FAA meeting surging demand for space launch and reentry licenses

Thursday, February 22, 2024

As the commercial space transportation industry experiences a surge in activity, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to institute a novel aerospace rulemaking committee (SpARC). This committee aims to pinpoint avenues for enhancing the evaluation and authorization process for launch and reentry licenses while upholding public safety standards.SpARC will collate insights from various stakeholders, including industry representatives, to aid the FAA in refining the Part 450 regulations governing launch and reentry licensing. This encompasses procedures for issuing new licenses, revising or extending current licenses, and conducting thorough payload assessments. The formal establishment of the committee is slated to occur in the forthcoming months.

“The SpARC input will help us reduce the burden on commercial space transportation applicants and licensees and enable the FAA to process applications and make safety determinations with greater expediency,” said Kelvin B. Coleman, the FAA’s Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation. “This is an opportunity to enhance Part 450 to better meet its objectives.”

The FAA is actively engaging with the industry regarding Part 450, facilitated by the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee, slated to address this matter in its April meeting. These efforts will lay the groundwork for the new SpARC initiative.

By March 2026, all FAA-licensed launch and reentry operators are required to adhere to Part 450. The FAA foresees that full implementation of Part 450 will streamline the licensing process, reducing the frequency of operator submissions for approval. To aid applicants, the agency has introduced various tools to ensure submissions clearly demonstrate compliance.

Increased staffing and comprehensive guidance initiatives, including pre-application consultations, advisory circulars, and virtual tutorials, are underway to support applicants. Additionally, the FAA is developing an electronic application portal to enhance efficiency and issue resolution capabilities.

In 2023, there were a record 124 FAA-licensed commercial space operations, tripling the total from 2020. This number is expected to nearly double again by 2026

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