• MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 

BETWEEN 

THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 

AND 

THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION 

REGARDING 

ACHIEVEMENT OF MUTUAL GOALS IN COMMERCIAL SPACE ACTIVITIES 

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ("NASA") and the Federal Aviation 

Administration ("FAA"), through this Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU"), affirm their 

intent to continue their longstanding partnership on mutually beneficial commercial space 

activities in furtherance ofU.S. national space policy and commercial space transportationrelated interests. In this MOU, NASA and the FAA may be individually referred to as a "Party" 

and collectively referred to as the "Parties." 

I. Background 

NASA and the FAA have enjoyed a successful and longstanding relationship in support of both 

Parties' efforts to bring commercial crew and cargo activities to fruition as well as bolstering the 

pace and scope of American aerospace innovations. This cooperation was highlighted by the 

successful Commercial Crew Program's demonstration and operational missions to the 

International Space Station, which greatly benefitted from several years of effective cooperation 

between NASA and the FAA. The close partnership between NASA and the FAA has afforded 

the Parties the opportunity to further other activities in their respective mission areas based on 

experiences and lessons learned through this partnership. 

NASA and the FAA also have a strong existing relationship on commercial suborbital 

spaceflight whereby NASA's Flight Opportunities program relies on FAA licensing and 

regulations when fulfilling its mission of facilitating rapid demonstration ofpromising 

technologies for space exploration, discovery, and the expansion of space commerce through 

suborbital testing with industry flight providers. NASA's Flight Opportunities program also has . . 

provided test flights for FAA-sponsored safety enabling technologies, in particular through the 

FAA's Center ofExcellence for Commercial Space Transportation. Recently, NASA and the 

FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation collaborated on developing the framework for 

flying NASA-sponsored spaceflight participants on commercial suborbital flights, allowing 

researchers from industry and academia to propose to fly with their NASA-sponsored payloads 

for the first time. NASA is also collaborating with the FAA on commercial suborbital 

spaceflight activities through the Commercial Crew Program's Suborbital Crew (SubC) efforts to 

extend suborbital space transportation capabilities for NASA astronauts and other NASA 

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personnel. NASA seeks to enter into public-private partnerships to improve airspace, passenger, 

and crew safety while enhancing the capabilities of commercial suborbital point-to-point 

spacecraft. 

NASA and the FAA have complementary and interdependent interests in (1) creating a robust 

commercial space industry to achieve safe, reliable, and cost-effective access to space, and (2) 

enhancing the competitiveness, safety, and affordability of American aerospace capabilities 

including next-generation capabilities such as suborbital spaceflight systems. Continuing this 

partnership is critical to achieving the goals and objectives of multiple U.S. space policies, 

including the 2020 National Space Policy and Space Policy Directives 1, 2, and 3. 

II. Scope 

This MOU is intended to support commercial space activities related to the transport of 

government and non-government passengers, cargo, and payloads for both orbital and suborbital 

missions in a safe, cost-effective manner that avoids conflicting requirements and multiple sets of 

standards. The MOU is also intended to advance U.S. Government and commercial interests in 

developing a prosperous American commercial space industry. In support ofthese goals, the 

Parties intend to exchange knowledge and best practices and may pursue collaborative 

commercial aerospace-related activities in a variety of areas consistent with each Party's mission 

and applicable law. 

Areas in which the Parties seek to work together to continue their successful cooperation and 

pursue new collaborations include but are not limited to: 

• Launch and Reentry Industry Framework 

o Provide a stable framework between NASA requirements and FAA regulations for 

the U.S. space launch industry, including human spaceflight, that is transparent, 

avoids conflicting requirements and multiple sets of standards, and encourages 

growth and innovation. 

o Increase transparency during the license review process by developing applicant 

guidance in the form of an Advisory Circular and interagency standard operating 

procedures for when agencies may seek additional information. 

o Develop and foster best practices for spacecraft conjunction assessment and on-orbit 

operations, including large constellations. 

o Advance the interests of those supporting private astronaut missions by collaborating 

to ensure consistency between NASA contract or agreement requirements and FAA 

statutes and regulations. 

o Advance the interests of U.S. commercial launch operators responsible for 

transporting domestic and international partner astronauts on suborbital crewed 

missions, as well as missions to low-Earth orbit ("LEO," including to the 

International Space Station, and future private sector free-flying platforms). 

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• Medical 

o Through their respective Chief Health and Medical Officer and Federal Air Surgeon 

or their designees, seek to share de-identified spaceflight clinical medical data, 

information, and knowledge on the biomedical (physiological and pathological) 

effects of orbital and suborbital spaceflight (long and short-duration) among 

occupants of space vehicles and space habitats, including post-flight medical aspects. 

• Safety 

o Advance both public safety and human spaceflight safety. 

o Coordinate on lessons learned from mishap investigations. 

o Coordinate on an approach for sharing safety data with the public to enhance 

understanding of the known risks of space. 

• Suborbital Spaceflight 

o NASA seeks to work with and rely on FAA regulation and licensing of commercial 

suborbital spaceflight transportation providers to strategically invest in and facilitate 

rapid demonstration of promising space technologies including point-to-point 

transportation, test and qualify spaceflight hardware, and conduct human-tended 

microgravity research, astronaut training, and human spaceflight activities. 

o Seek out areas for collaborative research opportunities, jointly and with academia or 

industry when practical, to advance technologies and scientific knowledge that will 

benefit the commercial space transportation industry. 

o NASA and the FAA seek to advance the interests of a commercial suborbital point-topoint pilot program with designated spaceports, airspace design, sequencing, launch 

and landing windows, etc. 

• Individual Preparation for Human Spaceflight 

o Collaborate on best practices for familiarization of participants with spaceflight safety 

factors (individual, operational, and environmental), individual evaluation/selection 

technique~, and personal qualifications for orbital and suborbital flights. 

III. Collaboration on Specific Activities 

The roles and responsibilities of each Party for specific activities will be documented in nonbinding Joint Program Management Plans at the program level if needed. Should both Parties 

agree to enter into binding obligations in connection with the activities described in this MOU, 

the Parties will negotiate and enter into separate agreements, fully independent ofthis MOU, 

and as permitted by and in accordance with law and the respective Parties' policies and 

processes. 

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IV. Authority 

The FAA is entering into this MOU under the authority of 49 U .S.C. 106(1) ( 6) and 

106(m). 

V. Points of Contact 

The following personnel are designated as the Points of Contact between the Parties in 

the performance of this MOU: 

Technical Points of Contact 

NASA 

Philip McAlister 

Director, Commercial Spaceflight Development 

Division 

Human Exploration and Operations 

· Mission Directorate 

Philip.Mcalister@nasa.gov 

Office: 202-358-0712 

Christopher Baker 

Small Spacecraft Technology and 

Flight Opportunities Program Executive 

Space Technology Mission Directorate 

Christopher.E.Baker@nasa.gov 

Office: 202-358-2455 

Administrative Points of Contact 

NASA 

Jennifer Troxell 

Senior Interagency Programs Specialist 

Office of International and Interagency 

Relations 

Jennifer.L.Troxell@nasa.gov 

Office: 202-358-0724 

VI. Miscellaneous 

FAA 

Randy Repcheck 

(A) Exec Dir, Office of Operational Safety 

Office of Commercial Space 

Transportation, FAA 

Randy.Repcheck@faa.gov 

Office: 202-267-8660 

FAA 

Pam Underwood 

Director, Office of Spaceports 

FAA Office of Commercial 

Space Transportation 

Pam.Underwood@faa.gov 

Office: 321-474-9570 

A. NASA and FAA agree that the information and data exchanged in furtherance of the 

activities under this MOU will be exchanged without use and disclosure restrictions, 

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unless required by law in accordance with restrictive markings on the information or 

data. Each party shall take appropriate measures to protect proprietary, privileged or 

otherwise confidential information obtained as a result of its activities under this 

MOU. 

B. This MOU is strictly for the management and planning purposes of each of the 

Parties. 

C. This MOU does not support an obligation of funds, nor does it constitute a binding 

commitment upon either Party or create any legal rights or obligations for either 

Party. 

D. Nothing in this MOU shall be interpreted as limiting, superseding, or otherwise 

affecting a Party from conducting normal operations or making decisions in carrying 

out its mission and duties. 

E. This MOU does not limit or restrict the Parties from participating in similar activities 

or arrangements with other entities. 

F. Each Party shall be responsible for any and all expenses incurred-by that Party 

relating to this MOU, and neither Party will be responsible for any expense incurred 

by the other Party unless specifically agreed to in writing, separate from and 

independent of this MOU. 

G. Administration ofthis MOU and coordination of subsequent NASA-FAA agreements 

for activities identified in section II of this MOU will be the responsibility of the 

offices identified as the "Administrative Points of Contact" in section V of this MOU. 

H. Either Party may unilaterally terminate this MOU upon ninety (90) calendar days 

written notice to the· other Party. 

I. This MOU becomes effective upon the date of the last signature below ("Effective 

Date") and shall remain in effect until either (a) a Party decides to terminate its 

participation according to Section VI (H) of this MOU, or (b) ten (10) calendar years 

from the Effective Date, whichever comes first. 

J. Any modification to this MOU will be executed in writing and signed by an 

authorized representative ofNASA and the FAA. 

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VII. Signatures 

The respective authorized officials of each organization hereby execute this MOU on the date set 

forth below. 

Steve Dickson, Administrator 

utics and Space Administration Federal Aviation Administration 

Date: January 4, 2021 

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