SpaceX receives first-ever FAA license for commercial reentry

This is quite simply amazing news. The implications are astounding, beyond the mere selfish prospect of one day travelling to space as a tourist.<p>Considering a loose estimate on the value of the asteroid belt is like $5(10^20), it could literally be a new gold rush. It would be awesome (to the true definition of the word) if one day our manufactured goods are being landed from space rather than shipped across the ocean.<p>Beyond that, I envy my offspring that could one day live in space as if it were mundane.

I firmly believe that SpaceX is the best chance humanity currently has at achieving space travel for the general population. They are one of the few companies I can get honestly excited about these days.

Congrats to them. The FAA seems to be doing a good job not getting in the way of space travel.

Why does a company need a licence from the FAA to perform re-entry? The FAA doesn't regulate all of the earth's outer atmosphere, right?