Spaceports are facilities used to launch, and in some cases land, spacecraft. Spaceports are similar to airports and seaports but have some unique features and requirements. They have to be able to support the assembly and launch of large, powerful rockets and the satellites or other cargoes that they carry. There are only a handful of spaceports around the world, although more may be built as the demand for launches grow and the types of launch vehicles evolve.

Spaceport Components

The most familiar element of a spaceport is the launch pad. Originally just a patch of ground where rockets were hastily set up and launched, launch pads have evolved considerably as rockets became larger and more complex. Most launch pads have a tower, known as a gantry, which stands next to the rocket. Through the gantry, technicians have access to various levels of the rocket so they can...