WASHINGTON, April 19 — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced a change in its licensing regulations aimed at enhancing the safety of space missions involving reentry vehicles. In an April 17th publication in the Federal Register, the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation declared that it will no longer approve the launch of spacecraft designed to reenter Earth’s atmosphere unless they already possess a reentry license.
This revised regulation comes in response to recent incidents where spacecraft were launched without the necessary approvals for reentry, posing increased safety risks. The FAA highlighted the essential nature of ensuring that reentry components are designed to withstand the harsh conditions of reentering the Earth’s atmosphere, noting that these vehicles are almost guaranteed to impact the ground, whether through controlled or random reentry paths.
The agency pointed out the dangers associated with uncontrolled reentries, which could lead to risks significantly higher than those accepted under FAA-licensed reentry operations. “It is crucial to evaluate the safety of the reentry prior to launch,” the FAA stressed in its notice. This procedural adjustment will allow the FAA to collaborate closely with reentry operators to meet stringent risk and safety criteria before launch.
The regulatory change was indirectly referenced to an incident involving Varda Space Industries, which launched its first spacecraft in June 2023 without a reentry license. The license was only secured in February 2024 after an extensive application process, including a previously rejected application. Fortunately, Varda’s reentry vehicle landed safely at the Utah Test and Training Range shortly after the license was granted.
At the 39th Space Symposium on April 10, Kelvin Coleman, FAA Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation, shared insights from the Varda episode, acknowledging that it was a learning experience for the agency. “We did allow them to launch on a SpaceX Falcon vehicle without a reentry license,” he disclosed. Coleman emphasized that moving forward, the FAA would avoid permitting launches “at risk” without proper licenses, citing public safety concerns highlighted by Varda’s mission.
In response to the new guidelines, Varda expressed ongoing commitment to comply with FAA regulations. “Last year, FAA gave Varda formal, written permission to launch W-1 and Varda complied with all requirements in place to do so,” the company stated. “Once FAA issued a license early this year, our flight-proven reentry system safely and successfully landed at the Utah Test and Training Range. Varda will continue working with FAA and other federal regulators as their policies regarding reentry operations continue to evolve.”
The FAA currently maintains only two active reentry licenses, one for Varda and the other for SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. However, with various companies’ increasing interest in returning cargo or crew from space, the demand for these licenses is expected to rise significantly.
Another emerging player, Inversion, announced on April 17 that it plans to launch its first reentry vehicle, Ray, on SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission in October. Ray is designed as a tech demo spacecraft that will perform various tests in orbit before a controlled reentry and splashdown off the California coast. The company has not yet disclosed the status of its licensing efforts for this mission.
The FAA’s new policy aims to preemptively address the complexities and risks of space reentry operations, ensuring that safety protocols are firmly in place before any launch that includes a return trajectory to Earth. As the commercial space sector expands, these regulations will play a crucial role in maintaining the safety and integrity of terrestrial and space environments.
