Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Commercial Launches
- What is the Streamlined Launch and Reentry Licensing Requirements Final Rule?
- What is a commercial launch?
- When did the first licensed U.S. commercial launch take place?
- How big is the commercial space launch industry?
- How many commercial launches take place each year?
- Does FAA regulate commercial human spaceflight?
- When will my family and I be able to fly into space?
- What is the difference between orbital and suborbital spaceflights?
Launch Vehicles
- What is the largest commercial launch vehicle available?
- Since the Space Shuttle has now retired, what other space vehicles can carry people into space?
- How can I get my company logo put onto the side of a commercial launch vehicle?
Launch Licenses
Launch Sites and Spaceports
- What was the first licensed non-federal spaceport? How many exist now?
- What determines the location of a launch site?
- Where do commercial vehicles launch from?
- When and where was the first FAA licensed spaceport?
- How many FAA licensed spaceports do we have and where are they located?
- Who Needs a License or Permit?
Satellites
- What are LEO, GEO, GSO, and GTO?
- Can U.S. satellite owners fly their satellites on foreign-owned rockets? Likewise, can non-U.S. satellite owners fly their satellites on U.S.-made vehicles?
- Can satellites be recovered from space for repairs or be repaired on orbit?
- I thought NASA conducted all space launches. Why didn't commercial satellites fly on the Space Shuttle?
Policy
- Why isn't NASA responsible for the safety and success of commercial space transportation?
- Does the commercial space transportation industry receive U.S. government support?
- How can I get a job in the commercial space transportation industry?
Commercial Launches
What is the Streamlined Launch and Reentry Licensing Requirements Final Rule?
The FAA has issued a final rule that modernizes the way FAA regulates and licenses commercial space operations and allows the burgeoning aerospace industry to continue to innovate and grow, while maintaining public safety. The Streamlined Launch and Reentry Licensing Requirements Final Rule (PDF) (SLR2) consolidates and revises four separate regulations and applies a single set of performance-based licensing and safety regulations for all types of vehicle operations. It also supports greater innovation, flexibility and efficiency. The rule lays the foundation for FAA to keep pace with the dramatic increase in the cadence and complexity of commercial space transportation operations. Under the new rule, launch vehicle operators can use a single license for multiple launches from multiple launch sites. The new rule also states safety objectives applicants must achieve for the launch and reentry vehicles allowing the applicant to create designs or operational solutions that meets those standards. Several Advisory Circulars have accompanied SLR2.
What is a commercial launch?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) defines a commercial launch as having one or more of the following characteristics:
- The launch is licensed by FAA.
- The primary payload's launch contract was open to international competition.
- The launch was privately financed without government support. Commercial launch vehicles are manufactured and marketed by private companies.
When did the first licensed U.S. commercial launch take place?
The first such launch occurred in 1989, when a Starfire sub-orbital vehicle carried aloft the Consort-1 payload from White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
How big is the commercial space launch industry?
Total Space Economy: nearly $570B in revenues in 2023 an increase of 7.4% from 2022, nearly doubling over the last decade.
The Space Industry
“The Space Report” found that in 2023, the global space economy rose to $570 billion, an increase of 7.4% from 2022's total of $527 billion.
The space economy has nearly doubled in size over the last decade, and 2023 saw steady public and private sector growth in line with the industry’s five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4%.
Commercial revenues in the total space economy grew 5.4% in 2023 to $445B (78% of the total space economy, same ratio as in 2022) and Civil and Military: $125B (up 8% from 2022).
US Space Program Expenditures: $73.2B (13% of total global space economy in 2023): broken down into Military: $46B (64%) and Commercial: $27.2B (37%)
Government spending on civil and military space programs grew 11% in 2023 to $125B. For the third year in a row, government space budgets saw double digit percentage increases, driven by significant growth in military space budgets, which made up just under half of total government space spending. Some of the notable government spending increases include:
- United States: In 2023, the US military space budget was estimated at $46B, 18% higher than in 2022 and approximately 80% of the total global spend on military space programs.
- Japan: The Ministry of Defense had the second-largest growth in military spending, increasing their space budget to ¥128B ($815M)–a 32% year-over-year increase.
- Poland: The country’s space budget has ballooned from $2.7M in 2017 to $59M in 2023, not including ESA and EUMETSAT contributions.
- France: The government invested heavily in its national space program, growing its domestic civil space budget 40% to €1.5B ($1.63B).
- Taiwan: Increased its overall space budget by approximately 90%.
How many commercial launches take place each year?
Review our latest launch numbers.
Does FAA regulate commercial human spaceflight?
The U.S. Congress in 2004 imposed a regulations moratorium on commercial human spaceflight that has been extended several times, and now continues through January 1, 2028.
- Currently, commercial spaceflight crew and participants engage in spaceflight operations through "informed consent."
- Informed consent regulations require crew and spaceflight participants to be informed, in writing, of mission hazards and risks, vehicle safety record, and the overall safety record of all launch and reentry vehicles.
- Prior to flight, crew and spaceflight participants must provide their written consent to participate.
When will my family and I be able to fly into space?
Several companies are currently funding development of new orbital and suborbital vehicles to be used for a variety of tasks, including space tourism. To allow for the testing of suborbital vehicles, AST allows companies to obtain an experimental experimental launch permit for the test, development, and re-entry of reusable suborbital launch vehicles.
Companies are hoping to launch people on short suborbital trips within the next year or two, with many people having already signed up for their short space ride. The establishment of a space tourism industry depends on the development of vehicles capable of launching people into space and returning them to Earth. Any such vehicle will have to be designed with reliability, safety, and comfort in mind.
What is the difference between orbital and suborbital spaceflights?
Orbital spaceflight occurs when a spacecraft is placed on a trajectory with sufficient velocity to place it into orbit around the Earth.
Suborbital spaceflight occurs when a spacecraft reaches space but its velocity is such that it cannot achieve orbit. Many people believe that in order to achieve spaceflight, a spacecraft must reach an altitude higher than 100 kilometers (62 miles) above sea level.
Launch Vehicles
What is the largest commercial launch vehicle available?
"Largest" can refer to any of a number of characteristics, including mass, height, or the mass the vehicle can carry to orbit, which is referred to as performance capability. For most commercial customers, a vehicle's performance capability is the most significant.
The U.S. vehicle with the current greatest performance capability was Boeing's Delta IV Heavy (retired), which was capable of delivering 22,560 kg to LEO and 12,980 kg to GTO. Additional vehicles with large performance capabilities include:
- ULA Vulcan can carry 24,900 kg to LEO and 15,300 kg to GTO.
- Starship Super Heavy can carry 100,000 kg to 150,000 kg to LEO and 27,000 kg to GTO.
- Blue Origin’s New Glenn can carry 35,000 kg to LEO and 13,600 kg to GTO.
- SpaceX's Falcon 9 Heavy can carry 63,800 kg to LEO and 26,700 kg to GTO.
- NASA’s Space Launch System is not a commercial vehicle (95,000 – 130,000 kg to LEO and 26,000 – 45,000 kg to GTO).
- Europe's Ariane 6 (21,650 kg to LEO and 11,500 kg to GTO)
Since the Space Shuttle has now retired, what other space vehicles can carry people into space?
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle has been launching people to space in its Dragon capsule since 2020. In June 2024, ULA’s Atlas V vehicle launched the Boeing CST-100 Starliner. The crewed launch was NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT) of the developmental CST-100 Starliner.
How can I get my company logo put onto the side of a commercial launch vehicle?
This matter needs to be discussed directly with launch companies. The U.S. government has no responsibility in this area.
Launch Licenses
To whom do FAA's launch regulations and licensing procedures apply?
FAA's launch regulations require a license or a permit for all commercial launches taking place within U.S. borders as well as for launches being conducted abroad by U.S. entities. In general, FAA does not license launches by U.S. government organizations. In addition, certain classes of small rockets are exempt from licensing requirements. Please see Amateur Rocket Activities (PDF).
How do I get a launch license?
Learn more about FAA's launch licensing and permitting processes.
Launch Sites and Spaceports
What was the first licensed non-federal spaceport? How many exist now?
California Spaceport received the first-ever license for the operation of a non-federal spaceport in 1996. Today there are 14 non-federal launch/reentry sites, or "spaceports" (PDF).
What determines the location of a launch site?
The location of a launch site is determined by access to useful orbits and public safety. In order to protect the public's safety, launch sites are normally built as far away as possible from major cities in case of a catastrophic failure. Most launch sites are built close to bodies of water to ensure that should a failure occur, no components fall over populated areas.
Where do commercial vehicles launch from?
There are several launch sites available for commercial launches in the United States. The two sites used most frequently are Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida (located on the same piece of land as NASA's Kennedy Space Center, from where the Space Shuttle launched) and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
Both of these are government-owned launch facilities and are used for launches of government-owned satellites. Commercial and government launches can also take place from any one of the 14 non-federal launch/reentry sites, or "spaceports" (PDF).
U.S. Spaceports
Commercial, Government, and Active Private Spaceports
Click to enlarge Spaceport Map
When and where was the first FAA licensed spaceport?
The first spaceport was licensed in 1996 to Harris Corp at Vandenberg AFB.
How many FAA licensed spaceports do we have and where are they located?
Today, we have 14 licensed spaceports. There are nine that accommodate horizontal launches.
- Cecil Field
- Colorado Air & Space Port (Front Range)
- Houston Spaceport
- Midland International Air & Space Port
- Mojave Air & Space Port
- Oklahoma Spaceport
- Space Coast Regional Airport
- Space Florida Launch & Landing Facility (SLF)
- Spaceport America*
There are four vertical launch spaceports. *Spaceport America can accommodate vertical and horizontal launches.
- Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (Wallops)
- Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska
- Space Florida Launch Complex 46
- Spaceport Camden
- Spaceport America*
There is one reentry site.
- Huntsville Reentry Site
Who Needs a License or Permit?
U.S. citizens or entities (non-USG) seeking to conduct a vehicle launch/reentry or operate a launch/reentry site anywhere in the world.
Any non-U.S. entity seeking to conduct a vehicle launch/reentry or operate a launch/reentry site in the U.S.
An entity may obtain an experimental permit to launch a reusable suborbital vehicle from the United States for research and development; not for compensation or hire.
FAA does not license launches or reentries "by and for" the United States Government.
- NASA and the Department of Defense typically carry out their own launches.
Summary
If it's U.S. owned (even in part) or operated on U.S. territory, it needs authorization.
Satellites
What are LEO, GEO, GSO, and GTO?
These acronyms stand for "low-Earth orbit," "geosynchronous orbit," "geostationary orbit," and "geosynchronous transfer orbit," respectively. These are various orbits around the Earth into which satellites are often placed.
- LEO refers to orbits that are typically less than 2,400 km (1,491 mi) in altitude.
- GEO is an orbit around the equator roughly 36,000 km (22,369 mi) above the Earth and appear to observers on the ground as stationary in the sky.
- GSO refers to geosynchronous orbits where satellites are synchronized with the Earth's rotation, orbiting once every 24 hours.
- GTO is an elliptical orbit into which satellites are often first launched in order to reach GEO.
Satellites also use other orbits, including medium-Earth orbit and sun-synchronous orbit, but LEO, GEO, and GTO are among the most common.
Can U.S. satellite owners fly their satellites on foreign-owned rockets? Likewise, can non-U.S. satellite owners fly their satellites on U.S.-made vehicles?
The answer to both questions is yes.
Many U.S. commercial satellite owners launch their satellites on non-U.S. rockets, primarily European or Russian rockets; while U.S. owned and operated vehicles launch satellites owned by non-U.S. companies. However, U.S. policy mandates that U.S. government satellites use U.S. manufactured vehicles. All U.S. vehicles launch within U.S. borders. No foreign-made vehicles launch inside the U.S. Sea Launch, an international partnership whose launches are licensed by FAA, launches from the Pacific Ocean.
Can satellites be recovered from space for repairs or be repaired on orbit?
The Space Shuttle was the only vehicle that could and did return satellites for repair, but since it has retired, there is currently no other launch vehicle capable of this. However, this does not mean that repairs will not occur or that satellites remain in their operating orbits forever. Certain repairs to satellite systems can be made with clever re-programming or other procedures done on Earth and uploaded to the satellite. When satellites are worn out or no longer needed, they are often either boosted into storage orbits or moved into orbits that will cause them to eventually fall back to Earth and burn up in the atmosphere.
Both of these maneuvers are important because they help ensure that the older satellites won't interfere with operational satellites or take up valuable orbital slots that newer satellites could use. NASA and several commercial companies currently have plans for developing robotic spacecraft servicing technologies for the repair and refueling of satellites.
I thought NASA conducted all space launches. Why didn't commercial satellites fly on the Space Shuttle?
When the Space Shuttle was first developed, NASA had hoped that private companies would launch their satellites on the Shuttle. Between 1981, the year of the Space Shuttle's inaugural flight, and 1985, the vehicle was used on occasion to place commercial satellites into orbit. But after the 1986 explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, U.S. policy placed a general ban on flying non-government payloads on the Shuttle.
Until 2011, when it was retired from service, the Space Shuttle was used almost exclusively to support human spaceflight and the International Space Station. Today, commercial space launch vehicles are the only means of transportation to space in the U.S. for privately owned satellites. NASA helps to support the launch industry by flying many of its satellites on launch vehicles that it purchases from private companies.
Policy
Why isn't NASA responsible for the safety and success of commercial space transportation?
NASA is a civil research and development agency of the federal government, and as such it neither operates nor regulates the commercial space transportation industry. The regulatory responsibility for the industry falls to FAA, which is a regulatory agency. Both DOD and NASA, however, often launch satellites and spacecraft on vehicles developed by private companies and have programs to help develop commercial space transportation capabilities.
Does the commercial space transportation industry receive U.S. government support?
The U.S. government does not directly subsidize the industry. However, the government recognizes the importance of space launch capability to science, military defense, communications, and the U.S. economy. As a result, the government supports the development of new vehicles and vehicle technologies, as well as launch infrastructure.
How can I get a job in the commercial space transportation industry?
The future success of the space launch industry depends on the talents of aerospace and other types of engineers and scientists as well as business people. Strong academic performance and a degree in an engineering, scientific, or business discipline from an accredited college or university are essential.
Inquiries about positions in the industry should be directed to aerospace companies. AST does have limited job openings, which can be found on the AST website or at USAjobs.gov.