The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is streamlining the launch and reentry licensing process for space operations.
All licensing will now occur under the Part 450 rule, which consolidates four legacy rules into one. The FAA says it provides more flexibility and more methods of compliance, reducing administrative and cost burdens.
Part 450 reduces the number of times an operator needs an FAA licence approval and allows one licence for a portfolio of operations, different vehicle configurations and mission profiles, and even multiple launch and reentry sites.
“We’re pleased to have flight-ready operators and vehicles successfully transition to a performance-based rule that unlocks flexibility while maintaining safety for the public,” said Dr. Minh A. Nguyen, Deputy Associate Administrator for the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation.
The FAA issued the Part 450 rule during the first Trump administration as commercial space operations started to rapidly grow. For five years, the old and new regulations were in effect simultaneously to provide a transition period for operators to obtain a Part 450 licence.
Operators that have transitioned legacy licenses include Blue Origin New Shepard, Firefly Aerospace Alpha, SpaceX Falcon 9 / Falcon Heavy and Dragon, Rocket Lab Electron, and United Launch Alliance Atlas and Vulcan.
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Image: Firefly Alpha (Firefly Aerospace)