FAA proposes electronic filing for commercial space launch licenses

The Federal Aviation Administration proposes to let commercial launch and reentry operators file license and permit applications, waiver requests, alternative time frame requests and safety element approvals electronically, dropping the paper option. The notice of proposed rulemaking was published in the Federal Register of Monday, October 5, 2026 (Vol. 91, No. 191, Proposed Rules), under Docket No. FAA-2026-9935, Notice No. 26-25 and RIN 2120-AM39. Comments are due on or before November 4, 2026.

A deregulatory step under E.O. 14335

The proposal implements Executive Order 14335, “Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry,” issued on August 13, 2025, which set the goal of “enhancing American greatness in space by enabling a competitive launch marketplace and substantially increasing commercial space launch cadence and novel space activities by 2030.” The order directed the federal government to streamline commercial license and permit approvals for United States-based operators.

The FAA issues licenses for the launch of a launch vehicle, the operation of a launch site, the reentry of a reentry vehicle and the operation of a reentry site, and also issues experimental permits for reusable suborbital vehicles. Its authority derives from the Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984, codified at 51 U.S.C. 50901–50924, delegated to the FAA Administrator at 49 CFR 1.83(b).

What the rule would change

• Adds “other electronic method approved by the Administrator” as a filing option in § 413.7(a).
• Removes the option to submit license and permit applications by paper.
• Aligns parts 404 and 414 so waiver requests, alternative time frame requests and safety element approval requests use the same methods as license applications.
• Makes conforming changes to §§ 401.1, 404.3(c)(2) and 413.7(a) to update the Office of Commercial Space Transportation address to 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

The amendments cover 14 CFR parts 401, 404, 413 and 414.

LEAP and the waiver obstacle

The FAA is developing the Licensing Electronic Application Portal (LEAP), through which applicants would submit materials electronically. Current § 413.7(a) allows filing only by paper in duplicate, by email to ASTApplications@faa.gov, or on physical electronic storage such as a USB flash drive or external hard drive — a restriction that would block use of LEAP without first obtaining a waiver. The agency is also considering removing the email and physical electronic storage options altogether, and seeks comment on that alternative.

Costs and regulatory review

• Estimated savings of $16,927 per year, or $169,266 over ten years undiscounted; $118,885 at a 7 percent discount rate and $144,387 at 3 percent.
• The estimate assumes 150 part 450 applications per year and 10 minutes saved per email attachment, at a loaded hourly wage of $56.42.
• The Office of Management and Budget determined the rule is not a significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866; no regulatory flexibility analysis is required and no new information collection is created.
• The action is categorically excluded under the National Environmental Policy Act and is expected to be a deregulatory action under E.O. 14192.

The notice was issued under the authority of 49 U.S.C. 106(f) and 51 U.S.C. chapter 509 and signed by Minh A. Nguyen, Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Commercial Space Transportation. The docket contact is Lisa E. Cacciatore.

For commercial launch operators and spaceports, the proposal removes a procedural step that has kept the agency’s new electronic portal out of reach without a waiver; the FAA notes that no licensed operator has submitted a paper application in the last two decades. Interested parties have until November 4, 2026 to file comments.

Source: Federal Register, Vol. 91, No. 191, 5 October 2026, Proposed Rules, pp. 63180–63185 (official reference: 2026-20387).