Jacksonville Aviation Authority · Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Launch Pads
—
Annual Launches
0-2
Max Payload (LEO)
—
Established
2010
Cecil Spaceport in Jacksonville, Florida is one of the earliest FAA-AST licensed horizontal-launch spaceports in the United States, co-located with Cecil Airport. Licensed in January 2010, it hosts air-launched and hypersonic test operations rather than vertical rocket flights, and shares a 12,500-foot runway with general aviation and military training tenants.
| Region | North America |
| Country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Coordinates | 30.2186° N, -81.8767° E |
| Ownership | Public–Private |
| Parent Entity | Jacksonville Aviation Authority (Florida public airport authority) |
| Regulatory Regime | FAA-AST Launch Site Operator License (horizontal launch only) |
| Latitude Advantage | 30.2°N — easterly Atlantic corridor over the Florida coast available via air-launch; site itself is interior and depends on carrier-aircraft drop trajectories cleared with Jacksonville Center. |
| Azimuth Range | Horizontal — runway 18L/36R and 9L/27R; carrier drop trajectories coordinated case-by-case |
| Employees | ~50 (JAA spaceport staff; thousands of airport-wide ground tenants) |
| Website | https://www.flyjacksonville.com/CecilAirport/Spaceport/ |
Anchor Tenants
Active Users
Strategic Value
Florida's only horizontal-launch spaceport license and a strategic complement to Cape Canaveral for air-launched and hypersonic operators that want Eastern Range access without competing for vertical pad slots. Long-dormant on cadence but cheap optionality for the state.
Recent Activity
License renewal in good standing through 2025; ongoing hypersonic test bookings under restricted disclosure agreements; no public orbital launch from site to date.
2026
Targeted return of named commercial air-launch tenant (RFP open)