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                Legislation & Policies, Regulations & Guidance
    

    
    
        
          Legislation & Policies
	Regulations
	GuidanceCommercial Space Transportation Legislation and Policies

National Legislation

51 USC Ch. 509: Commercial Space Launch Activities
	51 USC Ch. 511: Space Transportation Infrastructure Matching GrantsNational Space Policy

National Space Policy of the United States of America (PDF)National Space Transportation Policy

Statement of FAA Administrator on National Space Transportation Policy (11/21/2013) (PDF)
	National Space Transportation Policy (11/21/2013) (PDF)
	Fact Sheet: National Space Transportation Policy (11/21/2013) (PDF)Commercial Space Policy

Legal Interpretations Affecting Commercial Space Transportation
	Statement of Policy on Waiving Ground Safety Regulations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Wallops Flight Facility, and Kennedy Space Center (11/2020) (PDF)
	USCG Letter of Intent (LOI) Policy Statement
	USCG LOI Template
	FAA Notice of Determination on KSC Ground Safety Services and Oversight (PDF)
	Reciprocal Waiver of Claims Template Involving a U.S. Government CustomerMemorandums of Agreement (MOA) & Memorandums of Understanding (MOU)

MOU between the FAA and DAF on Environmental Review Process for Commercial Launch and Reentry Operations (2/1/2023)
	Memorandum of Agreement between NTSB and FAA Concerning Commercial Space Mishap Investigations (9/9/2022)
	Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of the Air Force and FAA for Launch and Reentry Activity on Department of Air Force Ranges and Installations (06/15/2021) (PDF)
	Memorandum of Understanding between NASA and FAA Regarding Achievement of Mutual Goals in Commercial Space Activities (01/4/2021) (PDF)
	MOU between NTSB, USAF and AST Regarding Space Launch Accidents (9/2004) (PDF)
	Memorandum of Understanding Between Air Force Space Command and Federal Aviation Administration Office of the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation for Resolving Requests for Relief from Common Launch Safety Requirements (PDF) (Latest Effective date 11/25/2013)International treaties

The United States has ratified the following international treaties:

Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space (1976) (PDF)
	Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (1972): PDF, MS Word
	Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (Outer Space Treaty of 1967): PDF, MS WordMore information on International Affairs.

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Commercial Space Transportation Regulations

FAA commercial space transportation regulations are located in Chapter III, Parts 400 to 460, of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The regulations implement statutory requirements. Amateur Rocket Activities are not regulated under 14 CFR Chapter III; they are regulated under 14 CFR Chapter I, by the FAA Air Traffic Organization.

New Streamlined Requirements

On September 30, 2020, U.S. Department of Transportation published a new rulemaking around launch and reentry requirements. The streamlined rule provides a safe, performance-based regulatory approach to commercial space transportation. It promotes safety practices by creating flexibility for operators to meet safety requirements, and by enhancing collaboration among stakeholders. The rule also improves efficiency by encouraging potential and current launch site and reentry operators to suggest and implement design and operation solutions. For more information go to Streamlined Licensing Process.

NPRM--Streamlined Launch and Reentry Licensing Requirements
	Final Rule (PDF)The published rulemakings listed below include commercial space transportation proposed rules and final rules that have been published in the Federal Register. These rulemaking documents include preamble language that provides background information and justification relevant to current regulations.

Notice of Proposed Rulemakings

11-62 404-6 405-6 420-8 431-6 435-4 437-2 460-2; Title: Updates to Rulemaking and Waiver Procedures and Expansion of the Equivalent Level of Safety Option
	431-5; Title: Commercial Space Transportation Reusable Launch Vehicle and Reentry Licensing Regulations; Technical Amendment
	406-8; Title: Civil Penalty Inflation Adjustment for Commercial Space Adjudications; Second Amendment
	400-4; Title: Voluntary Licensing of Amateur Rocket Operations; Withdrawal
	400-3 401-7 404-5 405-5 406-7 413-10 414-2 415-5 417-3 420-5 431-3 433-2 435-2 437-1 440-3 460-1; Title: Correction of Authority Citations for Commercial Space Transportation
	420-6A; Title: Explosive Siting Requirements; Correction
	417-2; Title: Launch Safety: Lightning Criteria for Expendable Launch Vehicles
	401-01 411-01 413-03 415-03 417; Title: Commercial Space Transportation Licensing Regulations
	440-4; Title: Reciprocal Waivers of Claims for Licensed or Permitted Launch and Reentry Activities
	Search More NPRMs (FAA NPRM Database)Final Rules

Exclusion of Tethered Launches From Licensing Requirements Final Rule (PDF)
	Changing the Collective Risk Limits for Launches and Reentries and Clarifying the Risk Limit Used to Establish Hazard Areas for Ships and Aircraft Final Rule (PDF)
	Reciprocal Waivers of Claims for Licensed or Permitted Launch and Reentry Activities Final Rule (PDF)
	Search More Final Rules (FAA Final Rule Database)
	Streamlined Launch and Reentry Licensing Requirements Final Rule with Preamble (PDF)Back to top

Commercial Space Transportation Guidance

Guidance documents provide information to aid understanding and compliance with specific FAA regulations. They include Advisory Circulars, guidelines, handbooks, and sample applications about commercial space transportation safety and other regulatory matters. Although not guidance per se, legal interpretations from the FAA's Office of the Chief Counsel address specific legal issues that have precedential effect.

Any reproduction or modification of this material from original FAA source material is solely the responsibility of the publisher.

Guidance Documents
	Title
			Publication DateGuidelines for Compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and Related Environmental Review Statutes (PDF)
			2/2001AC 450.155-1A – High Fidelity Flight Safety Analysis
			6/2/2021U.S. Human Space Flight Safety Record Data (PDF)
			8/2022License and Permit Application Guide for Applicants (PDF)
			4/2016Guide to Probability of Failure Analysis for New Expendable Launch Vehicles (PDF)
			11/2005Experimental PermitsExperimental Permit Program (PDF)
			5/2008Sample Experimental Permit Application (PDF)
			4/2007Experimental Permit Checklists (PDF)
			8/2007Human Space Flight Checklist (PDF)
			1/2008Calculation of Safety Clear Zones for Experimental Permits (PDF)
			2/2011Guidance on Informing Crew and Space Flight Participants of Risk (PDF)
			4/2017Reusable Launch & Reentry Vehicle Safety GuidesGuide to Reusable Launch and Reentry Vehicle Software and Computing System Safety (PDF)
			7/2006Guide to Verifying Safety-Critical Structures for Reusable Launch and Reentry Vehicles, Version 1.0 (PDF)
			11/2005Guide to the Identification of Safety-Critical Hardware Items for Reusable Launch Vehicle Developers (PDF)
			5/2005Guide to Reusable Launch and Reentry Vehicle Reliability Analysis (PDF)
			4/2005Guide to Commercial RLV Operations and Maintenance Version 1.0 (PDF)
			3/2005Guidance for Medical Screening of Commercial Aerospace Passengers (PDF)
			3/2003Non-traditional Flight Safety Systems and IVHM (PDF)
			8/2003Guide to RLV Safety Validation and Verification Planning Version 1.0 (PDF)
			9/2003Supplemental Application Guidance for Unguided Suborbital Launch Vehicles (MS Word Docs)
			Attachment 1 — Trajectory Analysis (MS Word)
				Attachment 2 — Hazard Areas (MS Word)
				Attachment 3 — Risk Analyses (MS Word)
				Attachment 4 — Wind Weighting (MS Word)
			8/1998Safety ApprovalsGuide to commercial space safety approvals (PDF)
			4/2016Brochure on commercial space safety approvals (PDF)
			4/2008Hazard Analysis of Commercial Space Transportation (PDF)
			10/1995Guide for Launch Safety Assessments (PDF)
			9/2016Impacting Inert Debris for People in the Open (PDF)
			4/1995Flight Safety Analysis (FSA) Guidance DocumentsGuidance Statement on Flight Safety Analysis Methodology Descriptions  (PDF)
			7/2023Handling Variability and Uncertainty in Flight Safety Analysis  (PDF)
			7/2023Treatment of Uncertainty in Flight Safety Analysis  (PDF)
			7/2023Part 450 Commercial Space Advisory Circulars (ACs)

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          Last updated: Wednesday, April 10, 2024 U.S. Department of Transportation

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