The FAA issues a policy approval to a license applicant unless the FAA determines that a proposed launch would jeopardize U.S. national security or foreign policy interests, or international obligations of the United States. A policy approval is part of the licensing record on which the FAA's licensing determination is based.
(a) The FAA reviews a license application to determine whether it presents any issues affecting U.S. national security or foreign policy interests, or international obligations of the United States.
(b) Interagency consultation. (1) The FAA consults with the Department of Defense to determine whether a license application presents any issues affecting U.S. national security.
(2) The FAA consults with the Department of State to determine whether a license application presents any issues affecting U.S. foreign policy interests or international obligations.
(3) The FAA consults with other federal agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, authorized to address issues identified under paragraph (a) of this section, associated with an applicant's launch proposal.
(c) The FAA advises an applicant, in writing, of any issue raised during a policy review that would impede issuance of a policy approval. The applicant may respond, in writing, or revise its license application.
In its launch license application, an applicant shall—
(a) Identify the model and configuration of any launch vehicle proposed for launch by the applicant.
(b) Identify structural, pneumatic, propellant, propulsion, electrical and avionics systems used in the launch vehicle and all propellants.
(c) Identify foreign ownership of the applicant as follows:
(1) For a sole proprietorship or partnership, identify all foreign ownership;
(2) For a corporation, identify any foreign ownership interests of 10% or more; and
(3) For a joint venture, association, or other entity, identify any participating foreign entities.
(d) Identify proposed launch vehicle flight profile(s), including:
(1) Launch site;
(2) Flight azimuths, trajectories, and associated ground tracks and instantaneous impact points;
(3) Sequence of planned events or maneuvers during flight;
(4) Range of nominal impact areas for all spent motors and other discarded mission hardware, within three standard deviations of the mean impact point (a 3-sigma footprint); and
(5) For each orbital mission, the range of intermediate and final orbits of each vehicle upper stage, and their estimated orbital lifetimes.
The FAA notifies an applicant, in writing, if it has denied policy approval for a license application. The notice states the reasons for the FAA's determination. The applicant may respond to the reasons for the determination and request reconsideration.