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United States Department of TransportationUnited States Department of Transportation

Getting Started with Licensing

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?

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?
    • 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.

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?

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.

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

  1. Begins with conversations on the applicant's Concept of Operations (CONOP)
  2. A Commercial Space Transportation POC is assigned to the applicant
  3. A regulatory path is defined based on the applicant's CONOP
  4. Movement into Pre-App depends on License/Permit/Approval

1. Pre-Application Consultation

  1. A full pre-app team is assigned to the applicant
  2. The license documents may be created and submitted to Commercial Space Transportation for feedback and refinement
  3. The environmental process (NEPA) begins [if applicable]
  4. The airspace and U.S. Coast Guard discussions begin [if applicable]
  5. Ends when the application is submitted formally and accepted by Commercial Space Transportation for evaluation

2. Application Evaluation

  1. 120 days for permits (statutory requirement)
  2. 180 days for licenses (statutory requirement)
  3. 180 days for approvals (internal AST requirement)

3. License Issuance/Denial

  1. If a license/permit/approval is issued, Safety Inspectors conduct inspections.

Commercial Space Transportation Process — Site/Vehicle Operator License

Commercial Space Transportation Process - Site/Vehicle Operator License

(click to enlarge)

After License Issuance

  1. Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement
  2. Modifications
  3. Renewal

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