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ADVANCED SPACEPORT TECHNOLOGY WORKING GROUP

May 15, 2001

Stewart W. Jackson

Commercial Space Transportation

Federal Aviation Administration

FAA/AST LICENSING ACTIVITIES

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SCOPE

• Background• AST Organization• Launch Licensing Process • Launch Site Licensing Process• Reentry site Licensing Process• Safety Inspection Program• Enforcement Options• Safety Responsibilities• Active Licenses• Conclusion

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BACKGROUND

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE• 1982 - First non-federal launch proposed• 1984 - Executive Order 12465 and Commercial

Space Launch Act (the Act)• 1988 - First launch license issued• 1989 - First licensed launch• 1995 - Secretary of Transportation delegated

authority to FAA to license commercial space activities

• 1996 - First launch site operator license issued

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BACKGROUND (cont’d)

LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS

• 1988 Amendments – revised insurance requirements – created a framework to govern third-party liability

compensation when aggregate claims exceeded required financial responsibility amounts

• Commercial Space Act of 1998– included reentry vehicles and reentry operations within

the scope of commercial space launch activities– included the authority to issue safety approvals of

launch and reentry vehicles, safety systems, processes, services, or personnel

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BACKGROUND (cont’d)

LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS (cont’d)• Commercial Space Transportation

Competitiveness Act of 2000– extended indemnification for commercial space

launch and reentry vehicles through December 31, 2004

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AST ORGANIZATION

Patricia G. Smith, Associate AdministratorJoe Hawkins, Deputy Associate Administrator

Chuck Kline, Special Assistant for External AffairsKelvin Coleman, Special Assistant for Programs Planning

DJ Stadtler, Management and Program Analyst

Licensing and Safety Division

Ronald GressDeputy: Carole Flores

Space Systems Development Division

Herb Bachner

CounselEsta Rosenberg

Laura Montgomery

Systems EngineeringAnd Training Division

Hugh CookeDeputy: Stewart Jackson

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LAUNCH LICENSING PROCESS

Application License*

PolicyReview

SafetyReview

MPLDetermination

EnvironmentalDetermination

PayloadReview

*Launch-Specific or Launch Operator License

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TYPE OF LAUNCH LICENSE

LAUNCH-SPECIFIC LICENSE (RLV Mission Specific)• Authorizes a licensee to

– conduct one or more launches– having the same launch parameters– of one type of launch vehicle– from one launch site.

• Authorization terminates upon completion of all launches or the expiration date stated in the license, whichever occurs first

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TYPE OF LAUNCH LICENSE (cont’d)

LAUNCH OPERATOR LICENSE (RVL Mission Operator)• Authorizes a licensee to

– conduct launches from one launch site– within a range of launch parameters– of launch vehicles from the same family of vehicles– transporting specified classes of payloads

• Remains in effect for five years from the date of issuance

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LAUNCH SITE LICENSING PROCESS

Application License

EnvironmentalDetermination

PolicyReview

Launch Site Location Review

OperationalResponsibilities

Explosive SitePlan Review

FAA’s approach to licensing the operation of a launch site focuses on five areas of concern:

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LAUNCH SITE LICENSING PROCESS

ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION• The applicant must provide information to analyze the

environmental impacts associated with the operation of the launch site.

• The information must be sufficient to comply with the requirements of the National Environment Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (NEPA).

• The licensee, under review by FAA is responsible for developing the environmental documentation.

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LAUNCH SITE LICENSING PROCESS

POLICY REVIEW• Determines at a policy level whether a proposed license to

operate a launch site would jeopardize U.S. national security or foreign policy interests, or international obligations of the United States

• Interagency review– Department of Defense– Department of State– NASA

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LAUNCH SITE LICENSING PROCESS

Explosive Site Plan Review• Explosive siting

-Scaled map that shows the location of explosives

-Identify the max. solid and liquid and propellants

• Handling of solid propellants.

• Storage or handling of liquid propellants

• Solid and liquid propellants located together

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LAUNCH SITE LICENSING PROCESS

Launch Site Location Review• Flight corridor

– Guided orbital ELV– Guided sub-orbital ELV– Unguided sub-orbital ELV– Reusable Launch Vehicle

• Risk analysis (expected casualty Ec < 30 X 10-6)

• Information requirements (type of LV, trajectory, wind data, etc.,)

• Operation of a launch site for unproven launch vehicle

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LAUNCH SITE LICENSING PROCESS

Launch Site Operator Licensee’s Responsibilities• Preventing unauthorized public access• Preparing the public and customer to visit the site• Informing customers of the site limitations• Scheduling and coordinating hazardous activities• Maintaining agreements with the U.S. Coast Guard and FAA for

“Notice to Mariners and Notice to Airmen”• Notifying adjacent property owner and local jurisdictions of

pending flight • Maintain records, data, and other material• Conduct accident investigation

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LAUNCH SITE OPERATORS LICENSE

• One type of license

• Launch site operator license remains in effect for five years from the date of issuance.

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REENTRY SITE LICENSINGPROCESS

Commercial Space Transportation Reusable Launch Vehicle and Reentry Licensing Regulations, effective 11/20/00 (14 CFR Parts 433).

CASE BY CASE

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SAFETY INSPECTIONPROGRAM

• Ensures the Licensee:

– complies with license terms and conditions

– operates consistent with application commitments

• Non-Compliance May Lead To

– notices of non-compliance

– enforcement actions

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POTENTIAL INSPECTION ACTIVITIES

• Identification of support requirements• Non-launch monitoring (e.g., financial responsibilities,

waivers of claims)• Verification of safety documentation, policies, and

procedures, and responsibilities• Compliance with federal agency coordination

procedures and responsibilities• Verification of key safety operations and hardware• compliance with personnel qualifications• Mission readiness verification• Effectiveness of launch communications net

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Enforcement Options

• Notice(s) of non-compliance

• License suspension or revocation

• Emergency or restriction orders

• Civil penalties

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SAFETY RESPONSIBILTIES

• Relationships under a regulatory framework– licensed launch site and reentry site operators

have regulatory responsibility for the scheduling, security, and coordination of customers

– licensed launch and reentry operators have responsibility for flight and ground safety

– FAA has responsibility for its licensees operating safely

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ACTIVE LICENSES

LAUNCH SITE OPERATOR LICENSES• Spaceport Systems International - California Spaceport -

VAFB• Spaceport Florida Authority - LC 46 - CCAFS• Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority - LC 0 -

WFF• Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation - Kodiak

Launch Complex, Kodiak Island, AK

LAUNCH SPECIFIC LICENSE• Interorbital Systems - Tachyon-L - Pacific Ocean

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ACTIVE LICENSES (cont’d)

LAUNCH OPERATOR LICENSES• Lockheed Martin - Atlas I, II, & III - CCAFS• Boeing - Delta II & III - CCAFS• Boeing - Delta II - VAFB• Orbital Sciences - Pegasus - WFF• Orbital Sciences - Pegasus - CCAFS• Orbital Sciences - Pegasus - VAFB• Orbital Sciences - Pegasus - KMR• Orbital Sciences - Taurus - VAFB

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CONCLUSION

• FAA will issue a launch license when all safety requirements are satisfied.

• FAA will issue a license to operate a launch site when all safety requirements are satisfied.

• Indemnification for a launch site is provided by licensed launch and reentry operators.

AST’s WEB SITE

- Home page - http://ast.faa.gov/

- Licensing Information - http://ast.faa.gov/licensing/