International Affairs

The FAA welcomes international inquiries about its commercial space transportation regulations.

As the capabilities of the commercial space industry expands, regulators face new challenges to maintain public safety while enabling industry growth.

Since 1989, the FAA has licensed more than 400 commercial space launches and more than 25 commercial space reentries. The FAA also licenses the operation of spaceports (non-federal launch sites).

U.S. law and FAA regulations can serve as a framework for other countries to consider as they develop their own regulation of commercial space launches, reentries and spaceports. In addition, U.S. launch or reentry operators conducting space activities internationally may have to comply with host country regulations and licensing. As a result, there is the possibility of dual licensing requirements. A common regulatory foundation can increase interoperability between countries and decrease the potential for unnecessary duplication.

Under FAA regulations, any U.S. commercial space launch or reentry operator launching or reentering outside the United States is required to be licensed by the FAA. In addition, any non-U.S. commercial spacel launch and reentry vehicles operating in the United States must be licensed by the FAA.

Ground Safety Approach for FAA Licensed International Launch or Reentry Activity

For additional information about the FAA Commercial Space Transportation International Outreach program, contact:

Pam Underwood
Director, Office of Spaceports
FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST)
(321) 474-9570

John Sloan
Program Lead for International Outreach
FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST)
(202) 267-7989

International Memorandum of Cooperation and Agreements

International Memorandum of Cooperation
Host Country Memorandum of Cooperation and Agreement Links
UK and Northern Ireland Declaration of Intent - DOT US and DFO United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, signed May 11, 2022
Brazil Joint Declaration of Intent – FAA and AEB, signed December 13, 2021 (PDF)
Germany Memorandum of Cooperation — FAA and DLR, signed October 24, 2019 (PDF)
New Zealand Memorandum of Cooperation — FAA and New Zealand MBIE, signed February 27, 2018 (PDF)
United Arab Emirates Memorandum of Cooperation — FAA and United Arab Emirates signed November 13, 2017 (PDF)
Italy Memorandum of Cooperation — FAA and Italy ENAC signed June 30, 2016 (PDF)

Memorandum of Cooperation — FAA and Italy ENAC signed March 12, 2014 (PDF)
France Memorandum of Cooperation — FAA and France CNES signed June 16, 2015 (PDF)
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Memorandum of Cooperation — FAA and United Kingdom, signed July 2014 (PDF)

International Spaceports

Africa, Europe, and Asia

United Kingdom

  1. Prestwick Spaceport
  2. Shetland Space Centre
  3. Spaceport 1
  4. Spaceport Cornwall
  5. Spaceport Machrihanish
  6. Spaceport Snowdonia
  7. Space Hub Sutherland

Europe

  1. Azores (Portugal)
  2. Canary Islands (Spain)
  3. El Arenosillo (Spain)
  4. Andoya (Norway)
  5. Kiruna (Sweden)

Russia

  1. Plesetsk
  2. Dombarovsky
  3. Vostochny

Kazakhstan

  1. Baikonur

Iran

  1. Imam Khomeni

Israel

  1. Palmachim AB

Italics:
Proposed Spaceports

Western Hemisphere

United States

Please go to the Spaceports by States page
https://www.faa.gov/space/spaceports_by_state/

Canada

  1. Canso

French Guinana

  1. Guinana Space Center (France)

Brazil

  1. Alcantara

Italics: Proposed Spaceports

East Asia and Pacific Nations

China

  1. Jiuquan
  2. Taiyuan
  3. Xichang
  4. Wenchang

India

  1. Satish Dhawan
  2. Kulasekarapattinam

Indonesia

  1. Morotai

Australia

  1. Woomera
  2. Koonibba
  3. Arnhem
  4. Whalers Way

Italics: Proposed Spaceports

North Korea

  1. Sohae
  2. Tonghae

South Korea

  1. Naro

Japan

  1. Uchinoura
  2. Tanegashima

Pacific Islands

  1. Anderson AFB,
    Guam (US)
  2. Pacific Missile Range
    Facility, Hawaii (US)
  3. Reagan Test Site
    Kwajalein Atoll (US)

New Zealand

  1. Rocket Lab
    Launch Complex 1

Publications

Useful Links

Last updated: Friday, December 23, 2022