FAA license for commercial space flight

[NoHeat]

A Flying magazine article that came out a few days ago said:

“ Most US pilots probably don’t know that an FAA license is required to conduct any kind of commercial space launch or reentry within the United States. Last year, the agency office that issues these permits said it was busier than ever, with 41 commercial space operations launches and reentries.“

What is this license?

Is it a certificate for a pilot, analogous to “commercial airplane single engine land”?

or is it a permit for one flight, analogous to an IFR clearance?

or is it something entirely different?

 

[Bob Roberts]

Can I get a Kings video series to help pass this?

 

[Zeldman]

I am guessing it looks something like this.....

Except more of them.

 

[bluesky74656]

Most space flights are unmanned, so I would assume it’s a permit for a flight.

 

[murphey]

14 CFR Parts 401, 415, 431, 435, 440 and 460 Human Space Flight Requirements for Crew and Space Flight Participants

By the way, this has been published for years in the FARs - if you get the complete version, not the 61/91/AIM version.

This site is always fun to read (yes, I have a warped sense of fun)

https://www.faa.gov/data_research/commercial_space_data/

 

[bflynn]

It’s a permit for the launch.

 

[Brad Z]

And it is in fact, a license, not a certificate.