SpaceX Gets First Private FAA Space Reentry License

Posted by kdawson on Tuesday November 23, 2010 @05:54AM from the interpanetary-driver's-license dept.

coondoggie sends in a Network World story that begins "Space Exploration Technologies (Space X) got the first-ever Federal Aviation Administration license allowing the reentry to Earth of a privately developed spacecraft. The license was needed because the Space X Dragon space capsule is scheduled to launch atop Space X's Falcon 9 rocket on Dec. 7 and return to earth. The Launch of the rocket had already been approved by the FAA. The FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation noted that it has licensed over 200 successful launches."

1 of 108 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

It's needed. by Animats · 2010-11-23 06:42 · Score: 5, Insightful

Bear in mind that a spacecraft launch and an ICBM launch look very similar, and a re-entry looks like an incoming missile. It's best if everybody knows where and when to expect such events, so that various military forces don't overreact. Both the normal scenarios and the abort plans need to be reviewed.