(Washington, D.C.) – Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) sent a letter to the Comptroller General requesting an independent review of the federal processes for licensing commercial launch and reentry activities. The Committee is particularly concerned with the implementation of Part 450 regulations by the Department of Transportation and whether it is being carried out effectively and efficiently.
Over the past several years, the Committee has stressed the need for a practical and streamlined licensing system for our nation’s rapidly growing commercial space sector. This is critical to our economic and national interests and essential to upholding our commitment to the highest safety standards.
In 2018, the Trump Administration issued Space Policy Directive-2 to streamline commercial space activities. To carry out these goals, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released the Streamlined Launch and Reentry Regulations in 2020, which created a new vehicle operator license under Part 450 of the Code of Federal Regulations. While Part 450 was intended to expedite the licensing process, it has instead created challenges for industry compliance, often resulting in delays in issuing licenses, which we cannot afford as we seek to continue American leadership in the commercial space sector.
“As the rule approaches its fifth anniversary, the Committee questions whether the implementation of the Part 450 regulations is effectively and efficiently accommodating United States commercial launch and reentry operations, especially as the cadence and technological diversity of such operations continues to increase,” Babin and Lofgren wrote in the letter. “Some stakeholders have voiced concerns regarding the complexity of Part 450, the lack of clarity in guidance on the implementation of the regulations, and the overall timeline for obtaining launch and reentry licenses.”
The letter also includes several considerations for GAO when reviewing the processes.
“The Committee needs independent input to understand the extent to which Part 450 is being effectively and efficiently implemented, where there may be opportunities for improvement, and whether there are gaps or barriers in implementation that could be addressed by the agency or by Congress to help FAA more effectively meet the increasing demand for launch and reentry licenses while ensuring FAA also fulfills its statutory obligations related to public safety.”
Read the full letter here.