Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) personnel said a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) strengthens the commercial space activities partnership.
“This FAA-NASA collaboration at the Administrator level will advance America’s commercial space sector, aid science and technology, and help coordinate U.S. national space policies,” Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao said.
The effort would aid commercial space activities related to the transport of government and non-government passengers, cargo, and payloads for both orbital and suborbital missions.
“The partnership between the FAA and NASA is vital to continue the growth, innovation, and safety of commercial space operations, and maintain the pre-eminence of U.S. leadership in the aerospace sector,” FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said.
The FAA and NASA have shared interests in creating a vigorous commercial space industry to achieve safe, reliable, and cost-effective access to space while enhancing the competitiveness, safety, and affordability of American aerospace capabilities.
“NASA is now flying commercial cargo and crew missions to the International Space Station, and soon we will send more people and science to space on new suborbital flights,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said. “Our partnership with the FAA will support the growth of American commercial aerospace capabilities that will benefit NASA, the nation, and the entire world.”
Per the agreement, the FAA and NASA will build a stable launch and reentry framework for the space industry possessing transparency while avoiding conflicting requirements and multiple sets of standards. The two agencies will also advance a point-to-point commercial suborbital pilot program with designated spaceports and airspace designs, among other elements, to support the long-distance air transportation format.