Most US pilots probably don’t know that an FAA license is required to conduct any kind of commercial space launch or reentry within the United States. Last year, the agency office that issues these permits said it was busier than ever, with 41 commercial space operations launches and reentries. One launch in May, a SpaceX Falcon 9, carried two US astronauts from the Kennedy Space Center to the International Space Station. The flight was the first US launch of a crewed vehicle in a decade.
FAA Says 2020 A Record Year for Space Launches
Key Takeaways:
- The FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation had a record-busy year in 2020, issuing licenses for 41 commercial space operations, including the first US crewed launch in a decade.
- A recent FAA reorganization improved efficiency and helped implement a new rule that modernizes and streamlines commercial space launch and reentry licensing, moving to performance-based criteria to foster industry innovation.
- In 2021, the FAA plans to test new technologies for integrating space-vehicle operations into the National Airspace System and develop a National Spaceport Strategy to advance a robust network of spaceports.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
