In 2020, The FAA Licensed 41 Commercial Space Operations
The FAA is crowing about a record number of launches, new streamlined launch and reentry licensing regulations, and a historic licensed crewed mission are some of the noteworthy commercial space transportation achievements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2020. The FAA will build on these accomplishments in the coming year.
“This record-setting year in launches, and the new streamlined launch and reentry licensing regulations, bode well for continued rapid growth of America’s commercial space sector,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
In 2020, the FAA licensed 41 commercial space operations (launches and reentries), the most in the agency’s history. Those operations included a record 39 FAA-licensed launches, including the first-ever NASA crewed mission to be licensed by the FAA. For 2021, the FAA is forecasting the number of licensed operations could reach 50 or more.
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The mission was titled NROL-108, with the Falcon 9 rocket carrying a confidential satellite into orbit.
Shortly after lift off, the booster on board of the rocket separated once it reached near orbit, with the satellite now continuing on to its destination.
However, the Falcon 9 descended back to Earth, with an ultra-smooth landing seen back at a pad in Florida.
SpaceX launch goes off seamlessly as rocket lands in stunningly smooth fashion - watch (Image: SPACEX)
POV from the Falcon 9 as it lowered towards the ground (Image: SPACEX)
One person wrote on Twitter: Falcon lands, crowds cheer, SpaceX launches their final mission of the year.