FAA proposes new rules to streamline commercial space launches

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday it is proposing regulatory changes to streamline commercial space launches and re-entries. The agency said it plans to overhaul its space licensing framework next year.

The proposed changes would revise definitions of when a flight abort is not mandatory and clarify requirements and thresholds for when an abort must occur. An abort refers to the early end of a launch or mission due to a problem.

The FAA is also proposing to revise rules for spacecraft breaking up during re-entry and how space companies calculate risks of falling debris hitting people on the ground.

The White House aims to enable at least 1,000 launches and re-entries annually by 2030, up from 178 launches last year. Total launches in the previous year were 10 times higher than in 2013, with SpaceX dominating the activity.

The regulatory changes would make it easier for SpaceX and Blue Origin to obtain launch approvals.

The FAA said it is expanding its Office of Commercial Space Transportation workforce and naming an associate administrator. The agency is also hiring a team of aerospace engineers to speed launch approvals.