I have spent some time contemplating the ramifications of this. Before you read this thread know this: I am posting this with the information we have and my opinion is subject to change. @wapodavenport@SciGuySpace@Free_Space@jacqklimas@kchangnyt
Regulation of the launch industry is built on the belief that the industry understands the ramifications of their actions and will protect itself by following those regulations and that Congress believes DOT will do what is necessary to protect the uninvolved public.
(It is important to note at this point that Congress granted this authority to the Secretary of Transportation and during the Clinton Administration the Secretary devolved this authority to the FAA, which is why we have the Office of Commercial Space Transportation at the FAA.)
This is b/c every launch has the potential to harm the uninvolved public and taxpayers could be on the hook for damages through the indemnification regime. In other words, the FAA doesn't really care about damages to the licensee, they are charged with protecting the public.
The FAA works very hard to ensure that licensees will not hurt people. When the licensee violates the parameters of their launch license, people can be hurt or killed. The license is granted with parameters for the sole purpose of ensuring this doesn't happen.
If a licensee violates the terms of their launch license, they did so knowing that an uninvolved member of the public could have been hurt or killed. That is not exaggeration. They took a calculated risk with your life and property.
Knowing that, the FAA has a responsibility, charged by Congress who granted them this responsibility in the first place, to enforce their licenses and the parameters of their licenses.
If the FAA does not enforce their launch licenses, it will damage the long-term viability of the launch industry and damage their credibility with Congress. It is possible that the industry could suffer significant regulatory burdens enforce by Congress to ensure safety.
The industry, and the FAA, has a responsibility to ensure the public, and Congress, has faith in them and the regulatory process to protect the public. The long-term competitiveness of the launch industry is at stake. It must not be taken lightly.
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The Senate Commerce Committee has released its Questions for the Record for @PeteButtigieg nomination hearing. There are a few questions about #space and @FAANews. QFRs are submitted post-hearing to witnesses. Thread below for questions asked and answered. 1/9
It doesn't appear that the Democrats asked any space-related questions but there are a few from Republicans. The full packet from Republicans is here 2/9 commerce.senate.gov/services/files…
This is an excellent overview from @SciGuySpace about the situation with the SpaceX licensing issues. I would like to add some additional commentary to this as a former Deputy Chief and Acting Chief of Staff in the office.
To start with, it is highly unusual for a launch license or an experimental permit to be issued on the “day of” for a launch. I can think of only a handful of times it has occurred.
I would note that most of the time, launch companies prefer to have their licenses or experimental permits in hand and ready to go before setting a hard launch date. There are many reasons for that, but certainly Thursday is a good example of why.