Section Narrative Objective Criteria to Determine if the Application is Complete Timeframe
12.3 § 450.145 Highly reliable flight safety system.
Part § 450.35(a) requires that a means of compliance must be accepted by the Administrator for the § 450.145(b) Highly reliable Flight Safety System prior to application acceptance. The flight safety system includes the Flight Termination System and the Range Tracking System.
FAA regulations identify RCC 319 and RCC 324 as a means of compliance accepted by the Administrator for § 450.145 Highly Reliable FSS.
Is there an accepted Means of Compliance specified? This is normally a mature draft of tailored versions of RCC 319 and 324.
§ 450.145(d)(1)
• Is there a description of the flight safety system?
• Does the description include:
o Flight safety system component list, including vendor and heritage (if any)?
o Function(s) of each component?
o Operational scenario(s), including launch locations or Ranges?
• Is there a method for predicting the environments for each operational scenario and mission phase?
§ 450.145(d)(2)
• Is there a flight safety system design, including top level block diagrams and schematics?
• Do the diagrams include:
o Subsystems?
o Interconnections between systems?
§ 450.145(d)(3)
• Is there a list and schedule for submitting the analyses and documentation required to support the reliability and confidence of a highly reliable flight safety system?
• If using a tailored RCC 319, does this list include:
o Flight safety system report?
Phase 1:
MOC § 450.145(d)(1) § 450.145(d)(2) § 450.145(d)(3) Phase 2:
§ 450.145(d)(4) § 450.145(d)(5) Phase 3:
§ 450.145(d)(6) 49
Section Narrative Objective Criteria to Determine if the Application is Complete Timeframe o Component preliminary and critical design reviews?
o Reliability analysis?
o Bent pin analysis?
o Single point failure analysis?
o Fratricide analysis?
o RF link and radiation analysis?
o Sneak circuit analysis?
o Power budget analysis?
o Breakup analysis?
o Command and auto destruct timing analysis?
o Qualification by similarity analysis?
o Software & firmware analysis?
§ 450.145(d)(4)
• Is there a schedule for submitting procedures for validating tracking data?
§ 450.145(d)(5)
• Is there a list and schedule for submitting the qualification and acceptance test plans and procedures?
• Is there a schedule for conducting approved test procedures?
§ 450.145(d)(6)
• Is there a monitoring plan for operating environments?
If using a tailored RCC 319 and the system is intended for reuse on multiple flights, does the plan include a discussion of assessment of component life remaining?
OTHER PRESCRIBED HAZARD CONTROLS Section Narrative Objective Criteria to Determine if the Application is Complete Timeframe
13.1 § 450.147 Agreements.
The FAA requires documentation of written agreements between the operator and applicable outside entities. The entities include three types: site operators, entities as identified as needed to control hazard areas (per § 450.161), and entities providing emergency response.
These agreements need not be signed at the time the application materials for this requirement are submitted. The agreements should be ready for signature and available for the FAA to request. If operating from a site that holds an existing agreement covering vehicle operations, that agreement may be used in lieu of developing a new
• Is there a list of agreements?
• Is there a description of each agreement?
• Are there effective dates for each agreement?
• Does the list include agreements with:
o Site operator(s) for each launch or reentry site or a statement that the applicant is the site operator?
o Maritime authority(ies) for Issuance of Notice to Mariners or a statement that no water areas will be affected?
Phase 2 agreement.
With respect to the U.S. Coast Guard, a letter of intent is sufficient as an agreement, per the FAA United States Coast Guard Letter of Intent (LOI) Policy Statement.
https://www.faa.gov/space/legislationregulati onguidance/uscg-letter-intent-loi-policystatement o Air navigation authority(ies) for Issuance of Notices to Air Missions [formerly Airmen]?
o Entity(ies) providing emergency response services?
Section Narrative Objective Criteria to Determine if the Application is Complete Timeframe
13.2 § 450.149 The performance-based requirement set forth § 450.149(b)(1) Phase 1:
Safety-critical personnel qualifications.
in § 450.149 allows operators to document and describe how it will satisfy the personnel qualification program requirements and identify by position those individuals who implement the program. During pre-
• Is there a list of safety-critical tasks (per § 450.107) that qualified personnel must perform?
Preliminary submission Phase 3:
Final application consultation the applicant will § 450.149(b)(2) submission discuss and identify the expected safety- • Is there a description of critical tasks and safety-critical personnel requirements for training for each qualifications, including training. The identified task?
discussion will involve internal training and • Is there a currency requirement currency requirements, completion (or specified as none) for each standards, or any other means of identified task?
demonstrating compliance with the regulation. The applicant will be informed that the FAA may request and review documentation or observe activities while on site to verify compliance.
• Is there a description of capability
(e.g., physical, medical) requirements for each identified task?
§ 450.149(b)(3)
• Is there a description of the process for tracking currency?
13.3 § 450.151 Work The performance-based requirement set forth § 450.151(c) Phase 1:
shift and rest requirements.
in § 450.151 allows operators to take into account factors affecting crew rest and adopt mitigations and procedures unique to their launch operation. During pre-application
• Is there a set of rest rules for safety-critical personnel?
• Do the rules include:
Preliminary submission Phase 3:
consultation the applicant will be asked to o The duration of the work shift? Final discuss work shift and rest requirements, and o A process for extending a work submission the plan for implementing rest requirements shift?
that ensure safety critical personnel are o A maximum allowable length physically and mentally capable of of extension of a work shift?
Section Narrative Objective Criteria to Determine if the Application is Complete Timeframe performing assigned tasks. The applicant will o The number of consecutive be informed that FAA may request and work shift days allowed?
review documentation or observe activities while on site to verify compliance. • Do the rules include a minimumperiod of rest required:
Note: Safety-critical personnel may be determined via association with safetycritical systems (identified via § 450.107 o Between work shifts?
o Prior to flight countdown work shift?
functional hazard analysis), § 450.109 flight o After the maximum number of hazard analysis, flight safety analysis, work shift days allowed?
§ 450.185 ground hazard analysis, or other • Do the rules include a description of safety analyses. the approval process for any deviation from the rest requirements?
13.4 § 450.153 Radio Radio frequency (RF) management is a • Is there a means of compliance Phase 1:
frequency prescribed hazard control that ensures that (MOC) specified? MOC management. the applicant has a plan to ensure RF interference does not adversely affect public safety and that the operator appropriately communicates frequency usage to key impacted stakeholders of the spectrum. If launching from an accepted Federal range the applicant will meet the § 450.153(a)(2) requirement by following
• If operating from a Federal range, where the range has been accepted per § 450.45(b) for RF management, the agreement with the site, per § 450.147, specifying responsibility should be specified as the MOC for § 450.153(a)(2).
Phase 3:
145(b)(2) current range process. • If utilizing § 417.111(f) as an MOC, Note: Safety-critical systems of flight systems are primarily identified via § 450.107 functional hazard analysis.
Additional “safety-critical system” is there a description of how the RFs will be coordinated with site operator(s) and/or government authorities, per § 450.145(b)(2)?
designations may be determined via • If utilizing another MOC:
§ 450.109 flight hazard analysis, flight safety o Is there a description of the procedures to ensure RF 53
Section Narrative Objective Criteria to Determine if the Application is Complete Timeframe analysis, § 450.185 ground hazard analysis, interference does not affect or other system safety analyses. performance of safety-critical systems?
o Does the description include a discussion of each flight safety system and safety-critical system?
o Is there a description of how the RFs will be coordinated with site operator(s) and/or government authorities, per § 450.145(b)(2)?
13.5 § 450.155 Readiness.
An operator must conduct a readiness review(s) for flight, including a determination to proceed. During preapplication consultation the applicant will be asked to discuss its procedures and processes that will be used to assess readiness to proceed with the flight of a launch or reentry vehicle. The applicant will be informed that FAA may request and review documentation or observe activities while on site to verify compliance.
Note: Safety-critical systems are identified via § 450.107 functional hazard analysis.
Additional “safety-critical” designations may be determined via association with safety-critical systems, § 450.109 flight hazard analysis, flight safety analysis, § 450.185 ground hazard analysis, or other safety analyses.
§ 450.155(b)(1) Procedures
• Is there a description of procedures used to assess readiness to proceed with flight?
• Does the description of procedures include the readiness of:
o The vehicle?
o Each launch, reentry, and landing site(s)?
o Contingency abort sites, if any?
o Safety-critical personnel?
o Safety-critical systems?
o Safety-critical software?
o Safety-critical procedures?
o Safety-critical equipment?
o Safety-critical property?
o Safety-critical services?
• Does the description include readiness to implement the mishap plan?
Phase 1:
Preliminary submission Phase 3:
Final submission 54
Section Narrative Objective Criteria to Determine if the Application is Complete Timeframe § 450.155(b)(2) Criteria
• Is there a description of the criteria for establishing readiness?
• Are there readiness criteria for:
o The vehicle?
o Each launch, reentry, and landing site(s)?
o Contingency abort sites, if any?
o Safety-critical personnel?
o Safety-critical systems?
o Safety-critical software?
o Safety-critical procedures?
o Safety-critical equipment?
o Safety-critical property?
o Safety-critical services?
13.6 § 450.161 Control of hazard areas.
In accordance with § 450.161, the launch or reentry operator must perform surveillance sufficient to verify or update the assumptions, input data, and results of the flight safety analyses. Flight hazard areas are defined in accordance with § 450.133 and § 450.139(b)(3). An operator must publicize warnings for each flight hazard area, except for regions of land, sea, or air under the control of the vehicle operator, site operator, or other controlling authority with which the operator has an agreement. During preapplication consultation, the applicant is encouraged to discuss and describe its plan for the control of hazard areas, including publication and verification.
§ 450.161(a) Control and Surveillance
• Is there a description of how dayof-flight control of hazard areas will be performed for:
o Land?
o Water?
o Airspace?
• Is there a description of how day-offlight surveillance of hazard areas will be performed for:
o Land?
o Water?
o Airspace?
• Is there a description of the process to verify that the control and hazard Phase 1:
Preliminary submission Phase 2:
Final submission 55
Section Narrative Objective Criteria to Determine if the Application is Complete Timeframe An example of means of compliance for plans are consistent with the flight § 450.161 can be found in AC 450.161-1, c ommit criteria?
“Surveillance and Publication of Hazard § 450.161(b) Warnings Areas”. • Is there a description of how hazard areas will be publicized for:
o Land?
o Water?
o Airspace?
§ 450.161(c) Toxics
• Is there a description of how flight commit criteria will be established due to the potential for toxic hazards? (or a statement that there are no toxic hazards).
13.7 § 450.163 This regulation allows two options: • If the flight commit criteria are being Phase 1:
Lightning 1. Mitigating the potential for lightning used as mitigation: Preliminary hazard strikes or initiation o Is an accepted means of submission mitigation. 2. Design of the vehicle to protect safetycritical systems from the effects of lightning.
The first option requires per § 450.35(a) an accepted means of compliance prior to application acceptance. The second option would include documentation of the methods and standards applied to the design.
compliance for determining flight commit criteria based on lighting specified?
o Are representative flight commit criteria regarding lightning provided?
• If lighting protection is used:
Phase 3:
Final submission Note: Safety-critical systems are identified via § 450.107 functional hazard analysis.
o Is there documentation of the methods to protect all safetycritical systems?
o Does the documentation include a discussion of:
Direct lighting strikes?
Nearby discharge?
Section Narrative Objective Criteria to Determine if the Application is Complete Timeframe
13.8 § 450.165 Flight commit criteria.
Flight commit criteria are essential for ensuring that the assumptions underlying the safety analyses are valid. Flight commit criteria are dependent on some products of the analysis process, and thus specific criteria may change for different operations during a license. However, each vehicle should have a template for flight commit criteria and a process for updating specific values. Clarity of flight commit criteria is also critical so there is no ambiguity in the decision process. § 450.165(a) lists seven specific topics that must be considered for inclusion in the criteria.
There are two options for submission:
1. Template + example: a template of flight commit criteria covering all the topics in § 450.165(a) which are relevant. The template should have placeholders for values determined for each operation and a specific reference to the source of each value. The material should also include an associated example with values assigned to placeholders.
2. A complete static list of flight commit criteria which may not be changed without a license modification, covering all the topics in the § 450.165(a) that are relevant.
Note: Safety-critical systems of flight systems are primarily identified via
• Is there a list of flight commit criteria, or a template list?
• Do the criteria include the following:
o Surveillance of any region of land, sea, or air?
o Monitoring of any meteorological condition?
o Launch or reentry window for the purpose of collision avoidance?
o Confirmation that any safetycritical system is ready for flight?
o Confirmation from the FAA regarding risk to critical assets?
o For any reentry vehicle, status of safety-critical systems?
o Any other hazard controls (or a statement that there are none)?
• If a template is submitted:
o Is there a specific reference to the source of the value for each placeholder in the template?
o Is there an example complete list as would be used for an operation?
Phase 1:
Preliminary submission Phase 3:
Final submission 57
Section Narrative Objective Criteria to Determine if the Application is Complete Timeframe § 450.107 functional hazard analysis.
Additional “safety-critical system” designations may be determined via § 450.109 flight hazard analysis, flight safety analysis, § 450.185 ground hazard analysis, or other system safety analyses.
13.9 § 450.167 The system used to track the vehicle is • Is there a description of a method Phase 2 Tracking. required to provide data to determine the actual impact locations of all stages and components, and to obtain vehicle performance data for comparison with the used for tracking?
• Does the method discuss measuring and recording in real-time?
pre-flight performance predictions. The FAA intended the requirements to capture current practice. During pre-application consultation the applicant will discuss and describe the method or system used to meet the tracking requirements. Means of compliance for § 450.167 are AC 450.167-1 and RCC 324-11.
• Does the method discuss recording position and velocity with respect to time?
• Is there a description of systems used for tracking?
13.10 § 450.171 To address Safety at the End of Launch the • Is there a description of how safety Phase 2 Safety at end of FAA imposed § 450.171 to provide at the end of launch will be ensured?
launch. requirements for the prevention of creating orbital debris, with which an applicant would be required to demonstrate compliance in its application. During pre-application consultation the applicant will discuss and describe its plans to demonstrate compliance to mitigate orbital debris generated from vehicle stages or components that reach earth orbit.
• Does the description include a discussion of the prevention of unplanned physical contact between:
o The vehicle and any of its components?
o The vehicle and the payload?
• Is there a list of potential residual energy sources?
Section Narrative Objective Criteria to Determine if the Application is Complete Timeframe A means of compliance for § 450.171 is the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee IADC-02-01: IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines or the U.S.
Government Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices
• Is there a discussion of the process for:
o Depleting residual fuel?
o Leaving all fuel line valves open?
o Venting each pressurized system?
o Discharging all batteries?
o Removing other sources of energy, if any?
13.11 § 450.173 In accordance with 14 CFR § 450.173(h), an • Is there a mishap plan or other Phase 3 Mishap plan‒ applicant must submit a mishap plan, or written documentation of the reporting, other written means, containing processes response to a mishap?
response, and and procedures for reporting, responding to, • Does the documentation include a investigation and investigating a mishap in accordance description of:
requirements. with § 450.173(b) through (g). During pre- o Responsibilities of personnel?
application, FAA will work with an applicant o Personnel reporting to ensure the processes and procedures responsibilities?
outlined in an applicant’s mishap plan o Allocation of contain sufficient detail to allow for FAA roles/responsibilities between the evaluation and approval, and for the site operator and launch operator?
applicant to implement the plan in the event o Reporting timelines?
of a mishap. This consultation will include o Special reporting for fatalities or guidance and lessons learned based on serious injuries?
previous mishaps. To aid the applicant in o The contents of the preliminary developing their mishap plan, the FAA mishap report?
published AC 450.173-1 Mishap Plan – o Evacuation plans?
Reporting, Response, and Investigation o Fire extinguishing plans?
Requirements. o Hazard area surveillance?
To facilitate review of a mishap plan, o Securing impact areas?
applicants should identify whether the o Disposal of hazardous materials?
mishap plan is applicable to a single launch o Controlling hazards at the site?
Section Narrative Objective Criteria to Determine if the Application is Complete Timeframe vehicle type, configuration, location, or o Controlling hazards at the impact applicable to multiple vehicles and locations. areas?
Note: For plans applicable to multiple vehicles or locations, the FAA may require additional information to verify the satisfaction of applicable requirements for all vehicle types and locations.
o Preserving data?
o Preserving physical evidence?
o Agreements with government authorities regarding mishaps?
o Agreements with emergency response services regarding mishaps?
• Is there a documentation of mishap investigation process?
• Does the process discuss:
o Investigation of root causes?
o Reporting results to the FAA?
o Implementation of measures to avoid recurrence?
• Is there a discussion of records preservation methods?
• Is there a discussion of records retention conditions?
• Is there a discussion of records access to FAA officials?
13.12 § 450.175 This section applies to license applicants or • Is there a document containing: Prior to Test-induced operators seeking an optional test-induced o Test objectives? planned test damage. damage exception under 14 CFR § 450.175. o Test limits? activity This regulation only applies if there is a test o Expected outcomes?
event that caused damage and the operator o Potential risks, including the wishes to apply for an exception. This is applicant's best understanding of more common as a license modification than the uncertainties in environments, during the initial license phase. test limits, or system The FAA will consider test failures and performance?