The FAA is responsible for the licensing and safety oversight of commercial space launch and reentry operations, including their safe and efficient integration into the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS). The FAA ensures the protection of the public on aircraft, on land and on maritime vessels during space launch and reentry operations. 

The FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation evaluates compliance with the launch and reentry licensing regulations, including the flight safety analysis provided by licensed commercial space operators. The FAA Air Traffic Organization Office of Space Operations manages the airspace and applies the Acceptable Level of Risk (ALR) policy for integrating space missions in the NAS.  The two offices collaborate on the implementation of ALR policy. 

Aircraft Hazard Areas 

The FAA establishes Aircraft Hazard Areas (AHAs) in advance of a launch or reentry to prohibit uninvolved aircraft from flying in the designated airspace. The location, size, and duration of AHAs are calculated to ensure the probability of impact with hazardous debris from a launch or reentry with an aircraft does not exceed one in one million.  

Debris Response Area 

The FAA also may establish a Debris Response Area (DRA) as an additional safety measure to cover airspace beyond the AHAs. The DRA is a contingency response when unplanned debris is present in the airspace. It allows the FAA to direct aircraft to exit the airspace and prevent others from entering. 

A DRA is activated only if an anomaly occurs with a launch vehicle and is available in airspace equipped with adequate surveillance and/or radio coverage to communicate with airborne pilots.  

It remains active until debris from the launch vehicle has fallen to the surface. 

Instructing Aircraft When a Debris Response Area is Activated 

If a DRA is activated, the FAA will issue an alert to all affected aircraft and airports, provide individual aircraft instructions while it remains in effect, and issue a closeout alert when it is deactivated.  

While the DRA is active, the FAA acts to mitigate the risk to aircraft exposed to falling debris. In general, the FAA will instruct aircraft as follows: 

• Airborne aircraft inside the DRA and traveling to an underlying airport can continue and land. 
• Airborne aircraft inside the DRA and traveling through are directed to exit expeditiously. 
• Airborne aircraft outside the DRA but en route to it are directed not to enter. 
• Aircraft at airports inside the DRA will not be cleared for takeoff. 
• Aircraft at airports outside the DRA will be rerouted to avoid the DRA or be held on the ground.  

The FAA airspace management plan for the launch, including pre-coordinated DRAs, is shared with international air traffic control partners and other stakeholders in advance of the operation; however, the DRA procedures are generally not applied in non-U.S. airspace.   

Other Safety Requirements 

Separate from AHAs and DRAs, the FAA also ensures that licensed commercial space operators establish hazard areas on land and sea during launch or reentry operations. 

In addition, all FAA-licensed commercial space launch or reentry operators must meet financial responsibility requirements and provide evidence of funds to cover potential damage resulting from a debris generating event.