Some government agencies have reached an agreement to streamline regulations surrounding space launches, and landings at military operated facilities like Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of the Air Force deal is intended to reduce redundant approvals required for commercial flights from Vandenberg, as well as Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The agreement calls for the Department of the Air Force to oversee ground safety rules and regulations. The FAA will handle the licensing of flight portions of a launch, or reentry. They will jointly review requests from companies for exemptions from safety requirements.
There are four commercial companies currently licensed by the FAA to conduct launches from Vandenberg. The number of commercial launches from the base is expected to grow rapidly during the next few years.
