Commercial Space Transportation Licensing Regulations
Extension without change of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
03/14/2025
table that charts list comparision
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
03/31/2025
12
32
10,110
10,250
0
10,622
All entities wishing to obtain a license to conduct commercial space launch activities are mandated to report information to this collection. The information collected is used by AST to determine and verify the ability and competency of a launch license applicant to conduct a commercial space launch operation in a safe and efficient manner. Information is collected before and after the issuance of either a launch-specific license or a launch operator license. An applicant's license proposal is assessed in terms of significant policy issues affecting the national security, foreign policy interests, or international obligations of the United States. Information collected allows AST to make a preliminary assessment of a launch proposal prior to beginning general licensing application procedures. After favorable review by AST of an applicantâs proposal in terms of policy implications, the applicant must demonstrate that it can safely launch its vehicle with payload. To achieve this end, ASTâs safety evaluation process requires an applicant to submit information, including a safety program plan, a launch safety design and operations document, and an accident investigation plan.
Part 450 is replacing part 417 for license applications. However, part 417 will continue to be used by operators that had a license at the time part 450 was published. Therefore, no new licenses will be approved under part 417 but renewals and modifications are possible until 2025 under part 417.
Further, in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policies Act, 42 U.S.C. § 4321, et. seq., (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508, and the DOT's Procedures for Considering Environmental Impacts, (that is, DOT Order 5610.1C), applicants are required to submit environmental information to AST. This includes information concerning proposed new launch sites and launch vehicles not currently described in the environmental impact statements, as well as payloads that may have significant environmental impacts in the event of a launch accident.
A licensee must satisfy pre-launch reporting requirements by providing launch specific information, including flight path data, payload design criteria, and mission specific launch waivers from federal sites or launch sites, not later than 60 days prior to the scheduled launch date. Each licensee is also required to register the name and mission of the payload with AST in accordance with Article IV of the 1975 Convention on Registration of Objects Launched Into Outer Space Treaty.
US Code:
51 USC 509
Name of Law: Commercial Space Launch Activities
Part 413 was amended and parts 415 and 417 were replaced by part 450, published October 2020. Parts 415 and 417 are retained until 2025 and allowed to be used by operators with active licenses at the time of part 450 publication. This collection still applies to those operators operating under parts 415 and 417 at the time of part 450 publication that wishing to continue to operate under parts 415 and 417. The burden was adjusted assuming all operators operating under parts 415 and 417 at the time of part 450 publication will continue to operate under parts 415 and 417. The burden was computed using the number of active licenses at the time of part 450 publication. The estimates assumed all operators allowed to operate under parts 415 and 417 continue to do so and renew their licenses until parts 415 and 417 are removed. Part 417 expires March 2026. A new collection for part 450 will be forthcoming in the future. This estimate is conservative because it assumes no operators switch to part 450.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form 2120-0608 | 2120-0 Pre-Application Initial Contact Information
2025-02978.pdf
Supporting Statement A for the Commercial Space Transportation Licensing Regulation 2 13 2025.docx
Pre-Application Initial Contact Information