FAA Launch License

This page includes the launch licenses issued by the FAA for Starship's launches. Important parts are highlighted.

## 15 November 2023

On 15 November 2023, the fish and wildlife service completed the written re-evaluation. Main points are:

* The deluge tanks have a capacity of 358,000 gallons
* Launches are expected to use only 132,000 gallons maximum, so it is possible the system could be used twice.
* Static Fires will use approximately 72,000 gallons.
* SpaceX will be able to use the deluge up to 30 times a year under this WR.
* The nitrogen purge to activate the deluge operates at 3000 psi.
* A launch is expected to ablate up to 190 pounds of steel from the plate.
* 92% of the deluge water is expected to be vaporized.
* SpaceX is expected to add up to 30,000 gallons of additional retention pond storage.
* Retention pond water can be reused if it passes environmental testing, otherwise the pond water must be shipped out for waste.
* The WR finds no significant environmental impacts are expected to wildlife or vegetation at this time and no mitigations are required by SpaceX at this time.
* As always the FWS can come back and request a new WR and changes if impacts beyond expectations are found.

A list of announcements about the process of the re-evaluation can be found in the article about Starship Flight Test 2.

## 14 April 2023

License No. VOL 23-129

Commercial Space Transportation License

Space Exploration Technologies, Corp. is authorized, subject to the provisions of 51 U.S.C. Subtitle V, chapter 509, and the orders, rules, and regulations issued under it, to conduct launches of the Starship-Super Heavy vehicle.

Original Issue Date: April 14, 2023

Issued: April 14, 2023

Effective: April 14, 2023

### License Order A-1 Regarding Launch

* 1. Authority: This Order is issued to Space Exploration Technologies, Corp. (SpaceX) under 51 U.S.C. Subtitle V, chapter 509, and 14 CFR chapter III.
* 2. Purpose: This Order modifies License No. VOL 23-129 issued concurrently by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation, authorizing Space Exploration Technologies, Corp. to conduct launch of its Starship-Super Heavy vehicle as identified in the license application; and prescribes as conditions to License No. VOL 23-129 certain requirements applicable to launch.
* 3. Definitions: For purposes of License No. VOL 23-129 and any orders issued by the FAA pertaining to activities covered by License No. VOL 23-129:
	+ a. “Pre-flight ground operations” shall mean Space Exploration Technologies, Corp.’s pre-flight preparations of the Starship-Super Heavy vehicle at Boca Chica, Texas, beginning at the start of Autonomous Flight Termination System ordnance installation for the Starship upper stage vehicle or Super Heavy booster vehicle, whichever occurs first.
	+ b. “Flight” shall commence with the ignition of the first stage with the intention of liftoff of a Space Exploration Technologies, Corp. Starship-Super Heavy vehicle from SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Complex, Boca Chica, Texas. A flight ends upon Space Exploration Technologies, Corp. vehicle or vehicle component impact or landing on Earth, after activities necessary to return the vehicle or vehicle component to a safe condition on the ground after impact or landing, or after activities necessary to return the site to a safe condition, whichever occurs latest.
* 4. Authorization: In accordance with the representations in the Space Exploration Technologies, Corp. application as of the date of this license, and any amendments to the license application or waivers approved by the FAA, in writing, Space Exploration Technologies, Corp. is authorized to conduct launch consisting of:
	+ a. Pre-flight ground operations:
		- i. Using the Starship-Super Heavy vehicle.
		- ii. At SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Complex, Boca Chica, Texas.
	+ b. Flight Operations:
		- i. Using the Starship-Super Heavy vehicle.
		- ii. From SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Complex, Boca Chica, Texas.
		- iii. To Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean locations specified in its application.
		- iv. For the **first flight only**, unless this license is modified to remove this term.
* 5. Environmental Mitigations: SpaceX must comply with the measures listed in the Conditions and Mitigation section of the Mitigated Finding of No Significant Impact/Record of Decision for the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Launch Vehicle Program at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas, issued June 13, 2022.
* 6. Compliance Monitoring: An **FAA Safety Inspector** must be present at SpaceX’s Boca Chica Launch Complex for flight operations.
* 7. Verification of Hazard Area Publication: SpaceX must confirm, no later than 24 hours prior to flight, that maritime warnings have been issued.
* 8. Special Reporting Requirement:
	+ a. SpaceX must **provide FAA with the location and fate of expended vehicle stages within 30 days** of each launch using an approved plan that is submitted to the FAA at least 7 days prior to launch.
	+ b. SpaceX must identify and report any **anomaly** during any pre-flight ground operations of the vehicle that could be material to public health and safety and the safety of property within 90 days.
* 9. License Term: License No. VOL 23-129 terminates five (5) years from April 14, 2023.5.

### License Order B-1 Regarding Financial Responsibility Requirements

* 1. Authority: This Order is issued to Space Exploration Technologies, Corp. (SpaceX) under 51 U.S.C. Subtitle V, chapter 509, and 14 CFR part 440.
* 2. Purpose: This Order modifies License No. VOL 23‐129 issued concurrently by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation, by prescribing financial responsibility requirements for licensed launch activities in accordance with 14 CFR part 440. VOL 23‐129 issued concurrently by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation, by prescribing financial responsibility requirements for licensed launch activities in accordance with 14 CFR part 440.
* 3. Definitions: For purposes of this Order, “licensed launch activities” shall mean activities authorized by the License. Other terms used in this Order are defined in accordance with 14 CFR § 440.3.
* 4. Liability Insurance: Space Exploration Technologies, Corp. shall maintain a policy or policies of liability insurance in accordance with 14 CFR § 440.9(b) in the amount of:
	+ a. **Forty‐Eight Million Dollars ($48,000,000)** for covered claims resulting from pre‐flight ground operations performed from SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Complex, Boca Chica, Texas; and
	+ b. **Five Hundred Million Dollars ($500,000,000)** for covered claims resulting from the flight of the Starship‐Super Heavy launch vehicle from SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Complex, Boca Chica, Texas.

## 28 May 2020

License Number: LRLO 20-119

Commercial Space Transportation License

Space Exploration Technologies is authorized, subject to the provisions of 51 USC Subtitle V, ch. 509, and the orders, rules, and regulations issued under it, to conduct suborbital reusable launch vehicle (RLV) missions.

Issued: May 28, 2020

Effective: May 28. 2020

### License Order Regarding Launch

* 1. Authority: This Order is issued to Space Exploration Technologies, referred to as SpaceX, under 51 U.S.C. subtitle V, chapter 509, and 14 C.F.R. Ch. III.
* 2. Purpose: This Order modifies License No. LRLO 20-119 issued concurrently by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation, authorizing SpaceX to conduct suborbital missions to launch the Starship Prototype; and prescribes as conditions to License No. LRLO 20-119 certain requirements applicable to those missions.
* 3. Definitions: For purposes of License No. LRLO 20-119 and any orders issued by the FAA pertaining to activities
* covered by License No. LRLO 20-119:
	+ (i) “Pre-flight ground operations” means SpaceX’s pre-flight preparations of the Starship Prototype at the Boca Chica Launch Site.
	+ (ii) “Flight” shall mean the flight of the Starship Prototype vehicle, commencing with ignition of the vehicle from the Boca Chica Launch Site. Flight includes operation of the Starship Prototype vehicle on a suborbital trajectory with translation to the landing pad at the Boca Chica Launch Site. A flight is concluded upon safing of the vehicle.
* 4. Special Reporting Requirements: In addition to all applicable reporting requirements under 14 C.F.R. Ch. III:
	+ (i) SpaceX must identify and **report any anomaly** to the FAA occurring on a prior flight of the vehicle or during any pre-flight processing of the vehicle that could be material to public safety. SpaceX may not proceed with flight operations until receiving written correspondence from the FAA that the identified anomalies have been adequately addressed.
	+ (ii) In order to perform pre-flight operations that include propellant loading, SpaceX must provide the FAA with the **nominal thrust profile and the intended quantities of Methane and Liquid Oxygen** at least 3 business days in advance of each operation.
* 5. License Term: The term of License No. LRLO 20-119 authorizing SpaceX to conduct RLV missions is one (1) year from the effective date of this license order.

### License Order Regarding Flight

* 1. Authority: This Order is issued to Space Exploration Technologies, referred to as SpaceX, under 51 U.S.C. subtitle V, chapter 509, and 14 C.F.R. Ch. III.
* 2. Purpose: This Order modifies License No. LRLO 20-119 issued concurrently by the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation, authorizing SpaceX to conduct suborbital missions to launch the Starship Prototype; and prescribes as conditions to License No. LRLO 20-119 certain requirements applicable to the authorization to conduct the flights of these launch vehicles.
* 3. Authorization: SpaceX is authorized to conduct flights:
	+ (a) Using the Starship Prototype vehicle on the ground track and trajectory presented in the license application;
	+ (b) From SpaceX’s Boca Chica Launch Site;
	+ (c) According to the launch vehicle, launch vehicle systems, and safety management program represented in the SpaceX application as of the date of this order, and any amendments to the license application approved by the FAA, in writing; and
	+ (d) Only when an **FAA Safety Inspector** is present at SpaceX’s Boca Chica launch and landing site.

### License Order Regarding Financial Responsibility Requirements

* 1. Authority: This Order is issued to Space Exploration Technologies, referred to as SpaceX, under 51 U.S.C. Subtitle V, chapter 509, and 14 C.F.R. part 440.
* 2. Purpose: This Order modifies License No. LRLO 20-119 issued concurrently by the Federal Aviation Administrations Office of Commercial Space Transportation, by prescribing financial responsibility requirements for licensed launch activities in accordance with 14 C.F.R. part 440.
* 3. Definitions: For purposes of this Order, licensed launch activities shall mean activities authorized by the License. Other terms used in this Order are defined in accordance with 14 C.F.R. § 440.3.
* 4. Liability Insurance: SpaceX shall maintain a policy or policies of liability insurance (or otherwise demonstrate financial responsibility) in accordance with 14 C.F.R. § 440.9(b) in the amount of:
	+ a) **Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000)** for covered claims resulting from pre-flight operations of the Starship Prototype from SpaceXs Boca Chica Launch Site; and
	+ b) **Five Hundred Million Dollars ($500,000,000)** for covered claims resulting from flight of the Starship Prototype from SpaceXs Boca Chica Launch Site.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.faa.gov/about/office\_org/headquarters\_offices/ast/licenses\_permits/media/VOL%2023-129%20SpaceX%20Starship-Super%20Heavy%20License%20and%20Orders%202023-04-14.pdf
2. ↑ https://www.faa.gov/about/office\_org/headquarters\_offices/ast/licenses\_permits/media/License%20and%20Orders%20SpaceX%20LRLO%2020-119%20Starship%20Prototype%202022-05-27.pdf