On Thursday, the US Federal Aviation Administration proposed streamlining regulations for commercial space launches and announced further plans to restructure its space licensing framework next year-a major boost for Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.
The FAA stated it was revising non-mandatory flight termination definitions and clarifying protocols and the early end of a launch because of a problem that must occur.
Meanwhile, the FAA is working to revise rules for spacecraft breaking up as they enter Earth’s atmosphere and how space companies analyzed the risks of falling space debris from those vehicles affecting people specifically on the ground.
The major rule changes would make it easier for SpaceX and Blue Origin to attain launch approvals.
The FAF released a statement, “That team will conduct safety analysis, evaluations, and mission authorizations to accelerate application turnaround while keeping the public safe during space operations.”
Further, the FAA also said it is working to expand its Office of Commercial Space Transportation workforce by hiring a team of aerospace specialists to accelerate launch approvals. Earlier, the FAA recommended enabling operators to submit launch applications electronically offering greater flexibility in demonstrating safe operations and consolidating three required safety analyses into a single submission.
