USA Banner
  U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowOfficial US Government Icon
              **Official websites use .gov**A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            Secure Site Icon
              **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
 United States Department of Transportation
 Secondary navigation
  

        
                    About
                Jobs
                News
                                                           Enter Search Term(s):
                 Ultimenu: Main navigation
  

        AircraftSubnav: Aircraft 1
  

        
              Aircraft Certification
                Aviation Safety Draft Documents Open for Comment
                Vintage & Experimental Aircraft ProgramSubnav: Aircraft 2
  

        
              Aircraft Safety
                General Aviation & Recreational Aircraft
                Repair Stations
                Air Carrier & Air Agency CertificationAir TrafficSubnav: Air Traffic 1
  

        
              Air Traffic By The Numbers
                Air Traffic Environmental Review
                Community Engagement
                Flight Information
                International Aviation
                National Airspace SystemSubnav: Air Traffic 2
  

        
              NextGen
                Obstruction Evaluation
                Air Traffic Plans and Publications
                Separation Standards
                Technology
                WeatherAirportsSubnav: Airports 1
  

        
              Airport Cooperative Research Program
                Airport Improvement Program
                Airport Compliance
                Airport Rescue Grants
                Airport Safety
                Airport Certification
                CARES Act Grants
                Airport Coronavirus Response Grant ProgramSubnav: Airports 2
  

        
              Engineering, Design, & Construction
                Environmental Programs
                News & Information
                Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) Program
                Planning & Capacity
                Resources
                Regions
                Runway Safety
                Airport Safety Information Video SeriesPilots & AirmenSubnav: Airmen 1
  

        
              Find an Aviation Medical Examiner
                Become a Pilot
                International Flight
                Pilot Certificates & Records
                Medical CertificationSubnav: Airmen 2
  

        
              FAA Safety Team
                Mechanics
                Airmen Certification
                Training & Testing
                From the Flight Deck
                Pilot's Bill of RightsData & ResearchSubnav: Data & Research 1
  

        
              Accident & Incident Data
                Aviation Forecasts
                Aviation Data & Statistics
                Commercial Space DataSubnav: Data & Research 2
  

        
              Funding & Grant Data
                Passengers & Cargo
                Research
                Safety
                Technical LibraryRegulationsSubnav: Regulations 1
  

        
              Advisory Circulars
                Airworthiness Directives
                FAA Regulations
                Forms
                Handbooks & Manuals
                Orders & NoticesSubnav: Regulations 2
  

        
              Pilot Records Database
                Policy & Guidance
                Rulemaking
                Temporary Flight Restrictions
                Notices to Air Missions (NOTAM)SpaceSubnav: Space 1
  

        
              Licenses, Permits & Approvals
                Resources
                Legislation & Policies, Regulations & Guidance
                Environmental
                SpaceportsSubnav: Space 2
  

        
              Airspace Integration
                Stakeholder Engagement
                Compliance, Enforcement & Mishap
                Commercial Human Spaceflight
                Careers
                Additional InformationDronesSubnav: Drones 1
  

        
              Advanced Operations
                Certificated Remote Pilots including Commercial Operators
                Contact Us
                Critical Infrastructure & Public Venues
                Drone Events
                Educational Users
                UAS en EspanolSubnav: Drones 2
  

        
              Getting Started
                Public Safety and Government
                Programs, Partnerships & Opportunities
                Recreational Flyers & Modeler Community-Based Organizations
                Resources & Other Topics
                Research & DevelopmentMenu Home
                        Commercial Space Transportation
                        Stakeholder Engagement


            
            In This Section
        Shuttle Landing Facility Project
                                History
                Commercial Space Operations
                Sierra Space at Shuttle Landing Facility Proposed Reentry Operations
                Sierra Space at Shuttle Landing Facility License Review Process
                Sierra Space Public Involvement Opportunities
      
   Related Links
          FAA Order 1050.1F – Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures
                                                        NASA Kennedy Space Center
      
      
      
        Contact Commercial Space
      Office of Commercial Space
      
                          
            800 Independence Avenue SWWashington, DC 20591United States
      
          
    **Email:**9-AST-Inquiries@faa.gov**Phone:** 202-267-7793**Fax:** 202-267-5450
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
                
                Shuttle Landing Facility
    

    
    
        
          Space Florida holds a Launch and Reentry Site Operator License, issued by the FAA in January 2021 (License Number: LRSO 18-018 (PDF)). This Launch and Reentry Site Operator license allows Space Florida to offer the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF), located at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport in Titusville, Florida, to launch and reentry vehicle operators. Space Florida applied to the FAA in 2020 to add reentry operations to their previous Launch Site Operator License issued in November 2018. The Launch and Reentry Site Operator License was issued by the FAA on January 15, 2021 and will remain in effect for five years. For more information, visit the Shuttle Landing Facility Commercial Space Operations page.

Sierra Space is applying to the FAA for a Vehicle Operator License that would allow Sierra Space to conduct reentries at the SLF with its Dream Chaser vehicle. For more information, visit the Sierra Space at SLF Proposed Reentry Operations page.

FAA

The FAA licenses and regulates U.S. commercial space launch and reentry activities, as well as the operation of non-federal launch and reentry sites. When evaluating license applications, the FAA must conduct the following reviews: a safety review, an environmental review, airspace integration, a policy review, a reentry site location review (Launch and Reentry Site Operator Licenses only), a payload review (Vehicle Operator Licenses only), and a financial responsibility review (Vehicle Operator Licenses only). For more information, visit the FAA Sierra Space at SLF License Review Process project page.

Space Florida

Space Florida is the state-chartered spaceport authority and has statutory responsibility and authority to support the expansion and operation of Florida's commercial space transportation capabilities. Space Florida promotes economic development activities for space industry needs, including attracting, retaining, and expanding aerospace or supply chain businesses that create economic opportunities in Florida. In 2013, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) selected Space Florida to manage and operate the SLF. In June 2015, Kennedy Space Center transferred the management, development, and operation of the SLF to Space Florida. For more information, visit the SLF History page.

Stay Informed

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates on this project.

Project Updates

In January 2021, FAA published the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the SLF Reentry Site Operator License (Final PEA and FONSI). A copy of the Final PEA and FONSI is available for download on the Space Florida Shuttle Landing Facility Programmatic Environmental Assessment page.

The Programmatic Environmental Assessment analyzes the potential impacts from the range of commercial space reentry operations proposed by Space Florida at the SLF.

Draft Environmental Assessment

The FAA is announcing the availability of the *Draft Environmental Assessment for Sierra Space Dream Chaser Vehicle Operator License at the Shuttle Landing Facility, Brevard County, Florida* (Draft EA). The FAA prepared the Draft EA for Sierra Space's Vehicle Operator License application, which tiers off the SLF Programmatic Environmental Assessment. The electronic version of the Draft EA is available on this website for download.

Draft Environmental Assessment for the Sierra Space Dream Chaser Vehicle Operator License at the Shuttle Landing Facility, Brevard County, Florida (Draft EA)
	Draft EA AppendicesHard copies of the Draft EA are also available for review at the following locations:

Merritt Island Public Library, 1195 N Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island, Florida 32953
	Titusville Public Library, 2121 South Hopkins Avenue, Titusville, Florida 32780
	Port St. John Public Library, 6500 Carole Avenue, Port St. John, Florida 32927Comments on the Draft EA

The public comment period closed on January 24, 2022.

All comments received during the comment period will be given equal weight and be taken into consideration in the preparation of the Final EA.

Public Review Period

The FAA has posted a presentation describing the project and the potential environmental impacts.

EA Presentation and Opportunity for a Public Meeting
              Please email us at slfproject@icf.com to be added to the mailing list.
      
        

          Last updated: Thursday, December 14, 2023 U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20591
866.835.5322 (866-TELL-FAA)Contact Us
        Get Important Info/Data
  

        
              Accident & Incident Data
                Airport Data & Information Portal (ADIP)
                Charting & Data
                Flight Delay Information
                Supplemental Type Certificates
                Type Certificate Data Sheets (TCDS)Review Documents
  

        
              Aircraft Handbooks & Manuals
                Airport Diagrams
                Aviation Handbooks & Manuals
                Examiner & Inspector
                FAA Guidance
                Performance Reports & PlansLearn About NextGen
  

        
              Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)
                NextGen Today
                NextGen Programs and Resources
                Performance Reporting and BenefitsVisit Other FAA Sites
  

        
              Airmen Inquiry
                Airmen Online Services
                N-Number Lookup
                FAA Mobile
                FAA Safety Team
                Frequently Asked Questions

  Policies, Rights & Legal
  

        
              About DOT
                Budget and Performance
                Civil Rights
                FOIA
                Information Quality
                No FEAR Act
                Office of Inspector General
                Privacy Policy
                USA.gov
                Web Policies and Notices
                Web StandardsDOT Facebook
	DOT Twitter
	DOT Instagram
	DOT LinkedIn
	FAA YouTube
	DOT Medium