Debra J. Rahn
Headquarters, Washington, DC                September 11, 1997
(Phone:  202/358-1639)

RELEASE:  97-194

NASA, DOD AND FAA SIGN JOINT AGREEMENT 
ON SPACEPORTS LAUNCH GUIDANCE

     The NASA Administrator, the Under Secretary of Defense for 
Acquisition and Technology (DOD) and the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA) Administrator have signed a joint Memorandum 
of Agreement (MOA) that provides guidance for federal interaction 
with commercial launch site operators on spaceports.

     This joint agreement brings to fruition many months of 
concerted effort by the members of the Interagency Working Group 
on Spaceports, which was initiated at the request of the White 
House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

     A "spaceport" will be similar to an airport for rockets and 
will be managed by a launch site operator.  Operation of a launch 
site consists of operations and maintenance of launch property, 
which must include at least one launch pad.  These operators may 
be state government agencies, state-chartered or-sponsored 
entities, or commercial organizations.

     The primary objective of the MOA is to facilitate and 
encourage access by the private sector and state and local 
governments to excess federal launch property and services.

     The MOA explains the respective roles and responsibilities of 
federal agencies in general, and specifically NASA, DOD and FAA, 
in their interactions with launch site operators.  The intent is 
to minimize the regulatory burden on the U.S. commercial space 
sector by clearly delineating federal agency requirements and 
oversight responsibilities, eliminating overlap and duplication.

     The guidance applies to current and prospective FAA-licensed 
launch site operators on, or outside, federal installations.  It 
does not apply to operation of a launch site performed as part of 
a federal space activity carried out by, or for, the federal 
government.

     The basis of a federal license is the obligation to protect 
public health and safety.  Federal guidance is provided in several 
areas:

     -Environmental and safety compliance
     -Licensing of launch site operators
     -Financial responsibility and allocation of risk
         requirements applicable to activities conducted on a
                federal installation
     -Federal agency pricing for launch property and
         services
     -Foreign involvement in operation of a launch site
     -State government-related launch site operators, and
     -Real property.

     NASA, DOD, and FAA plan to use this agreement as a basis for 
writing implementing procedures to carry out their respective 
responsibilities in interacting with launch site operators. 

                             -end-