U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott have criticized the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for frequent delays in approving launch and reentry licenses, which they say are hindering innovation and the development of critical space missions.
The senators are urging the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation to modernize its regulatory framework to keep pace with the rapidly advancing commercial space industry.
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In a letter to FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker, Rubio and Scott emphasized the need for efficient licensing processes to maintain U.S. leadership in the global space race, especially with increasing competition from countries like China and Russia.
“As near-peer competitors continue to make significant strides in their space capabilities, in both developing new vehicles and vast new infrastructure, it is more crucial than ever that our regulatory processes enable commercial and government stakeholders to ensure the United States continues to lead the way,” said the letter.
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This is not the first time the senators have raised concerns. In November 2023, they wrote to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressing ongoing delays in the FAA’s issuance of launch licenses.
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