The FAA said operators could file launch applications electronically and combine three safety analyses into one submission. Comments run through November 4.
The Federal Aviation Administration said on Tuesday it is proposing to streamline rules for commercial space launches and re-entries. The changes would let operators submit launch applications electronically, give more flexibility in showing an equivalent level of safety, and fold three required safety analyses into a single submission.
The public comment period runs through November 4. The agency said simplifying the rules should let American operators keep leading commercial launch growth while holding to the FAA's safety standards.
The White House wants at least 1,000 launches and re-entries a year by 2030, up from 178 launches last year, Reuters reported. That annual total is 10 times the 2013 figure, and SpaceX accounts for most of the activity.
In August, President Donald Trump signed a memo aimed at raising the number of commercial launches, including a direction for agencies to look at federal land for new sites. In July the FAA proposed waiving requirements under several laws to speed licensing.
The Tuesday proposal is a rulemaking step, not a final rule. No launch date or operator approval was attached to the announcement.