Commercial Space Transportation Assistance Tool
Need help figuring out which kind of license you need? Let us help! Select an option below.
Will your vehicle be Orbital?
- No.
Will your suborbital vehicle meet
ALL of the following?
• No Humans onboard
• 150 KM altitude or less
• 200,000 lbs--second total impulse
or less- Yes.
Amateur Rocket - No.
Will your suborbital vehicle meet
ANY of the following?
• Expendable
• Carrying humans or payloads for
compensation or hire
- Yes.
Will Site Operator offer its site
to only amateur rockets?
- Yes.
No license is required
- No.
Will Site Operator offer its site
to other vehicle operators?- Yes.
Will the Site Operator only
support launch vehicle operations?- Yes.
Apply for a Launch Site
Operator License
Part 420 - No.
Will the Site Operator only
support reentry vehicle operations?- Yes.
Apply for a Reentry Site Operator License
Part 433 - No.
Will the Site Operator support
both launch and reentry vehicle
operations?- Yes.
Apply for a Reentry Site Operator License
Part 433 and Launch Site Operator License Part 420 - No.
Contact the
Office of Commercial Space Transportation (PDF)
202-267-7793 Email
- Yes.
- Yes.
- Yes.
- No.
This is an Exclusive Use Site:
a Launch Site (Spaceport) license is not required.
A launch vehicle license with additional safety considerations is required.
Please restart the assistance tool and choose "Vehicle Operations" to determine the
appropriate authorization.
- Yes.
Are there humans on board your vehicle?
- No.
Are you a license applicant looking to
apply for a policy approval in advance
of submitting a license application?- Yes.
Policy Approval - No.
Are you looking to get an approval to
show compliance with a specific
regulation?- Yes.
Review Safety Element Approval
14 CFR Part 414 - No.
Are you a payload owner or operator
looking to get approval to launch or
reenter a payload?- Yes.
Payload Approval
(may be conducted separate from a
license or permit application) - No.
Talk to Commercial Space Transportation
202-267-7793 Email
- Yes.
- Yes.
- Yes.
Commercial Space Regulations
FAA commercial space transportation regulations are located in Chapter III, Parts 400 to 460, of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The regulations implement statutory requirements. Also check the Commercial Space Transportation Regulations page.
To Start the Application Process
All applicants go through a similar Process. These can include a license, permit, or approval.
To start a process contact Commercial Space Transportation (PDF).
Pre-Application Checklists
To help in the pre-application process, Commercial Space Transportation provides simple application checklists organizations may use when applying for a launch or reentry license, experimental permit, launch site operator license, or safety approval. These checklists are available to assist applicants in developing a comprehensive, compliant, and complete application for Commercial Space Transportation review and approval.
- Part 413 License Application Procedures Checklist (MS Excel)
- Part 414 Safety Approvals Checklist (MS Excel)
- Part 415 Launch License (other than RLV) Checklist (MS Excel)
- Part 417 Launch Safety (ELV) Checklist (MS Excel)
- Part 420 License to Operate Launch Site Checklist (MS Excel)
- Part 431 Launch and Reentry of RLV Checklist (MS Excel)
- Part 433 License to Operate Reentry Site Checklist (MS Excel)
- Part 435 Reentry of a Reentry Vehicle Other than RLV
Checklist (MS Excel) - Part 437 Experimental Permits Checklist (MS Excel)
- Part 440 Financial Responsibility Checklist (MS Excel)
- Part 460 Human Space Flight Checklist (MS Excel)
- Part 450 Streamlined Licensing Process
Step by Step Process for all Applicants
All applicants go through a similar Process. These can include a license, permit, or approval.
To start a process contact Commercial Space Transportation (PDF).
Initial Discussions
- Begins with conversations on the applicant's Concept of Operations (CONOP)
- A Commercial Space Transportation POC is assigned to the applicant
- A regulatory path is defined based on the applicant's CONOP
- Movement into Pre-App depends on License/Permit/Approval
1. Pre-Application Consultation
- A full pre-app team is assigned to the applicant
- The license documents may be created and submitted to Commercial Space Transportation for feedback and refinement
- The environmental process (NEPA) begins [if applicable]
- The airspace and U.S. Coast Guard discussions begin [if applicable]
- Ends when the application is submitted formally and accepted by Commercial Space Transportation for evaluation
2. Application Evaluation
- 120 days for permits (statutory requirement)
- 180 days for licenses (statutory requirement)
- 180 days for approvals (internal AST requirement)
3. License Issuance/Denial
- If a license/permit/approval is issued, Safety Inspectors conduct inspections.
Commercial Space Transportation Process — Site/Vehicle Operator License
(click to enlarge)
After License Issuance
- Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement
- Modifications
- Renewal