By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday it was moving to streamline a key commercial space launch and reentry license hurdle, declaring some flight safety analyses in California, Florida, and Virginia satisfy requirements.
The FAA noted the commercial space industry often cites meeting flight safety analysis requirements as a challenge before launches. The FAA said the change reduces the amount of material applicants must submit, and improves FAA technical review efficiency. Companies like SpaceX have complained about delays getting FAA launch licenses.
“This is a force multiplier in the production of quality flight safety analyses the FAA can readily accept,” said Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation Kelvin Coleman.
On Thursday, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said he would step down when President-elect Donald Trump takes office next month.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, a close adviser to Trump, in September called for Whitaker’s resignation and harshly criticized the FAA’s decision to impose a $633,000 fine on SpaceX after the agency said the company violated launch license requirements.
In recent months, the FAA has taken other steps to speed launch approvals.
On Oct. 12, the FAA approved a license for the launch of SpaceX’s Starship 5 after earlier saying it did not expect to make a decision until late November.
Also that month, the FAA quickly approved the return to flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle after it accepted the SpaceX-led investigation findings and corrective actions for a Sept. 28 mishap.
In late October, Senator Jerry Moran urged the FAA to speed license reviews for private rocket launches, saying its agency’s commercial space office “must rapidly improve its transparency, accountability, and pace of execution” in approving rocket launch licenses.
The FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation, which regulates private rocket launches to ensure they do not impact the public’s safety, has long argued for more funding to grow its licensing team.