Rockets may soon be transported along Treasure Coast waterways, if all goes according to St. Lucie County plans.
The Port of Fort Pierce could add a “Launch Vehicle Recovery Facility,” a staging ground for the offshore recovery of rocket components following launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, according to a draft update of the county-owned port’s master plan.
The integration of the Port of Fort Pierce into Florida’s Spaceport System is just one component of a 256-page draft master plan, which is due to be discussed at a June 1 community meeting to be held at the Fort Pierce Yacht Club at 5:30 p.m.
The new plan would be an update of an existing master plan approved in 2020, with the Launch Vehicle Recovery Facility being one of the additions.
The Port of Fort Pierce is one of 16 deepwater ports statewide.
The draft master plan describes the Launch Vehicle Recovery Facility as a “dedicated, controlled‑access area designed to support launch vehicle recovery vessels, autonomous drone ships and associated support craft.”
The draft describes how the facility also could be used for other purposes, including maintenance, repair and overhaul of mega yachts, which already is one of the port’s main uses.
The Launch Vehicle Recovery Facility would have a dedicated access road connecting it to North Second Street and a security checkpoint to maintain federal and commercial security standards, according to the draft.
“At the waterfront, the facility will include a high‑load‑capacity wharf approximately 700 feet in length, with a heavy‑duty apron up to 100 feet wide designed to support mobile harbor cranes, recovered launch vehicle boosters, and specialized transport equipment,” the draft plan reads.
The wharf would be large enough to accommodate one autonomous drone ship — like those used by private space companies SpaceX and Blue Origin for landing reusable rocket boosters — and its support ships. It could also fit two autonomous drone ships without the support ships or one “Handysize‑class vessel to support future import/export operations,” according to the draft.
The plan also includes necessary infrastructure for the storage and transportation of heavy equipment, including launch vehicle equipment.
Included in the draft plan are photos of similar vessels and equipment already in use at Port Canaveral. It includes photos andr renderings of both SpaceX and Blue Origin launch vehicles.
The need for more spaceport bandwidth was demonstrated in the 2024 Florida Spaceport System Maritime Intermodal Transportation Study, which the draft plan cites.
“With projected increases of 300%–500% in launch cadence over the coming decades, the study identifies significant constraints within Florida’s existing port network, particularly at Port Canaveral, where current berthing space, turning basins and upland logistics areas are insufficient to support the next generation of reusable launch vehicles,” according to St. Lucie County’s draft plan.
Florida, according to the draft plan, must increase the capacity of its Spaceport System amid competition from other states. It specifically names Texas, where SpaceX is investing in launch and recovery capabilities.
“As Texas continues to develop its own robust marine‑spaceport interface, it becomes an increasingly viable alternative for companies seeking fewer constraints, lower turnaround times and purpose‑built facilities capable of supporting next‑generation launch vehicles,” according to the draft plan.
Projects like the one proposed for the Port of Fort Pierce can help Florida remain the leader.
“These dynamics underscore the importance of integrating space‑related maritime infrastructure into long‑range planning efforts such as the Port of Fort Pierce Master Plan. Fort Pierce, with its proximity to Cape Canaveral, deepwater access potential, developable uplands and flexible working waterfront is uniquely positioned to serve as a critical relief valve for statewide marine capacity constraints,” according to the draft plan.
Wicker Perlis is TCPalm’s Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at Wicker.Perlis@TCPalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida port could become hub for SpaceX, Blue Origin rocket recovery
Reporting by Wicker Perlis, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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