{
  "node_id": "usa-commercial-space-launch-act-1984-faa-licensing",
  "title": "USA Commercial Space Launch Act (51 U.S.C. Chapter 509) - FAA Launch and Reentry Licensing",
  "domain": "Space & Satellite Law",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "last_updated": "2026-05-09",
  "bluf": "The US Commercial Space Launch Act (originally 1984, recodified at 51 U.S.C. Chapter 509, significantly amended by the Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015 and the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018) is the primary US legal authority for FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) licensing of commercial launch and reentry vehicles, launch sites (spaceports), and reentry sites. Launch operators must obtain an FAA launch license or experimental permit before launching a launch vehicle from US territory or by a US person anywhere. The Act also establishes third-party liability indemnification (cross-waiver) regime requiring all parties to a launch to waive cross-claims and the US government to indemnify above the required insurance level up to a statutory ceiling.",
  "paywall": {
    "status": "LOCKED",
    "unlock_cost_usd": "0.01",
    "skyfire_id": "41779894-ece2-4163-9761-b3b1b76e19b0"
  },
  "crosswalks": {
    "_available_keys": [
      "eu_ai_act",
      "industry_mapping",
      "iso_standard",
      "related_frameworks"
    ],
    "_note": "Full crosswalk values included in vault response"
  },
  "dependencies": [
    "un-outer-space-treaty-1967",
    "itu-radio-regulations-2020-edition"
  ],
  "primary_citations_count": 7
}