The Ministry of the Presidency presented the proposal on 17 March 2026 for the nation’s first commercial spaceport. Developed by Florida-based Launch On Demand (LOD) Holdings, the project is slated for the municipality of Oviedo in southwestern Pedernales province, marking a strategic pivot toward the global space economy.
The project is another of many projects to create industry and opportunities to increase the Dominican population in Pedernales province on the border with Haiti.
The population in the area works mainly in farming and ecotourism, with birdwatching excursions popular in the Oviedo Lagoon. The Parque Eólico Los Cocos wind farm is located 50 km from Oviedo. For the windpark installation, a comprehensive study was conducted by the firm Sercitec for EGE Haina. The study characterized the bird species in the Barahona and Pedernales corridor to establish a baseline for resident and migratory patterns. The data was reportedly used to position turbines away from high-traffic flight paths. Oviedo town has a population of around 10,000 (2022 Census).
Strategic infrastructure and investment
The initiative represents a projected private investment exceeding US$600 million. According to the Presidency, the development will include:
• Integrated energy hub: A dedicated power facility with a 200-megawatt capacity to support both aerospace operations and the national grid.
• Support utilities: Construction of a desalination plant and advanced water and logistical infrastructure.
• Acoustic mitigation: Implementation of high-tech systems to manage sound suppression during launches.
The selection of Oviedo is attributed to its low population density and favorable geographical positioning for orbital trajectories.
Leadership and regulatory framework
LOD Holdings brings a leadership team with operational backgrounds from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, SpaceX, and Blue Origin. In the presentation, CEO Burton Catledge emphasized that the project aims to create high-value opportunities for Dominican talent in aerospace engineering and advanced logistics.
To ensure international competitiveness and safety, the project will align with US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards. This regulatory mirroring is intended to facilitate foreign direct investment and leverage existing trade frameworks like DR-CAFTA.
Economic diversification
The Presidency states that the spaceport aligns with President Luis Abinader’s mandate to diversify the Dominican economy beyond traditional sectors. By positioning the country as a Caribbean hub for satellite launch services, the government seeks to:
- Strengthen technological sovereignty.
- Develop a specialized labor force in high-value-added sectors.
- Integrate the country into the global commercial space network by 2028.
LOD Holdings has reportedly begun preliminary talks with global firms specializing in industrial gases, logistics, and launch services to anchor the project’s supply chain.
Aligning with US FAA regulatory standards
The proposed spaceport in Pedernales is seen as having strong alignment with current US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards and broader aerospace policy trends. The selection of Oviedo as the launch site is considered a high-alignment choice, as its low-density coastal geography directly matches FAA preferences for minimizing public risk and simplifying safety calculations. Furthermore, the project’s target to begin operations by 2028 is viewed as highly realistic, fitting within the FAA’s current strategic milestone of reaching 1,000 licensed operations and increasing launch cadence by 2030.
The project developers point to their financial and leadership structures that mirror successful international models. The US$600 million private investment framework reportedly follows the 2025 global shift toward private-sector-led infrastructure and deregulation, reducing the burden on US government funds. Additionally, the involvement of LOD Holdings leadership, comprised of veterans from SpaceX and Blue Origin, is seen as providing a significant regulatory advantage. As reported, the US FAA often streamlines reviews for teams that possess proven “Safety Element Approvals” from prior high-level operations, potentially accelerating the licensing process for this Dominican venture.
Read more:
Presidency
DR1 News
US FAA Aerospace Forecast Fiscal Years 2025–2045
Highlights of the US FAA Aerospace Forecast
US White House Executive Order: “Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry” (13 August 2025)
Fact Sheet of Space Industry Executive Order
FAA Commercial Space Transportation Regulations
FAA Commercial Space Transportation Regulations
18 March 2025