# Federal Register #FAA-2026-9942

FAA proposes licensing approach for uncontrolled atmospheric returns

**Buyer:** Federal Aviation Administration
**Posted:** November 09, 2026
**Respond By:** December 10, 2026
**Identifier:** FAA-2026-9942
**NAICS:** 926120

The FAA is proposing a licensing approach for uncontrolled atmospheric returns in commercial space operations.
- **Government buyer:** U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including the Office of Commercial Space Transportation.
- **Proposal:** Amendments to 14 CFR Parts 401 and 450 would allow operators to demonstrate protection from high-consequence events during an uncontrolled atmospheric return by showing that the vehicle, its components, and payloads would break up sufficiently to mitigate a single event expected to cause multiple casualties.
- **Purpose:** Streamline commercial launch and reentry licensing and reduce regulatory burden.
- **Procurement status:** This is a proposed regulation, not a procurement. No OEMs, vendors, products, quantities, or contracted services are identified.

### Description

The Federal Aviation Administration proposes amendments to its commercial space launch and reentry licensing regulations. The proposal would allow operators to demonstrate protection against high-consequence events during an uncontrolled atmospheric return by showing sufficient breakup of the vehicle, including its components and payloads, to protect against a single event expected to produce multiple casualties. The proposal is intended to streamline licensing and reduce regulatory burden for applicants. Comments are due December 9, 2026.

[View original listing](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/09/2026-22784/conditional-expected-casualty-exception-for-failures-resulting-in-an-uncontrolled-atmospheric-return)