Top FAA regulator pledges a light hand for commercial space industry
The Federal Aviation Administration’s top regulator for space flight says his agency is struggling to keep up with the rapid growth of the commercial space industry as it wrestles with new issues including whether it should ensure the safety of space tourists and which of them should get commercial astronaut’s wings.
Wayne R. Monteith, a retired Air Force general who served for years in space billets in Colorado Springs is now the FAA’s associate administrator for commercial space transportation. He told a Space Symposium crowd at The Broadmoor Wednesday that to a large extent, he’s trying to keep his agency out of the way of the rush to space.
“A regulatory agency can either be an accelerator or an inhibitor of industry,” he said. “We choose to be an accelerator.”
Monteith’s agency has overseen commercial space launches since the 1980s, but it used to be a small job. Just a decade ago, the agency licensed a single commercial launch over the course of the year. This year, Monteith expects to authorize more than 60 launches, and expects the pace to accelerate for years to come.
But a license to launch is nothing like a driver’s license. Fender benders and wrong turns are permitted as long as no one gets hurt.
“About 15 percent of the launches we license have a mishap,” Monteith said, using the space industry’s polite word used to replace harsher terms including explosion, crash, and massive fireball.
Attendees on the way to hear speakers at the Space Symposium walk past a jumbo screen displaying a rocket launch by ULA (United Launch Alliance). United Launch Alliance is an American spacecraft launch provider that manufactures rocket vehicles. The headquarters for ULA is in Centennial. Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
But all of those mishaps don’t move a whisker of Monteith’s post-Air Force gray beard unless they wind up impacting the group he calls the “uninvolved public.”
“We do public safety, not mission assurance,” he said.
Even the military is keeping its hands off the exuberant commercial space industry.
Lt. Gen Stephen Whiting, who heads the Space Force’s Space Operations Command in Colorado Springs said all of his stars can’t stop someone else’s private trip to the stars.
“The Department of Defense and Space Force are not regulatory agencies,” he said Wednesday.
The military has long helped commercial space interests avoid in-orbit collisions by offering tracking data on objects in space, but that’s heading to the Department of Commerce. The civilian agency is working with commercial firms, including several in Colorado Springs that will help prevent orbital traffic jams.
“They are standing up that capability,” Whiting said.
And the new space capabilities created by commercial space entities have generals seeing future military possibilities.
“I’m super excited by that,” Whiting said of space tourism.
But before you strap yourself to a rocket, read the fine print. If things go wrong, Monteith’s agency won’t send so much as a sympathy card.
“Right now we operate under an informed consent regime,” Monteith said. In other words, let the flyer beware.
Monteith warned, though, that mishaps for manned space flight that escalate to what he called “catastrophe,” have consequences.
“The worst case is a catastrophic failure,” he said. “Then, we will regulate.”
Christopher Arnold, with Akin, views the Northrop Grumman’s HALO module design, that will serve as a living habitat for astronauts, during the 36th Space Symposium at the Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. According to Northrop Grumman’s website, HALO will be able to sustain up to four astronauts for up to 30 days as they travel to and from the lunar surface.(Chancey Bush/ The Gazette)
Monteith is very interested in regulations governing whether those who survive their tourist ride to space will get a federal trophy to remember the trip.
Right now, anyone who reaches 50 miles above the planet and can fit into a wide definition of “flight crew” is entitled to federal astronaut’s wings. But Monteith is figuring out whether paying passengers should get the honor.
“Right now I don’t want to be in the business of who gets the duty title of astronaut. But we are in it,” he said.
Sights and sounds from the 36th Space Symposium, the world’s largest space show, held at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. (Video by Skyler Ballard)
Michael Ballantyne, Global Space Exchange, Inc., sports an astronaut suite during the 36th Space Symposium at the Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. (Chancey Bush/ The Gazette)
A model of Sierra Space’s first-free flying commercial space station in low-earth orbit that will be suitable for pharmaceuticals, space tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, biopharma research, on-orbit satellite servicing assembly and microgravity research, according to Sierra Space. (Chancey Bush/ The Gazette)
Jade Karpicke tries out virtual reality to see the concept of the Sierra Space Station at the Sierra Space exhibit during the 36th Space Symposium at the Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. Sierra Space is developing the first-free flying commercial space station in low-earth orbit that will be suitable for pharmaceuticals, space tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, biopharma research, on-orbit satellite servicing assembly and microgravity research, which was stated at the exhibit. (Chancey Bush/ The Gazette)
Even an astronaut likes to check out the swag at the other exhibits at the Space Symposium at the Broadmoor Hotel. Michael Ballantyne from the Global Space Exchange exhibit was checking out the other exhibits on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Dressed as an astronaut, Michael Ballantyne visits the Lockheed Martin exhibit at the Space Symposium on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)
Broadmoor employee Carlisle McCormick pours a Colorado Springs produced bourbon 291 at the Colorado Springs exhibit at the Space Symposium at the Colorado Springs exhibit on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)