FAA Proposes Rule to Limit Commercial Space Vehicles Debris

The notice of proposed rulemaking focuses on how commercial operators will be required to dispose of the upper stages of their launch vehicles.

Kate O'Connor

Friday, September 22, 2023 at 09:07 AM ET

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SpaceX’s Starship rocket stands ready for launch ahead of April’s test flight. [Credit: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has proposed a new rule to limit orbital debris from commercial space vehicles, aiming to reduce collision risks and promote a sustainable space environment.
This rule specifically addresses how commercial operators must dispose of the upper stages of their launch vehicles to prevent the accumulation of space junk.
Five disposal options are outlined, including controlled reentry, moving to a less congested storage orbit, or natural decay within 25 years.
The proposal seeks to align commercial space debris mitigation practices with those already accepted for U.S. government space missions.

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Editor’s note: This article first appeared on AVweb.com.

The FAA has proposed a rule designed to limit new orbital debris from commercial space vehicles, citing the need to “reduce the potential for collisions with spacecraft and satellites to promote a sustainable space environment.”