The Federal Aviation Administration’s
Office of Commercial Space Transportation
(FAA/AST) licenses and regulates U.S.
commercial space launch and reentry activity
as authorized by Executive Order 12465
(Commercial Expendable Launch Vehicle
Activities) and 49 United States Code Subtitle
IX, Chapter 701 (formerly the Commercial
Space Launch Act). AST’s mission is to license
and regulate commercial launch and reentry
operations to protect public health and safety,
the safety of property, and the national security
and foreign policy interests of the United States.
Chapter 701 and the 2004 U.S. Space
Transportation Policy also direct the Federal
Aviation Administration to encourage, facilitate,
and promote commercial launches and reentries.
The Commercial Space Transportation Advisory
Committee (COMSTAC) provides information,
advice, and recommendations to the
Administrator of the Federal Aviation
Administration within the Department of
Transportation (DOT) on matters relating to the
U.S. commercial space transportation industry.
Established in 1985, COMSTAC is made up of
senior executives from the U.S. commercial
space transportation and satellite industries,
space-related state government officials, and
other space professionals.
The primary goals of COMSTAC are to:
• Evaluate economic, technological and
institutional issues relating to the U.S.
commercial space transportation
industry;
• Provide a forum for the discussion of issues
involving the relationship between industry
and government requirements; and
• Make recommendations to the Administrator
on issues and approaches for Federal
policies and programs regarding the
industry.
Additional information concerning AST and
COMSTAC can be found on AST’s web site,
http://ast.faa.gov.
i
2008 Commercial Space Transportation Forecasts
About the Office of Commercial Space Transportation and the
Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee
Cover: Art by John Sloan (2008)
ii
Federal Aviation Administration and the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Com