VP Government and External Relations at Axiom Space. National Space Council, FAA-AST, Capitol Hill. Space and Policy nerd. UCF Alum. GO KNIGHTS! he/him 🏳️🌈
Jun 16, 2022 • 11 tweets • 3 min read
I want to talk about this for just a minute because I think it is a super interesting development for space policy in the US. The implications could be significant, but I think we are going to have to wait to see how politicians react. 1/11
politico.com/news/2022/06/1…
It is no secret that Elon is not a friend of President Biden, but I think it would be a mistake to say that means he is a fan of Republicans, or Democrats for that matter. I have never really seen evidence that he likes any one party over the other, despite what he says. 2/11
Jan 21, 2022 • 14 tweets • 3 min read
This thread is a discussion about a super interesting battle brewing between the FAA and the NTSB. Stick with me, because it is one of the more interesting things I have seen in commercial space regulation in a while. 1/x
Okay, Let's talk about NTSB and their decision to write federal rules for commercial space accident investigations! Let's start here, the NTSB wants to impose new regs on commercial space launch operators. You can read their proposed rule here. regulations.gov/document/NTSB-… 2/x
Jul 21, 2021 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
There has been a significant debate about who is or isn't an astronaut for a while now. The first major debate from a legal perspective copped up in 2015 during negotiations over the Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act.
Congress was trying to figure out what to do about government employees that fly on commercial systems as part of their official duties, not as paying customers. Up to that point, we only had two categories of people on commercial flights, Crew and Space Flight Participants.
Jul 21, 2021 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
The FAA has released a new order on who qualifies for Commercial Space Astronaut Wings and there are some interesting things in here. faa.gov/documentLibrar…
Two ways to qualify: (1) Either you are a crewmember that meets flight crew qualifications, demonstrated flight beyond 50 miles on a licensed launch, and demonstrated activities during flight that were essential to public safety, or contributed to human space flight safety... OR
Jul 15, 2021 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
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.
Jul 15, 2021 • 13 tweets • 3 min read
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/
Jul 14, 2021 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
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).
Jul 7, 2021 • 11 tweets • 3 min read
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
Feb 2, 2021 • 9 tweets • 3 min read
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.
Feb 1, 2021 • 9 tweets • 4 min read
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…
Jan 30, 2021 • 10 tweets • 2 min read
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.
