Florida's Launch On Demand to Build $600 Million Commercial Launch Complex in Dominican Republic

Florida-based company Launch On Demand (LOD) is advancing plans to establish a $600 million commercial launch facility in the remote Pedernales Province of the Dominican Republic. President Luis Abinader formally announced the strategic project during his State of the Nation address on February 27, 2026, signaling a significant step for the nation to enter the growing global space economy, which is experiencing increased demand for heavy-lift rocket launches.

The chosen site is the municipality of Oviedo, located in the southwestern part of Pedernales near the Haitian border. This location was selected due to its low population density and favorable geographic positioning for orbital trajectories, aligning with the preferences of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to minimize public risk. The facility, financed entirely by private equity without Dominican government subsidies, is projected to facilitate the first satellite or rocket launch from Dominican territory before May 2028, following three years of negotiations with LOD and U.S. investment funds.

The development encompasses comprehensive support infrastructure beyond the launch pad itself. This includes an integrated energy center with a 200-megawatt capacity to support both aerospace operations and the national grid, logistics systems, and water treatment and desalination facilities to serve the base and surrounding rural communities. LOD’s CEO, Burton Catledge, a former Commander of the U.S. Air Force’s 45th Operations Group with experience at Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center, leads the executive team, which draws operational backgrounds from leading space agencies.

The decision to construct this spaceport carries clear geopolitical dimensions, framed by LOD as a strategic response to counter China's increasing presence in Latin America. This concern is supported by findings from a U.S. House of Representatives special committee report titled 'Pulling Latin America into China's Orbit,' which alleged that China has established at least eleven space facilities in the region with dual-use potential, possibly supporting the People's Liberation Army's warfighting capabilities and intelligence collection.

Amidst this space initiative, the Dominican Republic is simultaneously pursuing broader economic diversification. President Abinader highlighted other high-tech partnerships, including an investment exceeding $500 million from Google for the region's first international digital exchange center, and a collaboration with Nvidia for an artificial intelligence center of excellence. While this project is viewed as historic for economic diversification beyond tourism and mining, experts stress the necessity of a robust legal framework to govern private operator activities, as the Dominican State will assume full international responsibility for any launch consequences under international law.

The Pedernales development is part of the government's master plan to transform the province into a world-class logistics and tourism hub, complementing other major infrastructure projects like the ongoing construction of the Cabo Rojo International Airport. Catledge described the spaceport as globally the most ambitious space operation, demonstrating the Dominican Republic's commitment to becoming an active participant in reshaping regional dynamics by leveraging its social stability and strategic location as a vital geostrategic corridor in the Americas. Since the announcement, the company has received over 50 resumes from Dominican nationals worldwide, indicating potential for skilled labor absorption.