Feb 26, 2024 05:42 PM
(This post was last modified: Feb 26, 2024 05:42 PM by C C.)
https://www.supercluster.com/editorial/what-is-the-faa
EXCERPTS: . . . President Reagan signed an executive order establishing the Office of Commercial Space Transport (OCST) to oversee and regulate private space activities.
As commercial space launches became increasingly feasible thanks to relaxed regulations, new challenges emerged for these companies, such as accessing launch pads, securing insurance, and navigating the export licensing process. These commercial entities, also contractors for the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and NASA, found themselves in a precarious position, unable to directly address these issues with the agencies managing their contracts without risking their business relationships. Here, the OCST played a crucial role, quickly establishing a reputation for fostering the growth of the commercial space industry with their motto "Blue Skies; not red tape," highlighting their commitment to minimal regulation.
The agency even entertained the idea of industry self-regulation, supported by studies indicating that commercial space launch activities posed minimal public risk.
However, in a significant shift in 1995, the Clinton administration transferred OCST to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), despite the original agreement to keep it separate. The division within the FAA was now headed by the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (FAA/AST). The agency's objectives remained the same: to license every commercial rocket launch and re-entry. The FAA/AST's role was to regulate the commercial launch industry to ensure public safety on the ground and to uphold the United States' national security and foreign policy interests, all while maintaining regulation at a minimum to support the growth and development of the industry.
[...] In 2017, SpaceX’s President, Gwynne Shotwell, advocated for deregulation at the National Space Council's first meeting, emphasizing the need for updated regulations to match technological advances and the frequency of launches from the United States to bolster a robust and competitive domestic launch industry.
“If we want to achieve rapid progress in space, the U.S. government must remove bureaucratic practices that run counter to innovation and speed,” Shotwell said. “Regulations written decades ago must be updated to keep pace with the new technologies and the high cadence of launch from the United States if we want a strong space launch industry here at home,” she added.
Tensions between the FAA and SpaceX heightened with the development of SpaceX's Starship in Boca Chica, Texas...
[...] The licensing hurdles continued as the company pivoted to carry out orbital test flights with Starship and the Superheavy boosters. ... SpaceX’s success would mean progress for NASA and the United States’ goals for the Artemis program and the company believes that a slow certification process is hindering national interests.
[...] Over the past few years, the number of orbital launches is increasing year after year. ... SpaceX believes that the FAA workforce hasn’t increased with the boom in launch cadence. According to the Washington Post, the FAA's Space Division has been calling for more resources for several years, but with little luck.
[...] It remains to be seen if the FAA will be able to handle the growing Falcon’s launch manifest and the ever-accelerating pace of Starship’s development program, however, it is evident that both parties are working to ensure that regulatory oversight minimally impacts launch operations while upholding the FAA's stringent safety standards, which have contributed to making modern flights and rocket launches some of the safest in history.... (MORE - missing details)
EXCERPTS: . . . President Reagan signed an executive order establishing the Office of Commercial Space Transport (OCST) to oversee and regulate private space activities.
As commercial space launches became increasingly feasible thanks to relaxed regulations, new challenges emerged for these companies, such as accessing launch pads, securing insurance, and navigating the export licensing process. These commercial entities, also contractors for the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and NASA, found themselves in a precarious position, unable to directly address these issues with the agencies managing their contracts without risking their business relationships. Here, the OCST played a crucial role, quickly establishing a reputation for fostering the growth of the commercial space industry with their motto "Blue Skies; not red tape," highlighting their commitment to minimal regulation.
The agency even entertained the idea of industry self-regulation, supported by studies indicating that commercial space launch activities posed minimal public risk.
However, in a significant shift in 1995, the Clinton administration transferred OCST to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), despite the original agreement to keep it separate. The division within the FAA was now headed by the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation (FAA/AST). The agency's objectives remained the same: to license every commercial rocket launch and re-entry. The FAA/AST's role was to regulate the commercial launch industry to ensure public safety on the ground and to uphold the United States' national security and foreign policy interests, all while maintaining regulation at a minimum to support the growth and development of the industry.
[...] In 2017, SpaceX’s President, Gwynne Shotwell, advocated for deregulation at the National Space Council's first meeting, emphasizing the need for updated regulations to match technological advances and the frequency of launches from the United States to bolster a robust and competitive domestic launch industry.
“If we want to achieve rapid progress in space, the U.S. government must remove bureaucratic practices that run counter to innovation and speed,” Shotwell said. “Regulations written decades ago must be updated to keep pace with the new technologies and the high cadence of launch from the United States if we want a strong space launch industry here at home,” she added.
Tensions between the FAA and SpaceX heightened with the development of SpaceX's Starship in Boca Chica, Texas...
[...] The licensing hurdles continued as the company pivoted to carry out orbital test flights with Starship and the Superheavy boosters. ... SpaceX’s success would mean progress for NASA and the United States’ goals for the Artemis program and the company believes that a slow certification process is hindering national interests.
[...] Over the past few years, the number of orbital launches is increasing year after year. ... SpaceX believes that the FAA workforce hasn’t increased with the boom in launch cadence. According to the Washington Post, the FAA's Space Division has been calling for more resources for several years, but with little luck.
[...] It remains to be seen if the FAA will be able to handle the growing Falcon’s launch manifest and the ever-accelerating pace of Starship’s development program, however, it is evident that both parties are working to ensure that regulatory oversight minimally impacts launch operations while upholding the FAA's stringent safety standards, which have contributed to making modern flights and rocket launches some of the safest in history.... (MORE - missing details)