The White House. Photo: US government

President Trump released an executive order on Wednesday aimed at reducing regulation on commercial space launch, making it easier to build spaceports, and authorizing novel space activities. 

Named “Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry,” the order directs the Secretary of Transportation “to eliminate or expedite” environmental reviews for launch and reentry licenses and permits, and to review regulatory requirements for launch and reentry vehicles. 

The order also focuses on spaceport development, directing the Commerce Secretary to work with the Defense Secretary, Transportation Secretary, and NASA Administrator to evaluate how states are complying with the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA). They are tasked with looking at “whether states are hindering spaceport infrastructure development under the CZMA, or otherwise placing limitations on spaceport development that are inconsistent with federal law.” 

It also calls for a framework for expedited approvals for novel space activities like in-space manufacturing and orbital refueling. The Secretary of Commerce is tasked with proposing a process for mission authorizations for activities that are covered by Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, but not clearly governed by existing regulatory frameworks. 

The order also creates a new position in the Office of the Transportation Secretary to advise on deregulation in the commercial space industry. 

Transportation Secretary and Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said the executive order will improve American space competitiveness. 

“By slashing red tape tying up spaceport construction, streamlining launch licenses so they can occur at scale, and creating high-level space positions in government, we can unleash the next wave of innovation. At NASA, this means continuing to work with commercial space companies and improving our spaceports’ ability to launch,” Duffy said in a statement.