{"id":42684,"date":"2026-05-18T15:35:50","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T15:35:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2026\/05\/18\/us-air-force-looks-to-convert-offshore-oil-rigs-into-rocket-recovery-platforms\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:24:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:24:44","slug":"us-air-force-looks-to-convert-offshore-oil-rigs-into-rocket-recovery-platforms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/industry\/techwatch\/2026\/05\/18\/us-air-force-looks-to-convert-offshore-oil-rigs-into-rocket-recovery-platforms\/","title":{"rendered":"US Air Force looks to convert offshore oil rigs into rocket recovery platforms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The U.S. Air Force is looking to repurpose offshore oil rigs into landing platforms to recover rocket boosters launched by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2026\/04\/20\/space-forces-15-year-vision-calls-for-more-personnel-simulators-and-survivability\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2026\/04\/20\/space-forces-15-year-vision-calls-for-more-personnel-simulators-and-survivability\/\">U.S. Space Force<\/a> and private spaceflight companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposal, called Project Able Baker, would solve two problems, the Air Force said. First, the new Sea-Based Recovery Stations would offer a cheaper way of retrieving reusable heavy-lift rockets so they can be launched again. And, it would provide a new purpose and refurbishment for decommissioned oil platforms before they become environmental hazards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis approach aims to provide the U.S. Space Force and its commercial partners with a distributed network of recovery sites that enhance launch cadence, reduce sonic-boom exposure, and leverage existing maritime infrastructure to lower operational costs,\u201d according to an Air Force solicitation posted through the Small Business Innovation Research program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Air Force sees these old oil platforms as an alternative to using ships to recover rockets \u2014 a method used by companies like <a href=\"https:\/\/spaceflightnow.com\/2025\/08\/27\/spacex-completes-400th-falcon-booster-landing-on-a-drone-ship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">SpaceX<\/a>. One benefit would be \u201creducing dependence on expensive, custom-built drone ships and facilitating higher launch frequencies,\u201d the solicitation says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To accomplish this, old oil rigs must be strengthened to handle the \u201cspecific plume, vibration, and high-intensity point-load dynamics\u201d of modern rockets, such as SpaceX\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spacex.com\/vehicles\/falcon-9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"https:\/\/www.spacex.com\/vehicles\/falcon-9\">Falcon 9<\/a>, United Launch Alliance\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ulalaunch.com\/rockets\/vulcan-centaur\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"https:\/\/www.ulalaunch.com\/rockets\/vulcan-centaur\">Vulcan<\/a> and Blue Origin\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/new-glenn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"https:\/\/www.blueorigin.com\/new-glenn\">New Glenn<\/a>, the Air Force said. The rockets are capable of sending heavy equipment into orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other desired features of the offshore oil platforms include \u201cpassive\/active flame deflection, remote fire suppression systems, and precision navigation aids for autonomous landing guidance.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, these platforms should have \u201cintegrated barge or Vertical Takeoff and Landing systems to move boosters from the landing pad to transit vessels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first phase of the solicitation calls for companies to establish the technical and economic feasibility of the concept. The focus is on \u201cstructural load analysis, environmental impact assessment, and the development of a regulatory roadmap for operations in federal waters.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Companies may also be asked to identify at least three offshore platforms that can handle heavy-lift rockets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Part of the assessment process should include the impact of sonic booms on nearby shipping and coastal populations, as well as the impact on the local ecosystem, the Air Force said. The platforms must align with the federal government\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bsee.gov\/what-we-do\/environmental-compliance\/environmental-programs\/rigs-to-reefs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">Rigs to Reefs<\/a> initiative to turn decommissioned oil rigs into aquatic habitats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second phase would involve fabricating and installing \u201ca modular reinforcement kit on a representative deck section of an offshore structure to validate construction techniques and material resilience,\u201d said the SBIR. Testing would use \u201cinert-mass drops (10\u201425 tons) or static-fire simulations \u2014to capture high-fidelity strain, vibro-acoustic, and plume-interaction data.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Project Able Baker SBIR has an unusually detailed list of potential dual-use benefits for the government and commercial sectors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the number of space launches and orbital satellites soaring in recent years, the Air Force envisions a series of converted oil platforms that can ease the strain on land-based sites to speed up the entire launch and recovery process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBy repurposing legacy offshore assets, the system provides a strategic alternative to traditional coastal launch-landing operations, significantly increasing launch cadence while reducing acoustic and debris risks,\u201d the SBIR said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It would also enable Tactically Responsive Space capabilities \u201cin deep-sea or high-latitude environments, critical for responsive space access.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/satnews.com\/2026\/01\/25\/china-finalizes-first-offshore-recovery-platform-for-reusable-liquid-rockets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">China<\/a> is already building offshore platforms to recover heavy rockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps anticipating scrutiny from environmentalists, the Air Force emphasizes that the Sea-Based Recovery Station concept is an \u201cenvironmentally conscious solution.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are \u201chundreds of offshore oil and gas platforms in federally controlled waters are reaching the end of their operational lifecycle,\u201d the Air Force said. \u201cTraditional decommissioning and full-removal processes are capital-intensive, costing upwards of $1.6 billion per platform, and often cause significant disruption to established marine ecosystems.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An Air Force plan calls for old oil platforms to become Sea-based Recovery Stations for the U.S. Space Force and private spaceflight 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