There has been a lot of public discussion recently about the impact of commercial space activity. Mostly from people who are under- or ill-informed about space activity and its benefits to humanity. I’d like to try to address some of that. 1/x
I think the recent VG flight really awakened the collective conscience of many people to a litany of questions. Should billionaires be able to do this? What is NASA’s role if individuals can go to space? Are we taxing rich people enough? What does it mean for humanity? 2/
In particular, questions about the “who” (namely billionaires) investing in these activities are particularly valid. I think it makes sense for people to question why rich people have so much money that they can afford to take a trip to space. 3/
But inherent in that criticism and questioning is a bigger issue that is implied, the American people are not in tune with what space provides them. Also implied is a lack of understanding on the nature of scientific inquiry and scientific exploration. 4/
For most Americans, these questions are all new. The public, and pundits in the media, are rightly grappling with the reality that space travel could be a real thing, if only now for the wealthy, perhaps one day for everyone. 5/x
For those of us in the space community, it is not new or novel; we have been grappling with these questions for decades. Our pursuit of scientific inquiry and exploration through the utilization of the microgravity environment is like breathing for us, it just is. 6/x
For me, the advent of commercial human spaceflight and commercial space activity in general, it not about the people involved (although that is critical) it is about the advancement of science and technology in an environment that heretofore has been largely inaccessible. 7/x
The expansion of access to space will, and already has, radically altered our understanding of biology, our planet, our physical world, our universe, and perhaps reality itself as we grapple with things like dark matter, dark energy, and quantum mechanics. 8/x
When the NIH was set up, the idea was to invest in the best science and research as defined by researchers and scientists themselves. This same principal can be applied to space activity. The more people involved, the more inquiry we are capable of, the faster we learn. 9/x
The growth of investment in space isn’t about billionaires, it is about us, you and me. It is about the benefits that will come to us from the science that we invest in and what we learn that advances our civilization. 10/x
The American dream and the advancement of space exploration and technology has created some of the greatest impacts on modern life in the shortest period of time in our species’ brief history of existence. 11/x
We can all do better in how we handle and grapple with the profound questions of poverty, inequality, and healthcare. I believe that investments in science, technology, and space exploration can be part of the answer to those questions, not a hindrance to them. 12/x
It is my sincere hope that our society can find value in the development of these capabilities beyond a billionaire taking a ride to space. That we can see past our disagreements on other policy to realize the incredible value of those investments here on Earth. 13/13

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More from @Space_Jared

15 Jul
A reminder that the Senate Commerce Committee included its SSA/STM bill in the EFA which became a part of the larger Senate China package. The Commerce bill puts this responsibility at the Commerce Department and the Senate CJS Subcommittee funded it at $10 million.
There is a large disconnect between the House and the Senate on this right now. The House T&I Aviation subcommittee filed a bill that endorses a program at FAA to prevent debris from reentering and hitting aircraft transiting the National Airspace.
As the ASAP, Space Council UAG (with leadership from then private citizen Pam Melroy), and numerous think tanks have concluded, we need a solution to this now to avoid catastrophe in the future.
Read 4 tweets
14 Jul
House Appropriations posted the Report language for their NASA Appropriation. $1.34 billion for HLS; +150m over PBR; $45 million for Commercial LEO; creation of Suborbital Crew program $10m docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/AP…
The House is also including continuing big investments in Nuclear Thermal and Nuclear Electric Propulsion and an increase in the Flight Opportunities program to $30 million, the largest number for the program in its history (if it holds).
The bill includes $10 million for the Office of Space Commerce to continue the direction of the previous appropriations omnibus to develop SSA/STM capabilities.
Read 4 tweets
7 Jul
There is so much wrong with this piece from @hiltzikm that I struggle with perpetuating it, but the author clearly knows absolutely nothing about our national scientific endeavors, the state of the space industry, or our national space policy. 1/x latimes.com/business/story…
The central thesis is that these programs only exist to exalt the billionaire patrons. Should we discount the work of Galileo Galilei because the Medici Family supported him? Science and exploration have always been supported by the wealthy... this is not new, nor novel. 2/x
The author asserts, with zero evidence, that these flights will do nothing to support science. On its face, this is incorrect, both Virgin and Blue have been public about the science experiments on their flights. And the flights themselves will teach us a great deal. 3/x
Read 11 tweets
2 Feb
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.)
Read 9 tweets
1 Feb
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…
The full packet from Democrats is here. 3/9 commerce.senate.gov/services/files…
Read 9 tweets
30 Jan
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.
Read 10 tweets

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