9A515 Category 9A

“Spacecraft” and related commodities, as follows (see List of Items Controlled).

Category 9: Aerospace and Propulsion

Reasons for control

• NS: National security
• RS: Regional stability
• MT: Missile technology
• AT: Anti-terrorism

Country chart

List-based license exceptions

Items

1. “Spacecraft” and other items described in ECCN 9A515 remain subject to the EAR even if exported, reexported, or transferred (in-country) with defense articles “subject to the ITAR” integrated into and included therein as integral parts of the item. In all other cases, such defense articles are subject to the ITAR. For example, a 9A515.a “spacecraft” remains “subject to the EAR” even when it is exported, reexported, or transferred (in-country) with a “hosted payload” described in USML Category XV(e)(17) incorporated therein. In all other cases, a “hosted payload” performing a function described in USML Category XV(a) always remains a USML item. The removal of the defense article subject to the ITAR from the spacecraft is a retransfer under the ITAR and would require an ITAR authorization, regardless of the CCL authorization the spacecraft is exported under. Additionally, transfer of technical data regarding the defense article subject to the ITAR integrated into the spacecraft would require an ITAR authorization.
2. a. “Spacecraft,” including satellites, and space vehicles and “sub-orbital craft,” whether designated developmental, experimental, research or scientific, not described in USML Category XV or described in ECCN 9A004.r, .u, or .w, that:
3. a.1. Have electro-optical remote sensing capabilities and having a clear aperture greater than 0.35 meters, but less than or equal to 0.50 meters;
4. a.2. Have remote sensing capabilities beyond NIR (i.e., SWIR, MWIR, or LWIR);
5. a.3. Have radar remote sensing capabilities (e.g., AESA, SAR, or ISAR) having a center frequency equal to or greater than 1.0 GHz, but less than 10.0 GHz and having a bandwidth equal to or greater than 100 MHz, but less than 300 MHz;
6. a.4. Provide space-based logistics, assembly, or servicing of another “spacecraft”; or
7. a.5. Are not described in ECCN 9A515.a.1, .a.2, .a.3 or .a.4.
8. b. Equipment for telemetry, tracking, and control, as follows:
9. b.1. Ground control systems and training simulators “specially designed” for telemetry, tracking, and control of the “spacecraft” controlled in paragraphs 9A004.u or 9A515.a;
10. b.2. Terrestrial equipment “specially designed” for “spacecraft,” as follows:
11. b.2.a. Telemetry and telecommand equipment “specially designed” for any of the following data processing functions:
12. b.2.a.1. Telemetry data processing of frame synchronization and error corrections, for monitoring of operational status (also known as health and safe status) of the “spacecraft bus;” or
13. b.2.a.2. Command data processing for formatting command data being sent to the “spacecraft” to control the “spacecraft bus;”
14. b.2.b. [Reserved]
15. b.3. Simulators “specially designed” for 'verification of operational procedures' of “spacecraft.”
16. c. [Reserved]
17. d. Microelectronic circuits (e.g., integrated circuits, microcircuits, or MOSFETs) and discrete electronic components rated, certified, or otherwise specified or described as meeting or exceeding all the following characteristics and that are “specially designed” for defense articles, “600 series” items, or items controlled by ECCNs 9A004.v or 9A515:
18. d.1. A total dose of 5 × 10 5 Rads (Si) (5 × 10 3 Gy (Si));
19. d.2. A dose rate upset threshold of 5 × 10 8 Rads (Si)/sec (5 × 10 6 Gy (Si)/sec);
20. d.3. A neutron dose of 1 × 10 14 n/cm 2 (1 MeV equivalent);
21. d.4. An uncorrected single event upset sensitivity of 1 × 10− 10 errors/bit/day or less, for the CRÈME-MC geosynchronous orbit, Solar Minimum Environment for heavy ion flux; and
22. d.5. An uncorrected single event upset sensitivity of 1 × 10− 10 errors/part or less for a fluence of 1 × 10 7 protons/cm 2 for proton energy greater than 50 MeV.
23. e. Microelectronic circuits (e.g., integrated circuits, microcircuits, or MOSFETs) and discrete electronic components that are rated, certified, or otherwise specified or described as meeting or exceeding the characteristics in either paragraph e.1 or e.2, AND “specially designed” for defense articles described in USML Category XV or items controlled by ECCNs 9A004.u or 9A515:
24. e.1. A total dose ≥1 × 10 5 Rads (Si) (1 × 10 3 Gy(Si)) and <5 × 10 5 Rads (Si) (5 × 10 3 Gy(Si)); and a single event effect (SEE) (i.e., single event latchup (SEL), single event burnout (SEB), or single event gate rupture (SEGR)) immunity to a linear energy transfer (LET) ≥80 MeV-cm 2/mg; or
25. e.2. A total dose ≥5 × 10 5 Rads (Si) (5 × 10 3 Gy (Si)) and not described in 9A515.d.
26. f. Pressure suits (i.e., space suits) capable of operating at altitudes greater than or equal to 55,000 feet above sea level.
27. g. Remote sensing components “specially designed” for “spacecraft” described in ECCNs 9A515.a.1 through .a.4 as follows:
28. g.1. Space-qualified optics (i.e., lens, mirror, membrane having active properties (e.g., adaptive, deformable)) with the largest lateral clear aperture dimension equal to or less than 0.35 meters; or with the largest clear aperture dimension greater than 0.35 meters but less than or equal to 0.50 meters;
29. g.2. Optical bench assemblies “specially designed” for ECCN 9A515.a.1, a.2, a.3, or a.4 “spacecraft;” or
30. g.3. Primary, secondary, or hosted payloads that perform a function of ECCN 9A515.a.1, a.2, a.3, or a.4 “spacecraft.”
31. h. Spacecraft thrusters using bi-propellants or mono-propellants that provide thrust equal to or less than 150 lbf (i.e., 667.23 N) vacuum thrust.
32. i. through w. [RESERVED]
33. w. “Parts,” “components,” “accessories,” and “attachments” that would otherwise be within the scope of ECCN 9A515.x but that have been identified by the interagency as warranting control in 9A515.w, as follows:
34. w.1. [Reserved]
35. x. “Parts,” “components,” “accessories” and “attachments” that are “specially designed” for defense articles described in USML Category XV or items controlled by 9A515, and that are NOT:
36. x.1. Described on the USML or elsewhere within ECCNs 9A515 or 9A004;
37. x.2. Microelectronic circuits and discrete electronic components;
38. x.3. Described in ECCNs 7A004 or 7A104;
39. x.4. Described in an ECCN containing “space-qualified” as a control criterion (i.e., 3A001.b.1, .e.4 or .z, 3A002.g.1, 3A991.o, 3A992.b.3, 6A002.a.1, .b.2, .d.1, 6A004.c and .d, 6A008.j.1, 6A998.b, or 7A003.d.2);
40. x.5. Microwave solid state amplifiers and microwave assemblies (refer to ECCN 3A001.b.4 and .z for controls on these items);
41. x.6. Travelling wave tube amplifiers (refer to ECCN 3A001.b.8 and .z for controls on these items); or
42. x.7. Elsewhere specified in ECCN 9A515.y.
43. y. Items that would otherwise be within the scope of ECCN 9A515.x but that have been identified in an interagency-cleared commodity classification (CCATS) pursuant to § 748.3(e) as warranting control in 9A515.y.
44. y.1. Discrete electronic components not specified in 9A515.e;
45. y.2. Thermistors for spacecraft applications;
46. y.3. RF microwave bandpass ceramic filters (e.g., Dielectric Resonator Bandpass Filters);
47. y.4. Hall effect sensors for spacecraft applications;
48. y.5. Subminiature (SMA and SMP) plugs and connectors, TNC plugs and cable and connector assemblies with SMA plugs and connectors for spacecraft applications;
49. y.6. Flight cable assemblies for spacecraft applications;
50. y.7. Public address (PA) systems;
51. y.8. Audio selector panels;
52. y.9. Spacecraft crew, passenger, or participant lavatories and body waste management systems;
53. y.10. Spacecraft crew, passenger, or participant hygiene facilities and systems;
54. y.11. Spacecraft crew, passenger, or participant crew rest equipment or sleeping quarters;
55. y.12. Spacecraft crew, passenger, or participant galleys or food preparation or serving systems;
56. y.13. Spacecraft crew, passenger, or participant entertainment systems;
57. y.14. Spacecraft crew, passenger, or participant exercise systems;
58. y.15. Spacecraft crew, passenger, or participant laundry systems;
59. y.16. Spacecraft crew, passenger, or participant safety systems, not including launch abort systems/launch escape systems, ejector seats, spacesuits, flight suits, helmets, or “parts” and “components” therefor;
60. y.17. Spacecraft crew, passenger, or participant storage units, facilities, or systems (for items related to human safety, welfare, and health);

Related controls

Spacecraft, launch vehicles and related articles that are described on the USML, and technical data (including “software”) directly related thereto, and all services (including training) directly related to the integration of any satellite or spacecraft to a launch vehicle, including both planning and onsite support, or furnishing any assistance (including training) in the launch failure analysis or investigation for items in ECCN 9A515.a, are “subject to the ITAR.” All other “spacecraft,” as enumerated below and defined in § 772.1, are subject to the controls of this ECCN. See also ECCNs 3A001, 3A002, 3A991, 3A992, 6A002, 6A004, 6A008, and 6A998 for specific “space-qualified” items, 7A004 and 7A104 for star trackers, and 9A004 for the International Space Station (ISS), the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and “specially designed” “parts” and “components” therefor. See USML Category XI(c) for controls on certain “Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit” (“MMIC”) amplifiers. See ECCN 9A610.g for pressure suits used for high altitude aircraft.

Notes

License Requirement Notes: (1) The Commerce Country Chart is not used for determining license requirements for commodities classified in ECCN 9A515.a.1, .a.2, .a.3, .a.4, and .g. See § 742.6(a)(9), which specifies that such commodities are subject to a worldwide license requirement, except to Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. (2) ECCN 9A004.a through .f apply to certain space launch vehicles, spacecraft, spacecraft buses, spacecraft payloads, on-board systems or equipment, and terrestrial equipment. They are listed in ECCN 9A004.a through .f in order to harmonize 9A004 with the Wassenaar Arrangement Dual-Use List, even though the controls for these items are found under ECCN 9A515 and to direct exporters, reexporters, and transferors to see USML Category IV for 9A004.a. See UMSL Category IV for 9A004.a. See ECCN 9A515 for 9A004.b through .f, and .h. See this ECCN 9A004 for .g, .h, .r, .s, and .u through .y.

Note 1 to 9A515: ECCN 9A515.a includes commercial communications satellites, remote sensing satellites, “sub-orbital craft,” and planetary and interplanetary probes, not identified in ECCN 9A004 or USML Category XV(a).

Technical Note: For the purposes of 9A515.b.3, 'verification of operational procedures' is any of the following: 1. Command sequence confirmation; 2. Operational training; 3. Operational rehearsals; or 4. Operational analysis.

Note 2 to 9A515.d and .e: See USML Category XI for military electronics. See 3A611.f for PLDs and ASICs programmed for 600 series items.

Note 3 to 9A515.d and .e: See 3A001.a and .z for controls on radiation-hardened microelectronic circuits “subject to the EAR” that are not controlled by 9A515.d or .e.

Note 4 to 9A515.x: “Parts,” “components,” “accessories,” and “attachments” described on the USML, either in Category XV(e) or elsewhere, are subject to the ITAR.

Note 5 to 9A515.b and .x: This note clarifies the scope of controls over baseband units (BBU). For purposes of 9A515.b and .x, a BBU means a device that interprets the original frequency range of a transmission signal. These devices are not controlled under 9A515.b or .x when they do not perform telemetry, track, and control.

Note 6 to 9A515: An item operating on any celestial body other than Earth is treated as if it is on Earth for classification purposes on the CCL.

Source: eCFR, version 2026-08-01, retrieved 2026-08-20T04:04:59+00:00.