The Federal Aviation Administration announced on March 17 that it has streamlined the licensing process for commercial space launches and reentries by consolidating previous regulations into a single rule, known as Part 450.
The change is intended to make it easier and less costly for companies to obtain necessary approvals while maintaining public safety. The FAA said the new approach will reduce administrative burdens for both industry and the agency itself.
“We’re pleased to have flight-ready operators and vehicles successfully transition to a performance-based rule that unlocks flexibility while maintaining safety for the public,” said Dr. Minh A. Nguyen, Deputy Associate Administrator for the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation.
Part 450 was first issued during the Trump administration in response to rapid growth in commercial space operations. For five years, both old and new rules were available so operators could transition at their own pace. The deadline for moving legacy licenses to Part 450 was March 9, 2026.
Under Part 450, operators need fewer separate license approvals. One license can now cover multiple types of operations, vehicle configurations, mission profiles, and even different launch or reentry sites. Companies that have transitioned their licenses include Blue Origin New Shepard, Firefly Aerospace Alpha, SpaceX Falcon 9 / Falcon Heavy and Dragon, Rocket Lab Electron, and United Launch Alliance Atlas and Vulcan.
Since March 2021 when the rule took effect, the FAA has issued fourteen Part 450 licenses.
