Full cmte chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) says he's doesn't want air travel disrupted by billionaires who want to experience 15 minutes of weightlessness. [Because airlines have to avoid launch/reentry area. He's expressed these views before.]
DeFazio also says he's concerned some in industry want another extension to the "learning period" that expires in 2023. It prohibits FAA from promulgating addl passenger safety regulations for cmrcl spaceflight. [Right now companies must only get a customer's informed consent.]
Monteith (FAA/AST): will continue to assess our regulatory framework and work w/Congress and industry to strike appropriate balance and get right regulations with right scope at right time.
GAO's Heather Krause: last statutorily mandated review of whether FAA should both regulate and promote cmrcl space launch industry was in 2008. May be time to look at it again.
DeFazio: first heard about Space Data Integrator in 2016. Now 2021. When can we expect it? [Will shorten amt of time airplanes must clear airspace.]
Monteith: Can't give you specific timeframe. Has been operating in shadow mode. 1st op test in next few months
Monteith: Can't give you specific timeframe. Has been operating in shadow mode. 1st op test in next few months
Rep Graves: which agency should do civil SSA? You?
Monteith: Most impt thing is that it's done right, so need change in statute and sufficient budget. Confident FAA could do it if Congress tells us to.
Monteith: Most impt thing is that it's done right, so need change in statute and sufficient budget. Confident FAA could do it if Congress tells us to.
Graves: will you convene an Aerospace Rulemaking Committee (ARC) for cmrcl space transportation to help develop rules?
Monteith: yes. Critical to have industry involvement.
Monteith: yes. Critical to have industry involvement.
Graves: 2023 expiration of learning period?
Monteith: landscape is changing. Impt to relook at that. *And* move forward on consensus standards.
Monteith: landscape is changing. Impt to relook at that. *And* move forward on consensus standards.
Rep Perry (R-PA): how would you use the $5 M increase in the FY22 request?
Monteith: our efforts are geared toward licensing effort. Our launch cadence has doubled in just one year.
Monteith: our efforts are geared toward licensing effort. Our launch cadence has doubled in just one year.
Rep Payne (D-NJ): how do we instill safety values in cmrcl space trans?
Monteith: These companies are concerned about safety. If we get inkling they're not, that's when we step in. Never had fatality or injury to uninvolved public even though 15% of our flights had mishaps.
Monteith: These companies are concerned about safety. If we get inkling they're not, that's when we step in. Never had fatality or injury to uninvolved public even though 15% of our flights had mishaps.
Rep Kahele (D-HI): next steps for regulations for integration into National Airspace System (NAS)?
Monteith: top priority for FAA. Space Data Integrator--more about technology than regulations. Trying to get down from 14-18 min to less than one minute [airspace must be closed]
Monteith: top priority for FAA. Space Data Integrator--more about technology than regulations. Trying to get down from 14-18 min to less than one minute [airspace must be closed]
Montieth: have 12 licensed spaceports, 5 conducting launch ops now. Industry is accelerating. Have to look at spaceport infrastructure to make sure can handle growth and remain leader.
Kahele: Hawaii?
Monteith: I grew up in Oahu, wld love to see a spaceport there.
Kahele: Hawaii?
Monteith: I grew up in Oahu, wld love to see a spaceport there.
Rep Garamendi (D-CA): I heard military is rethinking civil SSA.
Monteith: I was in DOD and they want to shift civil SSA to another agency. Question is whether they can ingest the commercial data that's out there. The civil sector can.
Monteith: I was in DOD and they want to shift civil SSA to another agency. Question is whether they can ingest the commercial data that's out there. The civil sector can.
End of first panel.
The House is holding a series of 8 votes so the subcmte is recessing until 5 minutes after the end of the last vote. They anticipate resuming about 5:15. [Hope you don't have dinner plans...]
The House is holding a series of 8 votes so the subcmte is recessing until 5 minutes after the end of the last vote. They anticipate resuming about 5:15. [Hope you don't have dinner plans...]
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