On Wednesday, April 28th, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the launch of a special committee to explore regulations related to commercial human spaceflight. This new committee coincides with increased efforts by the U.S. government to open up the space industry to private companies as part of their efforts to usher in a new era of space exploration.
The new committee will be chaired by NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine and will include representatives from other branches of the federal government, private companies, and traditional aerospace and commercial space technology companies. The committee will explore the regulatory and safety challenges posed by the growth of the commercial space industry, particularly when it comes to launching people into space. The committee is tasked with combining the 10 existing categories of regulation, clarifying the responsibilities of the federal government and industry stakeholders, and minimizing any issues associated with regulatory uncertainty.
The committee will also look into how the FAA can effectively implement regulations related to taking humans into space without adding unnecessary burdens and costs. With so many different regulatory authorities, the FAA seeks to ensure that the regulations are consistent, achievable and efficient.
The formation of the new committee follows a 2019 order from President Trump requiring the FAA to streamline their oversight processes in the space industry in order to help propel the U.S. forward in the space race. The committee’s recommendations will be used to inform the FAA’s development of these regulations, which are expected to be published later this year.
Overall, the formation of this new committee is a positive step forward in terms of ensuring that the U.S. can remain competitive in the space industry. It also marks the first time the FAA has taken a systematic approach to regulating commercial human spaceflight, which will be essential as the industry continues to grow and evolve. While there is still much work to do, the FAA’s new committee is a promising sign that the U.S. is serious about fostering a vibrant commercial space industry.
