WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration is moving ahead immediately to implement elements of a new space transportation policy, seeking information about new spaceports and access to airspace.
The Department of Transportation, which includes the FAA, announced Aug. 21 that it is releasing a request for information regarding locations of new spaceports and designation of “priority airspace” for space launch activities. The RFI will give industry and other stakeholders 60 days to respond once it is published in the Federal Register.
Both topics were mentioned in the updated National Space Transportation Policy released by the White House on Aug. 20. It directed several agencies, including the Department of Transportation, to identify “potential locations for additional launch facilities” and designate “priority airspace for critical space launch corridors.”
The RFI is part of the process of implementing those plans. “By hearing from industry, local communities, aviation stakeholders and the broader public, we can better identify viable spaceport locations and develop airspace routes that support more frequent launches while maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a statement.
