Licensing and Safety Requirements for Operation of a Launch Site

The Department of Transportation's (DOT or the Department) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing to amend its commercial space transportation licensing regulations to add licensing and safety requirements for the operation of a launch site. To date, commercial launches have occurred principally at federal launch ranges under safety procedures developed by federal launch range operators. To enable the development and use of launch sites that are not operated by a federal launch range, rules are needed to establish specific licensing and safety requirements for operating a launch site, whether that site located on or off of a federal launch range. These proposed rules would provide licensed launch site operators with licensing and safety requirements to protect the public from the risks associated with activities at a launch site. A separate rulemaking will address licensing and safety requirements for operation of a reentry site.