Access to European spaceports depends on clear, proportionate and predictable authorisation pathways. For launch providers, operators and public authorities, licensing is not only an administrative step: it determines whether launch campaigns can be planned, coordinated and delivered without unnecessary duplication or delay.

Why it matters

Europe’s launch economy needs regulatory pathways that are reliable across jurisdictions while still respecting national responsibilities. Today, spaceport access may involve several layers of approval, including launch authorisation, environmental licensing, construction rules, telecom coordination, airspace procedures and liaison with regulators and agencies. If these requirements remain fragmented, operators and launch providers face higher costs, longer timelines and reduced flexibility.

What AEAAS is looking at

AEAAS examines how licensing and access procedures can support safe, sustainable and competitive launch operations. The project looks at how existing practices can be mapped, compared and assessed to identify approaches that reduce fragmentation, support transparent access and help build a more harmonised European framework for spaceport and launch operations.

Key questions for stakeholders

• Which steps in current licensing or authorisation procedures create the greatest operational delays?
• Where would clearer coordination between regulators, agencies and operators make launch campaigns more predictable?
• Which licensing requirements should be harmonised across Europe, and where should national flexibility remain?
• What would make authorisation procedures more workable for new entrants, SMEs and multi-spaceport operations?

Stakeholder input

AEAAS invites stakeholders to share practical experience on licensing constraints, regulatory coordination and access to spaceport infrastructure. This input will help assess which practices are workable for industry and useful for public authorities when developing common regulatory approaches.