Some recent space policy related items:
Res Communis posts the latest collection of space and aviation related law, regulation and policy links: Library: A Round-up of Reading
Some Congresspersons want to see commercial crew transport firms bogged down with government red tape: Space Act deals draw lawmaker scrutiny- Florida Today.
A view on human spaceflight: What is it about sending people into space? – Comment – Voices – The Independent
Res Communis posts the latest collection of space and aviation related law, regulation and policy links: Library: A Round-up of Reading
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Here are two more reports on the Starship Century Symposium (see earlier post) held last week in San Diego. While there were discussions of developing starship technologies and other challenges of reaching a distant star, there was also a lot of talk related to space policies that were nearer term :
Leonard David reviews The Little Book of Space Law by Matthew J. Kleiman: Book Review: The Little Book of Space Law – Coalition for Space Exploration
Frankly, after this read you may be a little less afraid to hear that space lawyers are here to help you! As the author suggests in the opening line of the main text: “Practicing law is not rocket science, but sometimes rocket scientists need lawyers.”
Some items dealing with space policy in the US and UK
More reviews of Tuesday’s House hearing on NASA’s plans for beyond earth orbit exploration:
Steve Squires points out an obvious problem with SLS safety that NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) refuses to address:
Another concern Squyres stressed is the low flight rate for the Space Launch System (SLS). “I’m deeply worried,” he told Edwards, because no other human spaceflight system has had such a low anticipated launch rate. The first SLS launch is expected in 2017, the second in 2021, and then once every two years thereafter. SLS and the Orion spacecraft need to be adequately funded “to be proven out on a pace that really supports … a safe pathway” to cis-lunar space, Squyres insisted. Cooke agreed. The flight rate is driven “totally” by funding, he said, and “they definitely need more funding … starting with inflation.” NASA’s budget is currently projected to be flat, with no adjustment for inflation, which erodes buying power as the years pass.
ASAP members have repeatedly questioned the safety of commercial rockets despite the fact that the Atlas V and Falcon 9 will have flown dozens of times before crews are launched by them. The Falcon Dragon capsule will also have flown multiple times. Yet ASAP was willing to let NASA astronauts fly on the Ares I after a single test flight and is now willing to let them fly on the SLS after its one test flight.
[ Update: Rand Simberg discusses the low SLS flight rate: The Safety Of SLS – Transterrestrial Musings.]
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The latest Planetary Society Hangout dealt with the topic, What’s going on with Planetary Science cuts?
Planetary Society Advocacy Coordinator Casey Dreier discusses the background and latest funding problems facing Planetary Science at NASA. Emily Lakdawalla joins him to talk about her visit to Washington, D.C. to talk about planetary missions.
Learn what the Planetary Society is doing to Save Our Science at NASA and promote planetary exploration. We talk about the background of planetary exploration and why funding for this great program is being taken away.
