The Federal Aviation Administration has released a notice stating that a reentry vehicle may be launched as a payload and return to Earth as a reentry spacecraft provided that the operator has secured the necessary reentry license or authorization.
An operator or owner of a reentry vehicle that will lift off as a payload and reenter Earth must meet the payload review requirements for the launch phase and the reentry requirements for the reentry phase, according to a notice published Wednesday in Federal Register.
FAA outlined some of the concerns associated with the launch of a reentry vehicle without reentry license or reauthorization, including public risks, limited options for the safe reentry of the vehicle and payload review.
“Launch of a reentry vehicle without an authorization for reentry would pose safety concerns that are designed to be addressed by the reentry licensing process,” the notice states.