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                Legacy Regulations
    

    
    
        
          This page is intended as a repository for legacy launch and reentry regulations (Part 415/417, Part 431, or Part 435) that will be removed from the CFR on March 10, 2026. Licenses issued under Legacy Regulations will expire no later than March 9, 2026 and no new license applications are being accepted under legacy regulations.  Vehicle operators will need to come into compliance with Part 450 to continue operations after March 9, 2026. Please see the Vehicle Operator Licenses page for more information on Part 450 regulations, guidance materials, and workshop videos.

If you are seeking information on a new license, permit, or approval, please use our Commercial Space Transportation Assistance Tool.

Vehicle Operator Licenses

REGULATIONS (CFR Link)
			TITLE
			APPLICATION CHECKLIST (MS EXCEL)14 CFR Part 415 / 417 (Legacy)
			Expendable Launch License
			Part 415 Launch License (other than RLV) Checklist (MS Excel)Part 417 Launch Safety (ELV) Checklist(MS Excel)14 CFR Part 431 (Legacy)
			Reusable Launch Vehicle
			Part 431 Launch and Reentry of RLV Checklist(MS Excel)14 CFR Part 435 (Legacy)
			Launch and Reentry Vehicle
			Part 435 Reentry of a Reentry Vehicle Other than RLV Checklist (MS Excel)Legacy License Guidance Materials

Title
			Publication Date450 Crosswalk Mapping to Legacy Regulations (PDF)
			11/2020Guide to Probability of Failure Analysis for New Expendable Launch Vehicles (PDF)
			11/2005Guide 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)
			8/1998Advisory Circular 431.35-2A: Reusable launch and reentry vehicle system safety process
			7/2005
              
      
        

          Last updated: Friday, January 26, 2024 U.S. Department of Transportation

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