WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. – NASA wants to increase the number of rocket launches annually on the East Coast, and agency leaders say Wallops Flight Facility could play a key role in that expansion.
Brian Hughes became NASA's first senior director of launch operations in May 2026. In his first interview from Wallops since assuming the role, Hughes told WBOC that Wallops has a lot of capacity that, by his estimation, has been underutilized.
According to a June report from the NASA Office of Inspector General, the number of launches from Wallops grew by 467% between 2020 and 2025. The same report warns that with aging infrastructure, the facility could reach its launch capacity as soon as 2028.
NASA is now looking at ways to expand that capacity.
Wallops is one of two launch sites on the East Coast. The other, Kennedy Space Center in Florida, has less available space for expansion, according to Hughes. What space is available will be prioritized for heavy launch pads. Wallops could be key for small and medium launches.
In a Request for Information published on Aug. 31, NASA says it is seeking input from U.S. commercial and government entities interested in developing additional launch facilities on the south end of Wallops Island. This could add 150 acres of orbital launch capacity to the Eastern Shore facility.
Hughes said that NASA is grateful for the budget Congress has allotted it but that the rate of growth the agency wants to see will require partnerships with commercial companies and state agencies. Wallops already has a relationship with partners like these in Virginia Space, Rocket Lab and others.
According to Hughes, the amount of interest the RFI has already generated is affirming and means things could move quickly following the deadline.
“I think by the end of the year, we'll have real agreements being negotiated,” Hughes said. “Early next year I think we'll actually be looking at some groundbreaking stuff.”
Despite the move towards more orbital launch space at Wallops, astronauts likely will not be blasting off from Virginia any time soon.
“Crewed launches are very sensitive to NASA,” Hughes said. “I would never say never, but it's hard to see today.”
Responses to the Request for Information are due Oct. 30.
