Making Synapses · Bringing Knowledge to Mankind
SpacePart 450 Launch Day Roles and Commit Criteria
Twenty flashcards on the FAA launch license rules in 14 CFR Part 450: who can call hold, go/no go and abort, rest, readiness and flight commit criteria.
Free to startYour progress here is temporary and is lost when you close this page. Install Making Synapses free to keep it, with spaced repetition.
20 cards
- Which two safety positions must an operator designate for each Part 450 launch?
- A mission director and a safety official.
- What is the mission director responsible for?
- The safe conduct of all licensed activities, with authority to give final approval to proceed.
- What does the safety official do?
- Has direct access to the mission director, reports safety and noncompliance issues, and independently monitors compliance.
- Who must make sure the safety official's concerns are addressed?
- The mission director.
- What must an operator ensure about safety-critical personnel?
- That they are trained, qualified and capable of their safety-critical tasks, with current training.
- Which rest period must Part 450 rest rules cover before a launch?
- Rest between shifts, including the rest required immediately before the flight countdown work shift.
- Name other items the rest rules must address.
- Shift length and its maximum extension, consecutive shift days before rest, and how deviations are approved.
- Which three commands need defined authority during countdown and flight?
- "Hold/resume," "go/no go" and abort.
- How is the authority to issue those commands defined?
- By individual or by position title.
- What must communication networks give the people with that authority?
- Direct access to the real-time safety-critical information they need to issue those commands.
- What radio protocol does Part 450 require?
- A protocol for using defined radio telephone communications terminology.
- What must be recorded during each countdown?
- All safety-critical communications network channels used for voice, video or data.
- What must pre-flight procedures verify before flight is initiated?
- That each flight commit criterion is satisfied.
- What must readiness procedures assess?
- Vehicle and site readiness, safety-critical personnel and systems, and readiness to carry out the mishap plan.
- What are flight commit criteria?
- Each condition that must be met before flight to satisfy the Part 450 safety criteria.
- Name required flight commit criteria.
- Hazard area surveillance, weather and lightning monitoring, collision avoidance window closures and confirmation that safety-critical systems are ready.
- Which confirmation from the FAA is a flight commit criterion?
- That the risk to critical assets meets the Part 450 safety criteria.
- What must the operator do with each flight hazard area before flight?
- Publicize, survey, control or evacuate it as needed to meet the safety criteria.
- What two options does Part 450 give for lightning?
- Flight commit criteria that mitigate lightning strikes, or a vehicle designed to protect safety-critical systems from a strike.
- What must a licensee give the FAA for each countdown?
- A console to monitor the countdown and all countdown communication channels, plus a way to talk with the mission director.
Official sources
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), via GovInfo (GPO)
14 CFR Part 450: Launch and reentry license requirements (CFR 2025 edition)
Making Synapses is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by NASA, the FAA, the Canadian Space Agency or any launch provider. Agency, mission and program names are named only to describe the content.