hazard areas that we use now, release blocked airspace more quickly and decrease the number
of aircraft exposed to a space mission.
The ATO also has updated our concept of operations on commercial space, and we soon plan to
release an update to our roadmap, which identifies the infrastructure, policies and services we
must adjust to reduce the chance of performance deficiencies and delays. We've also
developed letters of agreement, or LOAs, between license and permit applicants and the air
traffic facilities that have jurisdiction over the airspace where the launch or re-entry will take
place.
Several of our ATO co-workers and I joined colleagues from Commercial Space, Safety and other
lines of business to participate in the FAA's commercial space conference this week to discuss
those and other initiatives, including the work of our ATO Commercial Space Integration Team,
safety risk management panels, and aviation rulemaking committees.
Also, on Nov. 8, we plan to unveil a new room at the Command Center to house our Joint Space
Operations Group, which manages the tactical operations of space launch and re-entry
operations. We plan to name the room after NASA's space shuttle Challenger crew. Click here
to watch the ceremony live.
I appreciate everyone who is doing the hard work of integration as we consider the needs of all
airspace users without skipping a beat on safety!
Thanks, everyone!
Teri L. Bristol
ATO Chief Operating Officer
