FAA 14 CFR Part 460 

Commercial Space Human Space Flight - Checklist 

Transportation 

Purpose of Checklist 

Checklist Sections 

Other Tools 

The following checklist is for the use of an applicant proposing to conduct 

a launch or reentry with an operator or remote operator who has flight crew 

or a space flight participant(s) on board. The checklist also assists in the 

application process as an organizational guide. It specifically addresses 14 

CFR Part 460. 

Prospective applicant must read, understand and cross-reference the 

complete regulations when completing the application package. Some of 

the regulatory text has been rephrased in this checklist for the sake of 

brevity. Where the checklist text differs from regulatory text, the 

regulatory text takes precedence. The regulations can be found at AST' s 

website (http://faa.gov/space). 

Some application requirements include the submittal of information that 

may have been previously submitted to meet an earlier requirement - for 

simplicity, the applicant may reference the previously submitted 

information where applicable. 

The Human Space Flight checklist has two parts: Application checklist and 

Licensee and Pennittee checklist. 

Application checklist describes which sections of §460 you must 

demonstrate compliance with based on whether you are applying for a 

license or permit. As well as describes the sections that you must address 

in the application. 

Responsibilities of the Licensee and Permittee checklist describes the 

responsibilities of the license or permit holder. 

Use this checklist in conjunction with other tools, such as the Advisory 

Circulars, and other guidance documents that the FAA Office of 

Commercial Space Transportation also provides. 
APPLICATION CHECKLIST 
460.5 

(a)(l) 

Detailed Requirements 

Each Crew Member must: 

14 CFR Part 460 

Human Space Flight - Application Checklist 

415.8 Human Space To obtain a launch license, au applicant 

Flight proposing to conduct a launch with flight 

(Launch License) crew or a space flight participant on board 

must demonstrate compliance with 460.5, 

460.7, 460.11, 

460.13, 460.15, 460.17 460.51, aud 460.53. 

431.8 Human Space To obtain a license, an applicant proposing to 

Flight conduct a reusable launch vehicle mission 

(Reusable Launch with flight crew or a space flight participant 

Vehicle (RLV)] ou board must demonstrate compliance with 

460.5, 460.7, 460.11, 460.13, 460.15, 460.17, 

460.51, and 460.53. 

1 435.8 Human Space An applicant for a license to conduct a 

Flight reentry of a reentry vehicle other than an 

(Reentry Vehicle RL V with flight crew or a space flight 

Other than an participant on board the vehicle must 

RLV) demonstrate compliance with 460.5, 460. 7, 

460.11, 460.13, 460.15, 460.17, 460.51, and 

460.53. 

437.21 Human Space To obtain a permit, an applicant proposing 

(b)(3) Flight 

(Experimental 

launch or reentry with flight crew or a space 

flight participant on board a reusable 

Permit) suborbital rocket must demonstrate 

compliance with 460.5, 460. 7, 460.11, 460.13, 

460.15, 460.17, 460.51 and 460.53. - ·-�w."!!'·

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Crew training for 

public safety • Complete training on their role on

board or on the ground so vehicle wiJI

not harm public.

460.5 Crew training in Each crew member must train for their role in 

3 (a)(2) nominal and nonnominal conditions 

nominal and off-nominal conditions including: 

• Abort scenarios

• Emergency Operations

460.S(b) Crew ability to Each member of the flight crew must show 

withstand stresses of their ability to withstand stresses of space 

4 space flight flight ( e.g. accelerating or deceleration, 

microgravity, and vibration) and still be able to 

carry out their duties so the vehicle will not 

harm the ublic. 

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14 CFR Part 460 

Human Space Flight - Application Checklist 

Section Application Item# ✓ Detailed Requirements Number Requirement 

460.5 Pilot and remote Pilot and Remote Operators must possess the 

(c)(l-2) operator following items and knowledge: 

qualifications I) Possess and carry an FAA pilotee

certification with an instrument ratingee

Possess aeronautical knowledge andee

experience necessary to pilot andee 5 control the launch and reentry vehicleee

that will operate in the Nationalee

Airspace System (NAS)ee

460.S(d)ee Remote operator Remote operator may demonstrate an 

equivalent level of equivalent level of safety to §460.5(c )(1) 

safety through the license of nermit nrocess 

460.5 Pilot and remote Pilot and remote operator must receive vehicle 

(c)(3) operator training and mission specific training for each specific 

phase of flight by one or more of the 

following methods: • A method of device that simulates theee

flight • An aircraft whose characteristics areee

similar to the vehicle or that hasee

similar phases of flight to the vehicleee • Flight testingee 6 • An equivalent method of trainingee

approved by the FAA through theee

license or permit processee

460.5 Pilot and remote Must train in procedures that direct the vehicle 

(c)(4) operator training away from the public in the event the flight 

crew abandons the vehicle during flight 

460.5 Pilot and remote Must train for each mode of control or 

(c)(5) operator training propulsion, inclnding any transition between 

modes, such that the pilot or remote operator is 

able to control the vehicle 

460.S(e)ee Medical Each crew member with a safety critical role 

requirements for must possess and carry an FAA second-class 

7 crew member airman medical certificate issued in accordance 

with 14 CFR part 67, no more than 12 months 

prior to the month of launch and reentry 

�-;ct�;;;�S.-�"'"'I!'.'.'" ' 

460.7(a) Im

, 

plementation 

_ 'r"".I.L 

of 

'i!■i lll!lllila

Operator must 

m

train each member 

··:� .. ■l!-

of its crew 

8 training and define standards for successful completion 

in accordance with §460.5 

460.7(b) Training device Operator must: 

fidelity • Ensure that any crew-training deviceee

used to meet training requirementsee

9 realistically represents the vehicle'see

configuration and mission, oree • Inform the crew member being trainedee

of the differences between the two.ee

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14 CFR Part 460 

Human Space Flight - Application Checklist 

Section Item# ✓ Number 

460.7(c) 

10 

460.7(d) 

11 

460.1 l(a) 

12 

460.1 l(b) 13 

460.1 l(c) 

14 

460.13 

15 

Application 

Re uirement 

Maintenance of 

training records 

Current 

qualifications and 

training 

Environmental 

Control and Life 

Support System 

(ECLSS) pertaining 

to the vehicle 

Redundant oxygen 

SU ply 

Preventing cabin 

depressurization 

Smoke detection and 

fire suppression 

Detailed Requirements 

Operator must: • Continually update the crew training toee

ensure that it incorporates lessonsee

learned from training and operationalee

missionsee • Track each revision and update inee

writing andee • Document the completed training foree

each crew member and maintain theee

documentation for each active crewee

memberee

Operator must establish a recurrent training 

schedule and ensure that all crew qualifications 

and training required by 460.5 are current 

before launch and reentry 

L. 

Operator must provide atmospheric conditions 

adequate to sustain life and consciousness for 

all inhabited areas within a vehicle. Operator or 

flight crew must monitor and control the 

following atmospheric conditions in the 

inhabited areas or demonstrate through the 

license or permit process that an alternate 

means provides an equivalent level of safety. • Composition of the atmosphere, whichee

includes oxygen and carbon dioxide,ee

and any revitalizationee • Pressure, temperature and humidityee • Contaminants that include particulatesee

and any harmful or hazardousee

concentrations of gases, or vapors • Ventilation and circulationee

Operator must provide an adequate redundant 

or secondary oxygen supply for the flight crew. 

Operator must: • Provide a redundant means ofee

preventing cabin depressurization or • Prevent incapacitation of any of theee

flight crew in the event of loss of cabinee

ressure 

Operator or crew must have ability to detect 

smoke and suppress a cabin fire to prevent 

inca acitation of flight crew 

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14 CFR Part 460 

Human Space Flight - Application Checklist 

Section Item# ✓ 

Number 

460.15 

460.17 

460.51 

460.53 

Application 

Requirement 

Human factors 

Verification 

program 

Space flight 

participant training 

Security 

Detailed Requirements 

Operator must take precautions necessary to 

account for human factors that can affect a 

crew's ability to perform safety-critical areas 

by: 

• Design and layout of displays andaa

controlsaa • Mission planning (including analyzingaa

tasks and allocating functions betweenaa

humans and equipment)aa • Restraint or stowage of all individualsaa

and objects in a vehicle, andaa • Vehicle operation, so that vehicle willaa

be operated in a manner that flight crewaa

can withstand any physical stressaa

factors, such as acceleration, vibration,aa

and noiseaa

Operator must successfully verify the integrated 

performance of a vehicle's hardware and any 

software in an operational flight environment 

before allowing any space flight participant on 

board during a flight. Verification must include 

flight testing. 

Operator must train each space flight participant 

before flight on how to respond to emergency 

situations, including smoke, fire, loss of cabin 

pressure, and emergency exit. 

Operator must implement security requirements 

to prevent any space flight participant from 

jeopardizing the safety of the flight crew or the 

public. A space flight participant may not carry 

on board any explosives, firearms, knives, or 

other weapons. 

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RESPONSIBILITIES OF 

LICENSEE and PERMITTEE 

CHECKLIST 
14 CFR Part 460 

Human Space Flight - Responsibilities of Licensee and Permittee 

Section Application Item# ✓ Detailed Requirements Number Re uiremeut 

460.9 Informing crew of Operator must inform in writing any individual 

risk serving as crew that the U.S. Government has 

not certified the launch vehicle and any reentry 

vehicle as safe for carrying flight crew or space 

flight participants. Operator must provide this 

information: 

I •ee Before entering into any contract oree

other arrangement to employ thatee

individual oree

•ee For any crew member employed as ofee

December 23, 2004, as early as possibleee

and prior to any launch in which that · · individual will te as crew 

460.19 Crew waiver of Each member of a flight crew and any remote 

2 claims against U.S. 

Government 

operator must execute a reciprocal waiver of 

claims with the FAA of the DOT in accordance . . . . . . 

460.45(a) Informing space Before receiving compensation or making an 

flight participant of agreement to fly a space flight participant, an 

risk operator must: 

•ee Inform each space flight participant inee

writing about the risks of the launchee

3 and reentry including the safety recordee

•ee

of the launch or reentry vehicle typeee

Information must be presented in aee

manner that can be readily understoodee

by a space flight participant with noee

s ecialized education or trainingee

460.45 Risk disclosure in The written disclosure must include: 

(a)(l-3) writing •ee For each mission, each known hazardee

and risk that could result in a seriousee

injury, death, disability, or total oree

partial loss of physical and mentalee

4 functionee

•ee That there are hazards not known andee

•ee That participation in space flight mayee

result in death, serious injury, or total oree

partial loss of physical or mentalee

functionee

460.45(b) U.S. Government Operator must inforn1 each space flight 

has not certified participant that the U.S. Government has not 

5 vehicle as safe certified the launch vehicle and any reentry 

vehicle as safe for carrying crew or space flight 

participants 

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14 CFR Part 460 

Human Space Flight - Responsibilities of Licensee and Permittee 

Item# ✓ Section 

Number 

460.45(c) 

Application 

Requirement 

Safety record of all 

vehicles that have 

carried humans 

Detailed Requirements 

Operator must inform space flight participant of 

the safety record of all launch or reentry 

vehicles that have carried one or more persons 

on board, including both U.S. government and 

6 

private sector vehicles. This information must 

include: • Total number of people who have beenee

on a suborbital or orbital space fightee

and total number of people who haveee

died or been seriously injured on theseee

flights, andee • Total number of launches and reentriesee

conducted with people on board andee

number of catastrophic failures of thoseee

launches and reentriesee

460.45(d) Safety record of 

operator's vehicle 

Operator must describe the safety record of its 

vehicle to each space flight participant. 

Operator's safety record must cover launch and 

reentry accidents and human space flight 

incidents that occurred during and after vehicle 

7 

verification performed in accordance with 

460.17 and include: • Number of vehicle flightsee • Number of accidents and human spaceee

flight incidents as defined by sectionee

460.15 andee • Whether any corrective actions wereee

taken to resolve these accidents andee

human space flight incidentsee

8 

460.45(e) Space flight 

participant 

requesting additional 

information 

Operator must inform a space flight participant 

that he or she may request additional 

information regarding any accidents and human 

space flight incidents reported 

9 

460.45(1) Opportunity for 

space flight 

participant to ask 

questions 

Before flight an operator must provide each 

space flight participant an opportunity to ask 

questions orally to acquire a better 

understanding of the hazards and risk of the 

m1ss10n 

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14 CFR Part 460 

Human Space Flight - Responsibilities of Licensee and Permittee 

Section Application Item# ✓ Detailed Requirements Number Requirement

460.45 Space flight 

participant written 

consent 

10 

460.49 Space flight 

participant waiver of 11 claims against U.S. 

Government 

Each space flight participant must provide 

consent in writing to participate in a launch or 

reentry. Written consent must: • Identify the specific launch vehicle the

consent covers • State that the space flight participant

understands the risk, and his or her

presence on board the launch vehicle is

voluntary • Be signed and dated by the space flight

participant

Each space flight participant must execute a 

reciprocal waiver of claims with the FAA of the 

DOT in accordance with the requirements of 

part 440 (Financial Responsibility) 

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