FAA, Commercial Space Launch Partnership

FAA Announces Next Step in Commercial Space Launch Partnership

WASHINGTON, D.C.--The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) are moving in concert to propose common federal standards that will make expendable commercial rocket launches safer, more efficient, and less costly.
The new proposed rules will strengthen public safety by identifying up-front potential problems and formalizes procedures to minimize the launch hazards inherent in commercial rocket launches at federal and non-federal launch sites. While each agency will still maintain its own safety standards, those standards will now be technically equivalent and represent current practices at Air Force- operated launch ranges. In addition, USAF Space Command and the FAA have established a single administrative process for reviewing range users' requests for relief from requirements.

"These rules make it easier--and safer- -to launch commercial rockets," said FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey. "We can aide growth of this industry by expanding safety through a unified set of strong safety standards and institutionalized processes."

Both the FAA and the USAF have congressionally-directed responsibilities for the safety of these licensed launches from Air Force- operated launch ranges. The FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation and the U.S. Air Force Space Command have worked together since 1997 to improve and document common launch safety requirements. The U.S. Air Force Space Command provides leadership direction, and the FAA licenses, commercial space launch activities at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL and Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. These proposed rules build on that partnership.

The proposed rules will be discussed at an FAA/USAF joint public meeting on March 29-31 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Discovery 1 Conference Room of the Holiday Inn-Capitol, 550 C Street, SW in Washington. The Air Force will attend to share their expertise. The public meeting will provide stakeholders with information about the draft regulatory language and allow them to comment on the record.

The FAA draft regulatory language is available for public review in the Department of Transportation (DOT) Docket for the rulemaking at dms.dot.gov, Docket Number FAA- 2000-7953. Using the Simple Search, type 7953 for the full docket for this rulemaking. Also available at ast.faa.gov/UM/ is a matrix that demonstrates the commonalities of Air Force requirements and FAA regulations. ####

Contact: Henry J. Price Phone: (202) 267-3883 APA 13-05 Date Posted: March 24, 2005
SOURCE: Federal Aviation Administration