 13 [[Long March 2F|LM2F]], 3 [[Long March 4B|LM4B]], 5 [[Long March 4C|LM4C]], 3 [[Long March 11|LM11]]
| See 8 rockets
|-
| {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Tanegashima Space Center]]<ref name="astronautix.com"/>
| Japan
| 1975–
| {{nts|65}}
| 6 [[N-I (rocket)|N-I]], 8 [[N-II (rocket)|N-II]], 9 [[H-I]], 6 [[H-II]], 36 [[H-IIA]]
| see 5 rockets
|-
| {{flagicon|India}} [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre]]<ref name="astronautix.com"/>
| India
| 1979–
| {{nts|93}}
| 4 [[Satellite Launch Vehicle|SLV]], 4 [[Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle|ASLV]], 60 [[Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle|PSLV]], 16[[Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle|GSLV]], 7 [[LVM3]], 2 [[Small Satellite Launch Vehicle|SSLV]]
| [[List of Satish Dhawan Space Centre launches|List SDSC]]
|-
| {{flagicon|China}} [[Xichang Satellite Launch Center]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/xichang.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050129090651/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/xichang.htm |url-status=dead |title=Xichang|archive-date=29 January 2005|website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref>
| China
| 1984–
| {{nts|183}}
| [[Long March (rocket family)|Long March]]: 6 [[Long March 2C|LM2C]], 5 [[Long March 2E|LM2E]], 11 [[Long March 3|LM3]], 25 [[Long March 3A|LM3A]], 42 [[Long March 3B|LM3B]], 15 [[Long March 3C|LM3C]]
| See 6 rockets
|-
| {{flagicon|China}} [[Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/taiyuan.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228003645/http://astronautix.com/t/taiyuan.html |url-status=dead |title=Taiyuan|archive-date=28 December 2016|website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref>
| China
| 1988–
| {{nts|62}}
| [[Long March (rocket family)|Long March]]: 16 [[Long March 2C|LM2C]], 2 [[Long March 2D|LM2D]], 2 [[Long March 4A|LM4A]], 25 [[Long March 4B|LM4B]], 15 [[Long March 4C|LM4C]], 2 [[Long March 6|LM6]]
| See 6 rockets
|-
| {{flagicon|Israel}} [[Palmachim Airbase]]<ref name="astronautix.com"/>
| Israel
| 1988–
| {{nts|8}}
| [[Shavit 2|Shavit]]
| [[Shavit 2|Shavit]]
|-
| Various airport runways (''[[Balls 8]]'', ''[[Stargazer (aircraft)|Stargazer]]'')
| Various
| 1990–
| {{nts|39}}
| [[Pegasus (rocket)|Pegasus]]
| [[Pegasus (rocket)|Pegasus]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Svobodny Cosmodrome]]<ref name="Svobodniy – astronautix.com">{{Cite web|url=http://astronautix.com/sites/svoodniy.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802101826/http://astronautix.com/sites/svoodniy.htm |url-status=dead |title=Svobodniy|archive-date=2 August 2002|website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref>
| Russia
| 1997–2006
| {{nts|5}}
| [[Start-1]]
|<ref name="Svobodniy – astronautix.com"/>
|-
| {{flagicon|Russia}} {{sclass2|Delta|submarine|1}}
| Barents Sea
| 1998, 2006
| {{nts|2}}
| [[Shtil']] (Russia), [[Volna|Volna-O]]
| [[Shtil']]
|-
| [[Odyssey (launch platform)|Odyssey]] mobile platform
| Pacific Ocean
| 1999–2014
| {{nts|32}}
| [[Zenit-3SL]] ([[Sea Launch]])
| [[Sea Launch]]
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska|Pacific Spaceport Complex]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/kodiak.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707054949/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/kodiak.htm |url-status=dead |title=Kodiak|archive-date=7 July 2009|website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref><ref name=aw201004>
[http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/video/?&fr_story=0219ca815fb65dfa933c587e1f980df6983d229b Kodiak Readies for Quick Launch], ''[[Aviation Week]]'', April 2010, accessed 26 April 2010. "Alaska's remote Kodiak Launch Complex is state-of-the-art, has a perfect mission record, and will soon be able to launch a satellite-carrying rocket within 24 hours of mission go-ahead."</ref>
| United States
| 2001–
| {{nts|3}}
| 1 [[Athena (rocket family)|Athena]], 2 [[Minotaur (rocket family)|Minotaur IV]]
| [[Kodiak Launch Complex|Kodiak]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Dombarovsky (air base)|Yasny Cosmodrome]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/domvskiy.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618045913/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/domvskiy.htm |url-status=dead |title=Dombarovskiy|archive-date=18 June 2008|website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref>
| Russia
| 2006–
| {{nts|10}}
| [[Dnepr (rocket)|Dnepr]]
| [[Dnepr (rocket)|Dnepr]]
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport]]{{Efn|name=Virginia}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vaspace.org/|title=Welcome to Virginia Space|website=www.vaspace.org|access-date=1 October 2021|archive-date=14 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814082240/https://www.vaspace.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| United States
| 2006–
| {{nts|12}}
| 5 [[Minotaur (rocket family)|Minotaur I]], 6 [[Antares (rocket)|Antares]], 1 [[Minotaur (rocket)#Minotaur V|Minotaur V]]
| [[Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport|MARS]]
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Omelek]], [[Kwajalein Atoll]]
| Marshall Islands
| 2008–2009
| {{nts|5}}
| 5 [[Falcon 1]] (US)
| [[Falcon 1]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Iran}} [[Semnan Space Center]]<ref name="astronautix.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nti.org/learn/facilities/313/ |title=Imam Khomeini Space Center &#124; Facilities |publisher=NTI |access-date=2017-11-30 |archive-date=5 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705174002/http://www.nti.org/learn/facilities/313/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Iran
| 2009–
| {{nts|26}}
| [[Safir (rocket)|Safir]], [[Simorgh (rocket)|Simorgh]], [[Zuljanah (rocket)|Zuljanah]]
| [[Safir (rocket)|Safir]]
|-
| {{flagicon|North Korea}} [[Sohae Satellite Launching Station]]
| North Korea
| 2012–
|  {{nts|2}}
| [[Unha|Unha-3]]
| [[Kwangmyongsong-3 Unit 2|K3-U2]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50167891/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.UMgQBeTNboI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213030251/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50167891/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.UMgQBeTNboI |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 December 2012 |title=North Korea says it successfully launched controversial satellite into orbit |date=12 December 2012 |publisher=[[MSNBC]]}}</ref>
|-
| {{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Naro Space Center]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-01/30/c_132138953.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204012038/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-01/30/c_132138953.htm |url-status=dead |title=news.xinhuanet.com|archive-date=4 February 2013}}</ref>
| South Korea
| 2013–
| {{nts|2}}
| [[Naro-1]], [[Nuri (rocket)|Nuri]]
| [[Naro-1]], [[Nuri (rocket)|Nuri]]
|-
| {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Vostochny Cosmodrome]]
| Russia
| 2016–
| {{nts|8}}
| 8 [[Soyuz-2]]
| [[Vostochny Cosmodrome|Vostochny]]
|-
| {{flagicon|China}} [[Wenchang Satellite Launch Center]]
| China
| 2016–
| {{nts|23}}
| [[Long March (rocket family)|Long March]]: 9 [[Long March 5|LM5]], 12 [[Long March 7|LM7]], 2 [[Long March 8|LM8]]
| See 3 rockets
|-
| {{flagicon|New Zealand}} {{flagicon|USA}} [[Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1]] 
| New Zealand
| 2018–
| {{nts|21}}
| 21 [[Electron (rocket)|Electron]]
| [[Electron (rocket)]]
|-
| {{flagicon|China}} {{ill|Dongfang Spaceport|lt=|zh|东方航天港}}
| Yellow sea, East China sea
| 2019–
| {{nts|6}}
| 4 [[Long March 11]], 1 [[Jielong 3|SD3]], 1 {{ill|CERES-1|zh|谷神星一号运载火箭}}
| See 3 rockets
|-
|{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Shahroud space center|Shahroud Space Center]]
| Iran
| 2020–
| {{nts|7}}
| 3 [[Qased (rocket)|Qased]],
4 [[Qaem 100]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Iran's first space launch center near Shahrud for its Ghaem SLV project |url=http://www.b14643.de/Spacerockets/Specials/Shahrud_Missile-Range/index.htm |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=www.b14643.de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hinz |first=Fabian |title=IRAN'S SOLID-PROPELLANT SLV PROGRAM IS ALIVE AND KICKING |url=https://www.armscontrolwonk.com/archive/1208906/irans-solid-propellant-slv-program-is-alive-and-kicking/}}</ref>
|}

==With achieved horizontal launches of humans to 100 km==
The following table shows spaceports with documented achieved launches of humans to at least 100&nbsp;km altitude, starting from a horizontal runway. All the flights were [[Sub-orbital spaceflight|sub-orbital]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Spaceport
! Carrier aircraft
! Spacecraft
! Flights above 100&nbsp;km
! Years
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Edwards Air Force Base]]
| [[Boeing B-52 Stratofortress|B-52]]
| [[North American X-15|X-15]] 
| 2
| 1963
|-
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mojave Air and Space Port]]
| [[Scaled Composites White Knight|White Knight]]
| [[SpaceShipOne]]
| 3
| 2004
|}

== Beyond Earth ==
Spaceports have been proposed for locations on the [[Moon]], [[Mars]], orbiting the Earth, at Sun-Earth and Earth-Moon [[Lagrange point]]s, and at other locations in the [[Solar System]].  Human-tended outposts on the Moon or Mars, for example, will be spaceports by definition.<ref>[{{Cite book |title=Lunar bases and space activities of the 21st century |first=Wendell W. |last=Mendell |publisher=Lunar and Planetary Institute |year=1985 |isbn=0-942862-02-3}}]</ref> The 2012 Space Studies Program of the [[International Space University]] studied the economic benefit of a network of spaceports throughout the solar system beginning from Earth and expanding outwardly in phases, within its team project Operations And Service Infrastructure for Space (OASIS).<ref name="OASIS">http://www.oasisnext.com/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224165156/http://www.oasisnext.com/ |date=24 December 2014 }}, OASIS official website{{Dead link|date=February 2025}}</ref> Its analysis claimed that the first phase, placing the "Node 1" spaceport with space tug services in [[low Earth orbit]] (LEO), would be commercially profitable and reduce transportation costs to [[geosynchronous orbit]] by as much as 44% (depending on the launch vehicle).  The second phase would add a Node 2 spaceport on the lunar surface to provide services including [[Lunar water|lunar ice]] mining and delivery of rocket [[propellant]]s back to Node 1.  This would enable lunar surface activities and further reduce transportation costs within and out from [[cislunar space]]. The third phase would add a Node 3 spaceport on the Martian moon [[Phobos (moon)|Phobos]] to enable refueling and resupply prior to Mars surface landings, missions beyond Mars, and return trips to Earth. In addition to propellant mining and refueling, the network of spaceports could provide services such as power storage and distribution, in-space assembly and repair of spacecraft, communications relay, shelter, construction and leasing of infrastructure, maintaining spacecraft positioned for future use, and logistics.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://isulibrary.isunet.edu/opac/doc_num.php?explnum_id=419 |title=OASIS Executive Summary Operations And Service Infrastructure for Space |access-date=7 December 2012 |archive-date=25 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125070228/http://isulibrary.isunet.edu/opac/doc_num.php?explnum_id=419 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Impact==
Space launch facilities have been colonial developments and have also been impacting its surroundings by destroying or polluting their environment,<ref name="r222">{{cite web | last=Greshko | first=Michael | title=Rockets and rocket launches information and facts | website=Science | date=January 4, 2019 | url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/rockets-and-rocket-launches-explained | access-date=July 25, 2024}}</ref><ref name="r459">{{cite journal | last=Korpershoek | first=Karlijn | title=Accessibility to Space Infrastructures and Outer Space: Anthropological Insights from Europe’s Spaceport | journal=International Journal of the Commons | volume=17 | issue=1 | date=December 26, 2023 | issn=1875-0281 | doi=10.5334/ijc.1284 | doi-access=free | pages=481–491}}</ref> creating precarious cleanup situations.<ref name="r067">{{cite web | last=Greshko | first=Michael | title=Recycled Rocket Parts Are a Toxic Lifeline in Russia | website=Science | date=August 4, 2018 | url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/photography-plesetsk-mezen-cosmodrome-rockets-space | access-date=July 25, 2024}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{colbegin}}
*[[Launch pad]]
*[[List of human spaceflights]]
*[[List of rocket launch sites]]
*[[Office of Commercial Space Transportation]] (United States)
*[[Orbital spaceflight]]
*[[Range safety]]
*[[Spaceflight]]
*[[Sub-orbital spaceflight]]
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
{{colend}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Spaceports}}
* {{Wiktionary-inline}}
* [https://nmsu.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/NMSGCBOK U.S. Spaceports Online Reference Guide]
* [[Center for Strategic and International Studies]]: [https://aerospace.csis.org/data/spaceports-of-the-world/ Spaceports of the World]
* [https://www.sheboyganwi.gov/spaceports-future-sea-to-space/ Sheboygan Spaceport’s Future – Sea to Space]
* HighBeam Research: [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-141058222.html?refid=hbr_nk Spaceflight of fancy: Lawmakers question fiscal feasibility of Southern New Mexico's proposed spaceport; supporters count on jobs.] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130125022830/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-141058222.html?refid=hbr_nk |date=25 January 2013 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180113150228/http://www.overlookpress.com/categories/spaceport-earth-the-reinvention-of-spaceflight.html Spaceport Earth: The Reinvention of Spaceflight] [https://web.archive.org/web/20180113150228/http://www.overlookpress.com/categories/spaceport-earth-the-reinvention-of-spaceflight.html Spaceport Earth: The Reinvention of Spaceflight - categories | Overlook Press]

{{Spaceport}}
{{Spaceflight}}

[[Category:Spaceports| ]]
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