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US Takes First Step Toward Regulating Commercial Human Spaceflight
- FAA launches rulemaking committee on human safety standards
- Industry has operated without regulation under moratorium
A rocket at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Photographer: Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesUS aviation authorities plan to explore establishing standards for commercial human spaceflight, a potentially significant change for a rapidly maturing industry that has operated without formal regulation for occupant safety.
The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that it’s creating a rulemaking committee to consider the process and costs of new safety regulations. It will gather recommendations from those in the commercial space industry and other stakeholders, with recommendations submitted to the FAA next summer.