The Origin and Practice of U.S. Commercial Human Space Flight Regulation
- Paper number
IAC-08.D5.1.6
- Author
Dr. George Nield, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), United States
- Coauthor
Ms. Brooke Owens, Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA/AST), United States
- Coauthor
Mr. John Sloan, Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation (FAA/AST), United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
The commercial human space flight regulatory regime in the United States is the result of deliberate reasoned policy choices by the federal government. The regulations and the legislation that spawns them are the outgrowth of American air and space flight history. They are also the result of the government's belief that private enterprise has the acumen, will, and technical ability to make commercial human space flight a successful independent business. This paper examines the evolution of commercial human space flight regulation, by exploring lessons learned from the American aviation regulatory experience. Next, it details the origin of commercial space flight regulation through the February 1984 Executive Order that established a commercial space transportation office in the U.S. Department of Transportation. This office eventually shifted to the FAA. The Commercial Space Launch Act of 1984 and other related regulations born of this legislation are addressed in this section as well. The pivotal year for commercial space transportation, 2004,,saw the historic SpaceShipOne flights in pursuit of the Ansari X PRIZE. The year closed with the passage of landmark U.S. legislation, the Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004. A brief overview of other important space policies or programs such as the President's Vision for Space Exploration and the Aldridge Commission Report is provided as they illustrate the trend towards relying more heavily upon commercial space transportation options. Looking to the future, increased flight activity will produce several crucial challenges in areas such as potential passenger qualifications, traffic control, international interoperability, and safety. It is important to address these concerns in a manner that is both safe and promotes the successful progress of the industry. AST is proactively looking at future issues now. In conclusion, this paper illustrates the pioneering evolution of the commercial human space flight regulatory regime in the United States and highlights AST’s current role in the commercial space transportation industry. Still, the commercial space industry is young, as are its regulatory overseers. Evolutions in technology and operations will occur. AST will track those developments and make course corrections as necessary, ever mindful of the industry and working within the boundaries of its Congressional mandates.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.D5.1.6.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.