Trump eases commercial spaceflight regulations

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order aimed at streamlining regulations and promoting a competitive commercial space industry.

To ensure that the United States retains its leading role in space commercialization, the order directs the US Secretary of Transportation to eliminate or expedite environmental reviews for launch and reentry licenses and permits, the White House said in a fact sheet. It also requires a review of regulatory requirements to remove outdated, redundant, or overly restrictive rules affecting launch and reentry vehicles.

Additionally, the order instructs the Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretaries of Defense and Transportation and the NASA Administrator, to assess state compliance with the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) and determine whether states are hindering spaceport infrastructure development under the CZMA or imposing restrictions inconsistent with federal law.

The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation and the NASA Administrator are also directed to align their review processes to eliminate duplicative regulations and expedite spaceport development.

The order also mandates the creation of a streamlined authorization process for novel space activities, aiming to enhance US competitiveness and leadership in emerging space-based industries.

US media have interpreted the order as particularly beneficial to Elon Musk's SpaceX. Musk has complained that environmental impact reviews and post-flight mishap investigations have repeatedly slowed testing of SpaceX's new Starship rocket.

SpaceX now leads the US space sector in launch frequency, surpassing even NASA in the number of routine launches.