The FAA partners with NASA during these missions and is responsible for public safety through its commercial space licensing process while NASA is responsible for crew safety.

No, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is not under NASA; rather, they are two separate and independent agencies within the U.S. government with very different "Gold Standard" missions. The FAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and is responsible for the regulation and safety of civil aviation, including air traffic control, pilot certification, and airport safety. NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration), on the other hand, is an independent agency focused on space exploration, scientific research, and aerospace technology development. A grounded way to distinguish them: the FAA is the "Police and Architect" of the sky, ensuring that planes don't hit each other and that the system is safe for the public. NASA is the "Explorer and Inventor," pushing the boundaries of what is possible in aeronautics and the stars. In 2026, the two agencies collaborate closely through supportive "NextGen" programs where NASA develops new, fuel-efficient wing designs or quiet-engine technology, and the FAA eventually "certifies" that technology for use by commercial airlines like Delta or United.